YEAR 7 SCIENCE 66

TEACHER GUIDE

Food webs - Intertidal coral reefsThe aim of this activity is to observe and consider feeding relationships between species living in the intertidal zone and the shallow coral reef. Students will record and identify characteristic features of different invertebrate groups.

ACARA curriculum linksScience understanding (ACSSU111) Science inquiry skills (ACSIS124, ACSIS125, ACSIS126, ACSIS129, ACSIS130, ACSIS131, ACSIS132, ACSIS133) Science as a human endeavour (ACSHE119 & ACSHE223)

Instructions• This activity should be conducted on the intertidal zone at low tide. Check tides timetable and plan this

activity accordingly• To increase the amount of data collection, split the group into smaller groups.• Features of the plant and invertebrate species found should be described.• WaterproofinvertebrateandplantIDsheetscanhelpinthefieldtoidentifyspecimensfound.

Equipment• Sturdy reef walking shoes• Hat, sunscreen and water bottle• Waterproof paper and pencil• Identificationguideforanimalsandplantsintheintertidalzone• Digital camera• Coralwatch Coral Health Chart and datasheet (optional)

Resources•CommonfloraandfaunaIDsheets• Field guides

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YEAR 7 SCIENCE 67

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FIELD GUIDECo

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YEAR 7 SCIENCE 68YEAR 7 SCIENCE 68XXXX116

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YEAR 7 SCIENCE 69YEAR 7 SCIENCE 69XXXX116

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FIELD GUIDE

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YEAR 7 SCIENCE 70

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YEAR 7 SCIENCE 70XXXX116ACSSU111

WORKSHEET FIELD 4

InstructionsField activity1. Find an area that your teacher determines it is safe to walk through.2. Record any animals and plants observed in this location in the table as a group.3. Refertofieldguidestohelpwithspeciesidentification.4. Any corals encountered should be assessed using the CoralWatch Coral Health Chart.

Questions1. Usetheinformationprovidedinthefieldguidetodeterminewhatanimalseattheplantsandother

animals observed. Record this in the table (worksheet 4)2. Predictwhichspeciesareproducers,firstorderconsumers,secondorderconsumersandthirdorder

consumers based on the information you have learned.

Back in the classroom activity1. Constructafoodwebusingalltheplantsandanimalsrecordedinthefield.Trytodrawrepresentative

pictures of each animal or plant in the food web.2. Whattypesofcoralsdidyouobserveinyourfieldstudy?Howdidtheyfitintothefoodwebofthe

intertidalzone?3. Suggestwhatmayhappenifoneofthefirstorderconsumersisremovedfromthesystem?4.DidyoufindanydifferenceincolourscoresusingtheCoralHealthChart?Doyouthinkthecoralsare

healthyandwhy?

Food webs - Intertidal coral reefs

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Food webs field activity results table

Group member names:

Location: Date:

Time:

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WORKSHEET FIELD 4

Food webs - Intertidal coral reefs

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