This is the start of your Year 12 HSC Course - if you only want to do Year 11 you will need to see me about a research project based on fieldwork please come to class next Tuesday to discussThis work is integrated with the work on BIOSPHERE from our Yr 11 section.

Year 12 Topic syllabus overviewEcosystems at RiskStudents learn about:ecosystems and their management case studies of ecosystemsPlus TWO case studies of different ecosystems at risk to illustrate their unique characteristics our case studies will be inter-tidal wetlands and coral reefs focussing on Salt Pan Creek and the Great Barrier Reef.You must study both the case studies and overview work on ecosystems.

Ecosystems at Risk:The Biosphere is that part of the earths surface where all life occurs. It extends from sea level to over 9,000 metres high and to a depth of nearly 10,000 metres. This is the zone that supports all life on earth.Biomes are large complex regions of the biosphere such as forests or grasslands that have similar climate or vegetation features eg. Tropical rainforests, deserts, savanna grasslands, coniferous forests, alpine. (see next slide for the variety of biomes on earth).

The earths biomesThe Earth has many different environments, varying in temperature, moisture, light, and many other factors. Each of these habitats has distinct life forms living in it, forming complex communities of interdependent organisms. A complex community of plants and animals in a region and a climate is called a biome. Some of the biomes on Earth include: Desert - very dry, either hot or cold Tundra - cool, treeless, and dry Chaparral or scrub - coastal area with hot, dry summers and mild, cool, rainy winters Taiga or Coniferous Forest - cool and dry, with coniferous trees Temperate Deciduous Forest - cool and rainy, with deciduous trees Grassland - Windy, partly dry sea of grass with few trees, including tropical savanna, prairie, steppe, pampas, etc. Mountain biomes: there are a lot of different mountainous biomes, from grasslands at low altitudes, taiga (coniferous forests) below the treeline, and alpine (the same as tundra) Temperate Rain Forest - cool and wet Tropical Rain Forest - warm and very wet Land Caves - cool and dark Wetlands - there are many types of wetlands, including swamps, marshes, moors, bogs, fens, sloughs, etc. Freshwater Marsh - a wetland located near creeks, streams, rivers and lakes Temperate ponds

What are ecosystems?Ecosystem - an area that contains organisms (e.g., plants, animals, bacteria) interacting with one another and their non-living environment. Ecosystems can be of any size (e.g., forest, pond).Ecosystems may be classified according to their CLIMATE (eg. Alpine or desert), VEGETATION (eg. Tropical rainforest or savanna grassland), PHYSICAL FEATURES (eg. Coral reefs), TERRESTRIAL (eg. Land based such as grasslands or deserts) or AQUATIC (eg. Freshwater or saltwater such as coral reefs or wetlands).

Variations in complexity and scaleEcosystems vary in complexity and scale from the Great Barrier Reef in north Queensland which extends for over 2,000 km, has over 2,000 fish species and 500 coral species to that of a pond or sand dune system on a beach.

BIOPHYSICAL INTERACTIONSThe interactions of the biosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere togetherThe interaction of food chains feeding relationships and population changesThe interaction of biogeochemical cycles such as Carbon-Oxygen cycle, Nitrogen cycles,The interaction of fires, storms, floods INTERACTIONS MEANS :SOMETHING HAPPENS -> LEADS TO AN ACTION/EFFECT/IMPACT

More termsBIODIVERSITY the variety of species or life forms and includes:GENETIC DIVERSITY variations in the genetics of individuals within a speciesSPECIES DIVERSITY the variety of species within different habitatsECOLOGICAL DIVERSITY the variety of biological communities that interact within their non-living environment

OTHER TERMS TO KNOW:FOOD CHAIN set of organisms, each eating or feeding on the preceding one eg. Grass -> grasshopper -> birdFOOD WEB the network of interconnected food chainsHERBIVORE organisms that consume plants as their only food sourceCARNIVORE organisms that consume meat as their only source of foodOMNIVORE organisms that consume both plants and meat as foodBIOMASS The total mass of living matter within a given unit of environmental area.SUCCESSION is the change in the structure and species combination of a plant community thus leading to a more complex community over time.

