Ecosystem Dynamics at Simmos Beach Reserve
Biology
Bring biology to life in this Stage 6 fieldwork program, where students investigate relationships between living organisms and their physical environment across both freshwater and bushland ecosystems.
Students will participate in three different investigations to collect valid and reliable data to answer the following inquiry questions:
- What impact does introduced carp have on water quality in a freshwater wetland?
- What impact will gambusia, a predatory introduced species, have on macroinvertebrate populations in freshwater ecosystems?
- How do abiotic conditions in a forest ecosystem affect the distribution of plant species?
Throughout the day, students learn to assess risks, plan safely, and apply authentic scientific practices to building confidence, competency, and curiosity as developing biologists.
Fieldwork activities include:
- conducting a line-intercept transect to sample vegetation populations
- macroinvertebrate sampling
- testing physical and chemical water quality parameters including turbidity, nitrates and nitrites, phosphates, dissolved oxygen and temperature
- use of equipment to measure abiotics factors such as light intensity, wind speed and direction, soil texture, depth, colour and pH
- calibration of equipment and assessment of standardised sampling methodologies.
Maximum three classses per day.
Location
Essential information
| Year | Cost |
| 2025/26 |
|
Cancellation or major changes to bookings will incur the following cancellation fees:
- within 30 days of excursion or incursion date - $600 administration fee charged
- within 7 days of excursion/incursion date - total fee charged based on confirmed student numbers
| Time | Classes 1 | Classes 2 | Class 3 |
| 9.30am | Arrival - introduction, and toilets | ||
| 10.00am - 11.00am | Investigating water quality | Vegetation transect | Macroinvertebrate survey |
| 11.00am - 11.20am | Recess and toilets | ||
| 11.20am - 12.20pm | Macroinvertebrate survey | Investigating water quality | Vegetation transect |
| 12.20pm - 1.00pm | Lunch and toilets | ||
| 1.00pm - 2.00pm | Plant transect | Macroinvertebrate survey | Investigating water quality |
| 2.00pm - 2.30pm | Conclude and depart |
Biology Stage 6 Syllabus (2017)
Course Outcomes
BIO11-1 develops and evaluates questions and hypotheses for scientific investigation
BIO11-2 designs and evaluates investigations in order to obtain primary and secondary data and information
BIO11-3 conducts investigations to collect valid and reliable primary and secondary data and information
BIO11-11 analyses ecosystem dynamics and the interrelationships of organisms within the ecosystem
Content
Population Dynamics
Inquiry question: What effect can one species have on the other species in a community?
Students:
●investigate and determine relationships between biotic and abiotic factors in an ecosystem, including: (ACSBL019)
– the impact of abiotic factors
– the impact of biotic factors, including predation, competition and symbiotic relationships
– the ecological niches occupied by species
– predicting consequences for populations in ecosystems due to predation, competition, symbiosis and disease
– measuring populations of organisms using sampling techniques
Biology Stage 6 Syllabus © NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) for and on behalf of the Crown in right of the State of New South Wales, 2017.
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