Preliminary Biology Research Task 2012Part 1Process information to discuss a current effort to monitor biodiversity.i. Identify a particular current effort to monitor biodiversity and outline the aim of this effortAustralian Collaborative Rangeland Information System is a current effort to monitor biodiversity. The primary objective is to track the changes in biodiversity of the rangelands at a national scale (in order to protect and manage rangeland biodiversity).The other aims of the system are to identify trends in: the extent of clearing native vegetation, the distribution and abundance of susceptible mammals and birds and also grazing-sensitive plants as well as to meet explicit legislative obligations (harvest quotas for kangaroos) and assist on improving enterprise-level decision making.ii. Identify which group is conducting the monitoringCSIROs Cooperative Research Centre. iii. Identify some of the main species monitoredThe system monitors species within the region marked by the red lines in the diagram. Some of these species are red kangaroos and eastern & western grey kangaroos.

iv. Describe the methods used in the monitoringAerial surveys are used to monitor the density of kangaroos; this is done annually in some areas and triennial in most of Western Australia. Planes fly along transects and trained observers count the kangaroos within the distance of the tape, this process usually takes 3-5 days for each zone, the monitoring program takes into account that there are more kangaroos than the number actually counted so they implement some correction factors to produce an estimated population.

v. Discuss the reliability of the dataThe data obtained from the aerial surveys are not extremely accurate, even though the region is separated into zones in which the planes fly over and record the number of kangaroos near the transect. The method of counting is flawed as there is a chance of human error and kangaroos may be out of sight of the observer or may be missed by the observer. Observers may also incorrectly identify a kangaroo. Kangaroos also are very mobile and there is a possibility that it may be counted into 2 transects. The data obtained from the aerial survey is not exact but this is the most practical method of gathering a population estimate, other methods such as tagging will be too costly over a large area. Therefore the results will not be very reliable but it is the most practical method over a large region.

An Eastern Grey KangarooA Western Grey Kangaroo

vi. Propose some advantages and disadvantages of conducting this monitoringThe advantages of monitoring kangaroos include achieving sustainability. Harvest quotas are made through the use of monitoring the density of kangaroos which ensures that the kangaroo population will not be endangered by harvesting. The monitoring also helps conservation efforts to prioritise the preservation of the more vulnerable species and to distribute their limited funds so as to best keep the balance of the ecosystem. Monitoring biodiversity also provides statistics for the government to base legislation on so that endangered species can be protected.

There is a high cost involved with the monitoring of the kangaroos as the system requires a lot of time as well as labour too. Conducting monitoring over the rangelands which is a very large area reduces the accuracy of the results that are obtained.

Although there a disadvantages of conducting monitoring there are also many advantages which make a viable in tracking the changes in biodiversity in the rangelands at a national scale.

Referenceshttp://www.environment.gov.au/land/publications/pubs/biomonitor-monitoring-vol1.pdfhttp://www.environment.gov.au/land/publications/pubs/rangelands-monitoring-vol2.pdfhttp://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/resources/parks/AerialSurveyFactSheetJun07.pdfImage -http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/wildlifemanagement/KMPPopulationEstimatesWest.htmhttp://www.anra.gov.au/topics/rangelands/pubs/tracking-changes/ris.htmlhttp://www.environment.gov.au/land/publications/acris/pubs/acris-sa-reporting-final.pdfhttp://www.environment.gov.au/land/rangelands/acris/index.htmlhttp://www.environment.gov.au/land/publications/index.html#acrisImage - http://www.environment.gov.au/land/publications/acris/pubs/rangelands-statistical-analysis-temporal-trends-detection-rates.pdfhttp://www.environment.gov.au/land/publications/acris/pubs/acris-kangaroo-update.pdfhttp://www.environment.gov.au/land/publications/acris/pubs/bio-monitoring-rangelands.pdfImage - http://bird.net.au/bird/index.php?title=Eastern_Grey_KangarooImage - http://www.chidlowmarsupialhospital.org.au/page-17-1-identification.html