The most productive areas in the world given their natural production of living matter are.swamps and marshes: 2500 g/m/yr of biomass tropical rain forests: 2000 g/m/yr of biomass algal beds and reefs: 2000 g/m/yr of biomass river estuaries: 1800 g/m/yr of biomass temperate forests: 1200 g/m/yr of biomass cultivated lands: 600 g/m/yr of biomass deserts and tundras: less than 200 g/m/yr of biomass

This is based on Net primary production which is the rate at which biomass is generated in a given area, mainly due to photosynthesis. Map below)

Board of Studies SyllabusOutcomesThe student:H1explains the changing nature, spatial patterns and interaction of ecosystems, urban places and economic activityH2explains the factors which place ecosystems at risk and the reasons for their protection H5evaluates environmental management strategies in terms of ecological sustainabilityH6evaluates the impacts of, and responses of people to, environmental change H7justifies geographical methods applicable and useful in the workplace and relevant to a changing worldH8plans geographical inquiries to analyse and synthesise information from a variety of sourcesH9evaluates geographical information and sources for usefulness, validity and reliabilityH10 applies maps, graphs and statistics, photographs and fieldwork to analyse and integrate data in geographical contextsH11applies mathematical ideas and techniques to analyse geographical data H12explains geographical patterns, processes and future trends through appropriate case studies and illustrative examplesH13communicates complex geographical information, ideas and issues effectively, using appropriate written and/or oral, cartographic and graphic forms.

ecosystems and their management

biophysical interactions which lead to diverse ecosystems and their functioning vulnerability and resilience of ecosystemsimpacts due to natural stress impacts due to human induced modifications to energy flows, nutrient cycling, and relationships between biophysical componentsthe importance of ecosystem management and protection maintenance of genetic diversityutility valuesintrinsic valuesheritage valuesneed to allow natural change to proceedevaluation of traditional and contemporary management strategies.

case studies of ecosystemsTWO case studies of different ecosystems at risk* spatial patterns and dimensions: location, altitude, latitude, size, shape and continuity* biophysical interactions including: the dynamics of weather and climate geomorphic and hydrologic processes such as earth movements, weathering, erosion, transport and deposition, soil formation biogeographical processes: invasion, succession, modification, resilience adjustments in response to natural stress* the nature and rate of change which affects ecosystem functioning* human impacts (both positive and negative)* traditional and contemporary management practices.The selected ecosystems at risk could include areas such as coastal dunes,freshwater wetlands, inter-tidal wetlands, coral reefs, arid areas, alpine areas, rainforests, temperate forests.

You need to know what these mean!spatial patterns and dimensionsbiophysical interactions the nature and rate of changehuman impactstraditional and contemporary management

spatial patterns and dimensions

Where is it?Size?Extent?

This is how you should write an opening paragraph or similar.... Underline key facts, figures, location, dimensions.SPATIAL PATTERN & DIMENSIONSCoral Reef ecosystems are located in tropical seas from Latitudes 30N to 30S of the equator where waters are clear, high in oxygen and free of sediment from depths of 2 to 30m. These areas include the Caribbean, the south Pacific and the Great Barrier Reef. The Great Barrier Reef is the largest known coral reef system in the world. It is located from 8S to 24S extending some 2,300 km and consisting of 2,900 individual reefs and 600 islands an area of approximately 348,700km and extends from Cape York to near Bundaberg or similar information.

This is what your sketch map should look like....you can add more detail or use coloured pencils, print, do not use textas/highlighter pens, use PENCIL.

biophysical interactions lead to diverse ecosystems....Consider any interactions between the living and non-living components of the environment between and within one anotherCAUSE -> EFFECTHow one thing leads to another.....to create this ecosystemEg. Food Chains, Food Webs, how the conditions of the natural environment work together to allow coral reefs to survive, how the zooxanthellae work symbiotically to allow the coral to survive; how coral bleaching occurs; how silt affects the coral reef ; how coral atols form and get colonised by plants (succession); changes in sea level over time have lead to the reef developing where it is......DEFINE ECOSYSTEMS at the start of the paragraph

Another approach is...To use BIOSHPERE, LITHOSPHERE, ATMOSPHERE, HYDROSPHERE interactionsHow one leads to another......Can be difficult to write.....

the nature and rate of change

What types of change are occuring natural or human induced?Human induced is causing more rapid change! Learn some key facts/rates of change statements.How vulnerable or resilient is the coral reef?Define VULNERABILITYDefine RESILIENCE remember...the more diverse, the greater the extent and the more food web linkages the more resilient!

Natural ChangeCyclonesSea levels over geological timeOrganisms.......

Human Induced Change you need rates of change, numbers, places,....SiltationGlobal Warming bleaching episodes dates! acidification and weakening of coral structures sea level changesAnchor damageDynamite fishingOverfishingPollution.....etc....

Human ImpactsThis is the easiest concept human impacts both POSITIVE and NEGATIVEPositive includes making marine parks, educating people, setting bag limits on fishing catches, creating sediment traps in catchment areas emptying onto the reef, policing to ensure marine park remains viable.......Negative the easiest to write......siltation of the reef, cyanide and dynamite fishing in coral reefs in developing nations.....

traditional and contemporary management

Traditional traditional societies/native people eg. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders still can hunt some endangered animals as part of local customs but taboos and tribal beliefs limit killing of certain animals ...stewardship...respect for environment....part of belief system.....Contemporary modern, current practices.eg. Zoning activities such as Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.

Example of Contemporary Practice operating in GBR

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