Biosphere - Animals

BIODIVERSITY: How animal’s live, function, reproduce and interact with each other and their environment.

Biodiversity underpins the health of the environment and the ability to support human and animal needs. This
includes basic requirements such as:

o Production of oxygen.
o Creation of soil.
o Cycling and purification of water.
o Breakdown of wastes.
o Regulates climate.
o Underpins the production of our food.
Ecological diversity = The intricate network of different species present in ecosystems and the interplay between
them.

Functional diversity = The biological and chemical processes such as energy flow and matter recycling that impact
the survival of species, communities and ecosystems.

Species diversity = The number and abundance of species present in different ecosystems.

Genetic diversity = The variety of genetic material within a species or population. The more closely related 2
species are the more genetic information they will share = similar appearance and behaviour.

Roles Species Play in Ecosystems

Each species has a specific role to play in the ecosystems where it is found - known by Scientists as its ecological
niche.
A species niche is its pattern of living in a community and includes everything that affects its survival and
reproduction and are classified mostly as:
Generalists: Have broad niches, can live in many different places, eat a variety of foods and often tolerate a wide
range of environmental conditions; or

Specialists: Occupy narrow niches, may be able to live in only one type of habitat, may use just one or a few types of
food, tolerate a narrow range of climatic and environmental conditions and are prone to extinction when conditions
change.

Human Impact on Animals

Population growth
Key questions:
1. What happens to the animals when the population grows and expands?
2. How can we ensure that animals successfully relocate or manage to live alongside humans?
We have seen the loss of animal habitat due to agricultural, urban and industrial development as human population
has continued to exponentially grow over the last 3 centuries.

population growth results in an increased amount of space required to house, educate and employ people. As
humans sprawl out, we lose animals habitats and therefor loose the animals that once lived there if they are unable
to relocate.
 Deforestation
Deforestation is the process of clearing or removal of the Forrest and trees where land is then used for a non-forest
purpose. We have cleared half of the world's rainforests from the earth. When a Forrest is cleared so the animals
that live in that space, resulting in mass deaths of a range of different species. Mass deforestation is a major cause to
the extinction, and reduction of certain animal species. Some include:

The Asian Elephant: Now found only in The Bonobo: Small number found now only
small isolated parts of India and South East in the Congo. Deforestation as well as
Asia, i.e. Sumatra. Formally widely distributed poaching and civil unrest has resulted in the
across Asia as a roaming forest animal. rapidly declining numbers in the past 30 years.
Pollution & Waste

Key question: What can we do to reduce the amount of plastic waste humans produce?
Pollution is the process of making land, water or air unsuitable for use. Plastic pollution has become a worldwide
global issue. There is now not one part of the planet that has not been touched by plastic. Some of the plastic waste
humans produce is dumped in large scales into the oceans. Marine life such as fish, turtles and birds are being
affected by this. Animals often mistake plastic for food, resulting in a build-up of plastic material inside of the
animal's body. Other ways this impacts on the animals include, infection, ingestion, suffocating, drowning and
entanglement.
Threatened Species
What is a threatened species?
A species is considered threatened if:
o There is a reduction in its population size.
o It has a restricted geographical distribution.
o There are few mature individuals.
Extinct = There is no reasonable doubt that the last member of the species has died.
Extinct in the wild = Known only to survive in cultivation, captivity or as a naturalised population well outside its
past range. Has not been recorded in its known and/or expected habitat.
Critically endangered = Extremely high risk of extinction in the wild in the immediate future.
Endangered = Very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future.
Vulnerable = High risk of extinction in the wild in the medium-term future.
Conservation dependent = The species is the focus of a specific conservation program the termination of which
would result in the species becoming vulnerable, endangered or critically endangered.
 Penguin Nest Box Project
Design Criteria:
 Work in groups of 2 or 3.
 Refer to 2D designs (previously drawn out) and notes about key features and measurements.
 Model is to be scaled down to approximately half the size of real nest box.
 Ensure there is no floor, so boxes can be placed over natural sites.
 Use recycled materials brought in from home or collected from school clean up e.g. cardboard, plastic, pop
sticks, paper etc.
 Use scissors, glue, staplers, sticky tape, paint and texters to assist with the building and decorating process.
Critical and creative thinking questions:
o How big are the adult penguins? (40cm)
o Does your box allow enough space for 2 adults and 2 chicks?
o If you have a tunnel entrance, is it large enough for the penguins to negotiate?
o What features are included to make it difficult for dogs, cats and other predators to get access to the nest?
o Is there a way to allow for inspection by humans without disrupting the penguins? (lid)
o What additional features could be added to increase the chance of survival from the hot weather? (shade
cloth, heat resistant paint)
Australian Curriculum links:
Year 4
BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES:

− Living things have life cycles (ACSSU072)

− Living things depend on each other and the environment to survive (ACSSU073)
USE AND INFLUENCE OF SCIENCE:
− Science knowledge helps people to understand the effect of their actions (ACSHE062)
DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGIES PROCESSES & PRODUCTION SKLLS:

