Investigating Biodiversity in Tai Po Kau Nature Reserve

Transcription

1 Practical Related Task - Ecology Field Work Instructional Approach Investigating Biodiversity in Tai Po Kau Nature Reserve Name: Group: Date: Aims: After the course, students should be able to: 1. Classify and identify organisms commonly found in local terrestrial habitats, 2. Measure abiotic factors in an ecosystem, 3. Distinguish interrelationships between living organisms in an ecosystem, 4. Describe how abiotic factors affect living organisms, 5. Record and description how human activities affect the natural environment, 6. Analyze and organize data for presentation, 7. Cooperate with others and work together in a scientific investigation 8. Appreciate nature and respect living things. Schedule: 9:00-10:15 Briefing 10:50-12:20 Field work 13:00-14:00 Lunch 14:00-14:50 Data analysis 14:50-15:30 Prepare presentation 15:30-16:30 Presentation & summary Equipment and tools: 1 Clipboard 11 Wildlife Pictorial Guide 2 Light meter 12 Insect Portfolio 1 & 2 3 Anemometer 13 Bird watching in the Big City 4 Compass 14 Hillsides 5 Thin nylon thread 15 Hong Kong Trees 6 Thermohygrometer 7 Magnifying glass 16 8 Macroscope 17 9 Forceps 10 Counter Common slope animals and plants in Tai Po Kau Common Epiphytes in Tai Po Kau Clothing: 1. Long-sleeved shirt and trousers for better protection against mosquito and insect bites, as well as preventing sunburn. Shorts are not recommended. 2. A pair of shoes for preventing injuries. Slippers and sandals are not recommended. Safety: 1. Avoid stepping on steep and wet rock surfaces and soil surfaces. 2. To prevent being attacked by wasps from disturbed wasp nest or being injured by plant leaves and thorns, do not get into places with dense vegetation. Long-sleeved shirt Trousers Plimsolls A1

2 A. Field site The field sites are Tai Po Kau Garden and Tai Po Kau Outdoor Study Centre. Designate 100 m 2 as the area of study in each site. Record biotic factors and abiotic factors in each study area. B. Describing the habitat Briefing describe the nature of the two habitats, including topography, vegetation, geology, nearby land uses and other relevant information. Also draw sketch maps to show the environment. Brief description Tai Po Kau Garden Tai Po Kau Outdoor Learning Centre Brief description Sketch map Sketch map C. Measuring abiotic factors Use appropriate equipment to measure the following abiotic factors: a. Wind direction: Raise a piece of light nylon thread, with the aid of a compass, find out the wind direction. b. Wind speed: Use an anemometer, facing the wind direction, and measure the wind speed. Repeat measurement at different time and different locations. Take the average. c. Air temperature and humidity. Use a thermohygrometer to measure air temperature and humidity. Repeat measurement at different time and different locations. Take the average. d. Light intensity: Use a light meter to measure light intensity. Repeat measurement at different locations. Take the average. Tai Po Kau Garden Tai Po Kau Outdoor Learning Centre Wind speed & direction Air temperature Air humidity Light intensity A2

3 D. Investigating each category of living organisms Count the number of species in each of the following category of living organisms. Animals can be recorded by direct observation or through their signs of activities, such as footprints, excrement, bite marks, nests, lairs and calls. Use different symbols to represent species recorded from different sites. e.g. use X to represent species recorded in TPK Garden, and use O to represent species recorded in TPK Outdoor Learning Centre. Pay attention to any dominant species. Flowering plants (no. of species) TPK Garden: TPK Outdoor Learning Centre: Gymnosperms (no. of species) TPK Garden: TPK Outdoor Learning Centre: Ferns (no. of species) TPK Garden: TPK Outdoor Learning Centre: Liverworts & mosses (no. of species) TPK Garden: TPK Outdoor Learning Centre: Algae (no. of species) TPK Garden: TPK Outdoor Learning Centre: Fungi (no. of species) TPK Garden: TPK Outdoor Learning Centre: Lichens (no. of species) TPK Garden: TPK Outdoor Learning Centre: Mammals (no. of species) TPK Garden: TPK Outdoor Learning Centre: Birds (no. of species) TPK Garden: TPK Outdoor Learning Centre: Reptiles (no. of species) TPK Garden: TPK Outdoor Learning Centre: Amphibians (no. of species) TPK Garden: TPK Outdoor Learning Centre: A3

4 Butterflies (no. of species) TPK Garden: TPK Outdoor Learning Centre: Other insects (no. of species) TPK Garden: TPK Outdoor Learning Centre: Other arthropods (no. of species) TPK Garden: TPK Outdoor Learning Centre: Other animals (no. of species) TPK Garden: TPK Outdoor Learning Centre: Dominant species TPK Garden: TPK Outdoor Learning Centre: E. Relationships between living organisms Look for the following relationships between living organisms. Note involved organisms and briefly describe the relationships. Involved organisms Brief description Predation Predation Competition Competition Commensalism Commensalism Parasitism Parasitism Mutualism A4

5 F. Investigating human impacts on the environment In the field sites, investigate and record any human activities which may have impact to the habitat, both current and previous. Briefing explain the impacts. Human activities Type of impact (may have more than one) Brief explanation Types of impact 1. Habitat lose 2. Habitat fragmentation 3. Burn 4. Trampling on vegetation 5. Solid wastes 6. Water pollution 7. Air pollution 8. Noise 9. Light pollution 10. Soil erosion and sedimentation 11. Reduce of stream water flow 12. Collection of wild animals and plants 13. Disturbance to wild animals A5

6 HKDSE Biology SBA marking sheet Field study practical skills - Study of Tai Po Kau Nature Reserve (Standard Instructional Approach) Group 1 Group 2 Group 3 Group 4 Group 5 Group 6 Group 7 Group 8 Student name/ Class number Total mark Safety and ethics 1 Properly dressed - no slippers, no barefoot, no sandals. 2 Work in a safe manner - safe position, no getting into areas with dense vegetation, no stepping on very steep or slippery slopes. 3 No unnecessary killing of wild animals or over-collecting. Recording biotic factors 4 Reasonable amount of animals and plants from different taxonomical groups have been recorded and correctly classified. * 5 Reasonable amount of interrelations between living organisms have been recorded. Observation and recording physical environment 6 Careful and detailed observation, make records by notes, drawing and/or taking photos Observation and recording human impacts to the environment 7 Reasonable amount of human impacts have been correctly identified.* Field equipment handling 8 Use proper equipment/tools to do different measurements, methods of handling are correct. 9 For measuring a particular abiotic factor, replication have been done. 10 All equipment and tools are kept neat and tidy after use, no loss or damage. * Verify by checking students data sheets Assessment Date : Assessed by: Mark Scale: Excellent 9 10 marks Good 6 8 marks Fair 3 5 marks Poor 1 2 marks Fail to meet minimum requirement 0 A6