Preliminary Biology Research Task 2012Part 2Discuss the impact of changes in technology on the development and revision of biological classification systems.In your answer i. Illustrate with a specific example how the use of radiometric dating techniques have led to a revision in the way an organism has been classifiedii. Illustrate with a specific example how the use of biochemical techniques have led to a revision in the way an organism has been classified.Biological classification systems sorts organisms into groups (based on certain characteristics) so that they can be described and identified easily. It also helps to explain the relationships between organisms, thus creating evolutionary trees. The basis of classification is morphology, which uses structural characteristics to distinguish between different species. As time progressed, advances in technology were made allowing biologists to distinguish between organisms that could not be properly classified by morphology alone. The advancement in technology has enabled biologists to more accurately record evolutionary relationships. With the discovery of radioactivity in the beginning of the 20th century, radiometric dating techniques were available to determine the age of fossils by measuring the amount of decay in radioisotopes. This allowed biologists to link a time period with a certain organism. In the 20th century, the development of biochemical techniques enabled biologists to obtain sequences of amino acids in protein molecules and the bases in DNA [1]. Some of the techniques that have contributed to this process are two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography. The development of technology has led to the revision in the way an organism has been classified. Biochemical techniques have discovered that medicinal leeches were misclassified and were assumed to be the species Hirudo medicinalis, but in fact they were Hirudo verbana (which is closely related to Hirudo medicinalis). The method used to identify the leech was DNA barcoding. The leech was previously used in surgery because it was thought to be the species Hirudo medicinalis, but it was actually Hirudo verbana which had not been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration at the time. Radioisotopes have a fixed rate of decay which allows scientists to use radiometric dating to figure the age of a certain specimen (carbon dating is an example). By attributing a time period to a discovered fossil scientists are able to understand where the creature fit into evolution. This process is more accurate that relative dating as relative dating can be affected by environmental factors such as the continental shift and earthquakes. The half-life of radioisotopes are fixed and recorded so radiometric dating is much more accurate as it is not affected by the environment, thus it is able to accurately provide the age of fossils. The discovery of the microscope was a major contribution in the revision of biological classification systems. With the discovery of the microscope, Monera (a kingdom of unicellular organisms) had been discovered.The advancement of technology has brought about many changes in the classification of organisms, biologists are able to accurately identify and place certain organisms into certain groups which enables scientist to create evolutionary paths.

A picture of Hirudo Medicinalis An image of Hirudo Verbana

References[1] Direct quote from: http://books.google.com.au/books?id=N5Ve4Cg0IdIC&pg=PA59&lpg=PA59&dq=the+development+and+revision+of+biological+classification+systems.&source=bl&ots=yuk1L8wbPK&sig=Blbb0h7UXh6T27VKP4c3PKXnRPk&hl=en&sa=X&ei=d-MUUMKLNNGViQfD8IGADw&ved=0CFQQ6AEwBA#v=onepage&q=the%20development%20and%20revision%20of%20biological%20classification%20systems.&f=falsehttp://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/library/03/3/l_033_01.htmlhttp://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-biological-classification.htmhttp://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2007-04/nsf-mfc041107.phphttp://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1548252/Medicinal-leeches-are-the-wrong-kind.htmlhttp://barcoding.si.edu/whatis.htmlhttp://www.ehow.com/how-does_5184705_radioactive-dating-used-date-fossils_.htmlhttp://www.ehow.com/about_6627861_relative-dating-vs_-radioactive-dating.htmlhttp://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/dating.htmlHickman, Peter; Kennedy, Eileen; Aubusson, Peter Biology in Context The Spectrum of Life Second Edition. Oxford 2004Image - http://cae2k.com/nice-house-photos-0/hirudo.htmlImage - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hirudo_medicinalis

Preliminary Biology Research Task 2012Part 3The Huxley Wilberforce Debate:a. Outline the positions taken by both protagonists in this debate;i. Thomas Huxley Huxley supported Darwins theory of evolution in the Origin of Species to a great extent.ii. Samuel WilberforceWilberforce disagreed with the theory of evolution made in the Darwins Origin of Species.b. There are several different accounts of Huxleys most famous riposte to Wilberforces reference to Huxleys ancestry. Recount the version you think most probable and justify your choiceDuring the debate Wilberforce asked if Huxley was descended from an ape on his grandmothers or grandfathers side which Huxley replied with If then, said I, the question is put to me would I rather have a miserable ape for a grandfather or a man highly endowed by nature and possessed of great means of influence and yet who employs these faculties and that influence for the mere purpose of introducing ridicule into a grave scientific discussion, I unhesitatingly affirm my preference for the ape[1]. There are many versions of Huxleys riposte but I firmly believe that this is the most probable as it was supported by renowned journals such as The Guardian and The Athenaeum and there were also many letters including Huxleys personal account of what happened in his letter to Henry Dyster. This makes this version of his reply more probable than other versions.c. i. Discuss both sides of the debate on the theory of evolution as it is presented in recent timesThe theory of evolution is almost unanimously amongst the scientific community as well as a majority of Australians. However, the theory of evolution is not supported by some people in the world even though it is taught in schools around the world. It is disputed by a segment of society whose size varies from country to country and who doubt the veracity of the theory of evolution. The proponents of evolution argue that Darwins theory of evolution is an accurate description of the process that has led to the existence of the current forms of life. They do this on the basis of empirical evidence such as the cane toads evolution in Australia. The current toad tends to have longer legs than the ones brought to Australia over 50 years ago which allows them to jump higher and further which increases their chance of survival thus supporting natural selection the process in which the organisms that are better suited to an environment produce more offspring. The detractors of evolution in recent times have a variety of stances in their opposition to evolution. Some deny that evolution is real and maintain that the Earth was created in its present state by a higher power. Others hold that although evolution is a real process, the process of natural selection is in fact driven by a similar higher power. Although it is widely accepted that evolution exists there are still people who disagree with evolution.ii. Illustrate how the recent debate is different to debates in Darwins time.When Darwin introduced his theory although it was a time of social change and some biologists believed him but it was not widely accepted as many still clung onto the belief that evolution didnt exist. Today, evolution is generally accepted as a scientific as a result of a century and a half of observations which support the theory. The majority of people that disagree with evolution today tend to believe that evolution happens but disagree on the process of natural selection.