− Evaluate design ideas, processes and solutions based on criteria for success developed with guidance and
including care for the environment (ACTDEP017)
CROSS CURRICULUM PRIORITY:

− Sustainability
Other Activities Related to the Penguin Nest Box Activity
o Research penguins on Penguin Island and penguin nest boxes (PNB), then create a fact sheet.
o Draw 2D design and plan measurements.
o Create digital instruction manual for PNB on Book Creator app.
o Make penguins from egg shells to be in PNB classroom display.
o Vote on the best design of the PNB and give to local community 'men's shed' to make.
o In partners, create a video and interview each other about the ways people can reduce the bad impacts to
penguins in the water to generate awareness.
o Research about different types of penguins and what countries they are located in.
o Excursion to Penguin Island to deliver PNB.
 Resources
Children’s literature:

o 5 Elephants: help students learn and understand about animals held in captivity
o Gamba: an optimistic mountain gorilla tale - teach students about extremely endangered species and
highlights how human actions can impact wildlife.
o Almost Gone: the world's rarest animals - introduces basic endangered species concepts to young children
o Possum magic: students learn about the animals featured in the book including their habitats, where they
live, diet, endangered status and their predators.
o Life in the Ocean: short biography of oceanographer Sylvia Earle, shows students the beauty and importance
of the ocean
o Olivia’s Birds Saving the Gulf: 11-year-old Olivia’s artworks paired with casual and informative passages to
teach students about bird identification, habitat, and nature preservation
o One Plastic bag: story about Isatou Ceesay and how she found a way to recycle the plastic bags accumulating
in Njau, Gambia and transform her community.
o The Second Sky: Examine animal characteristics, functions, ecology and environments.

Excursion venues:

1. Perth Zoo - Workshops about animal adaptations, threat processes, and biodiversity, and the difference we
can make.
2. Piney Lakes - Variety of excursion opportunities with a focus on native animals in Australia and that area.
With a sustainable eco centre they look at declining species and what’s happening to the areas around them
because of climate change. Focusing on wildlife and protecting habitats.
3. Nearer to Nature - Aims to increase communities’ environmental awareness through hands on experience
with wonderful animals & plants and their interactions.
4. Critters up close (incursion) - Wildlife that comes to your school to allow students to learn and have hands
on experience with a range of Australia’s native animals
5. Caversham wildlife park - A huge range of native Australian species to learn about. More than 2000 head of
animals, birds and reptiles. Approx. 200 different species.

Design Project ideas:

1. Build a sustainable animal shelter.

2. Create an 3D animal (i.e. a ladybug, butterfly) out of recyclable materials and create a poster to show their
lifestyle, habitat etc.
3. Design a turtle nest protector.
4. Create your own creature - design a creature that has the ultimate features to allow it to survive in the hot
Australian desert.

Lesson Plan ideas:

1. Animals find suitable homes in schools - separate into groups and move around the school trying to find
different animals and the habitats they have established in the school. Write and record your findings.
2. Newspaper hunt - in groups you are to find as much information as you can through your given articles on
your animals. Identify 3 reasons to why the number of that species is declining. How can we change this? Be
prepared to share your answers with another group.
3. Invasive species - with a partner research a species that has been introduced into Australia. Has it created
problems or been a benefit to society?
 References

Babin, D., CIRAD (Organization), & Unesco. (2004). Beyond tropical deforestation: From tropical deforestation to
forest cover dynamics and forest development. Paris: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization.

Commonwealth of Australia. (2018). About the EPBC Act. Retrieved from

http://www.environment.gov.au/epbc/about

Commonwealth of Australia. (2018). Species Profile and Threats Database. Retrieved from
http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/public/publicthreatenedlist.pl?wanted=fauna

Commonwealth of Australia. (2018). Threatened species under the EPBC Act. Retrieved from
http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/species

Deforestation (2018). Encyclopædia Britannica Inc.

Environment and Energy. (2016). Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. Retrieved from
https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2016C00777

Government of Western Australia. (2018). Department of biodiversity, conservation and attractions. Retrieved from
https://www.dbca.wa.gov.au/

Grayson, D. K. (2001). The archaeological record of human impacts on animal populations. Journal of World
Prehistory, 15(1), 1-68. doi:10.1023/A:1011165119141

Medlen, P. (August 18, 2018). Penguin Island's penguins in battle for survival against climate change, human threats.
ABC News. Retrieved from http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-08-12/penguin-island-penguins-in-danger-
from-changing-weather/10096012

Miller, G. T., & Spoolman, S. E. (2013). Environmental science. (14th ed.). Belmont, Calif: Brooks/Cole/Cengage
Learning.

National Geographic. (2017). Ocean threats. Retrieved from

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/habitats/ocean-threats/

NSW Government. (2018). About threatened species. Retrieved from

https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/topics/animals-and-plants/threatened-species/about-threatened-
species