References[1] Direct quote from http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/history/thuxley.htmlhttp://www.americanscientist.org/issues/pub/huxley-wilberforce-and-the-oxford-museumhttp://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/history/thuxley.htmlhttp://www.scienceandchristianbelief.org/articles/hedley_brooke.phphttp://users.ox.ac.uk/~jrlucas/legend.htmlhttp://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/history/thuxley.htmlhttp://creation.com/wilberforce-huxley-debate#endRef12http://www.humanism.org.uk/humanism/humanist-tradition/freethinkers/huxleyhttp://www.enlightennext.org/magazine/j35/real-evolution-debate-intro.asp

Preliminary Biology Research Task 2012Part 4Identify data sources, gather, process and analyse information from secondary sources and use available evidence to discuss the relative success of internal and external fertilisation in relation to the colonisation of terrestrial and aquatic environments.i. Discuss with an example the fertilisation strategies of aquatic organisms Aquatic organisms use external fertilisation as a means of reproduction. Clownfish are one of the many aquatic organisms that carry out this process, the female deposits eggs on coral, rock or near a sea anemone and the male fertilises the eggs by depositing sperm into the body of water. There are advantages as well as disadvantages that go with external fertilisation. External fertilisation can produce larger amount of offspring than internal fertilisation but the lack protection (as the parents dont care for them) for the offspring prevents many of them surviving to adulthood due to predators. There are also many eggs that arent fertilised this may be due to strong currents that carry the sperm away from the eggs. The large amount of offspring improves the chance of the clownfish to pass on its genes (which is the point of reproduction) but this requires the female clownfish to expend more energy and time to release the eggs. The method in which clownfish reproduce is suitable as external fertilisation is only possible in water because the sperm cells require water as a medium to move in to reach the eggs. By laying eggs near a sea anemone the tentacles are able to ward off predators which protect the eggs. External fertilisation is generally quicker and reduces the need for contact between the organisms. External fertilisation allows for a higher survival rate for the parents as they dont take care of their young.ii. Discuss with an example the fertilisation strategies of amphibiansAmphibians use external fertilisation as a strategy to reproduce. In fresh water female frogs lay eggs and the male releases sperm which fertilise the eggs. There is a smaller chance of fertilisation as currents can disturb the sperm from reaching the eggs but generally there is a larger amount of offspring but not all of the offspring are able to survive to adulthood. The frogs leave the eggs after fertilisation thus leaving the offspring to fend for themselves which results in a lower survival rate however at the end of this process there are still a large number of frogs which survive into maturity. Female frogs expend more time and energy to release gametes, many of these gametes may not even be fertilised as well. No copulation occurs therefore there is no transmission of diseases and the zygote develops outside of the parents which increase the survival rate of the parents as they are not burdened by taking care of the young.iii. Discuss with an example the fertilisation strategies of terrestrial organismsTerrestrial organisms reproduce through internal fertilisation. In kangaroos, copulation occurs which may transfer diseases; the male kangaroo releases gametes into a confined area which increases the chance of fertilisation. Therefore the female does not have to produce as many gametes which save energy. The female kangaroo is able to increase the survival rate of their young by taking care of it inside its pouch for months after birth (protecting it from the harsh environment and predators). Female kangaroos are also able to pause eggs from developing if they breed more than once, this is because they can only take care of one joey at a time which increases the survival rate of the offspring.iv. Compare and contrast internal and external fertilisation in terms of the number of gametes produced, the survival rate of fertilised gametes and the level of parental care provided to the offspringInternal fertilisation produces less gametes than external fertilisation and also has a higher survival rate than external fertilisation. By reducing the amount of gametes produced the process of internal fertilisation is able to save more energy and nutrients than external fertilisation. Both internal and external fertilisation requires the male gamete to swim to the female gametes, but in internal fertilisation it is in a much more confined space. There is no parental care provided to the offspring from external fertilisation whereas internal fertilisation provides a lot of care. The lack of parental care for the offspring from external fertilisation results in a lower survival rate of the fertilised gametes as it is not protected from predators, organisms that fertilise internally are able to retain the zygote inside their body until it is fully developed thus increasing its chance of survival as it is protected from predators.

ReferencesHickman, Peter; Kennedy, Eileen; Aubusson, Peter Biology in Context The Spectrum of Life Second Edition. Oxford 2004http://tolweb.org/treehouses/?treehouse_id=3390http://www.ehow.com/info_8177333_advantages-disadvantages-external-fertilization.htmlhttp://biology.about.com/od/genetics/a/aa040805a.htmhttp://cmlindblom.hubpages.com/hub/The-Breeding-Clown-Fishhttp://www.asknature.org/strategy/fb410d8500af30a5daf5b647954b7fa5http://planet.uwc.ac.za/nisl/biodiversity/loe/page_193.htmhttp://www.inspiredsci.com/preliminary-biology/2011/9/2/internal-fertilization-the-red-kangaroo.htmlhttp://www.ehow.com/how-does_4568162_amphibians-reproduce.html