Download Habitat Comparisons

Teacher Notes
Habitat Comparisons
This worksheet is based on two exhibitions at Queensland Museum South Bank. These are Marine Reptiles and
Discover Queensland (refer to Teeming Tropics section within the exhibition), which are located on Level 2.
This activity will help develop students’ knowledge of the diverse array of organisms found in both marine and
tropical environments; the foods these organisms eat; interactions within each community; and the impact of
humans on the community. The content and aims relate to Years 5- 7 of the Australian Science Curriculum.
Content:
Yr 5: Living things have structural features and adaptations that help them to survive in their environment.
Yr 6: The growth and survival of living things are affected by the physical conditions of their environment.
Yr 7: Interactions between organisms can be described in terms of food chains and food webs; human activity can
affect these interactions.
Aims:
•
To investigate some of the features that marine and terrestrial organisms have to help them survive in their
respective habitats
•
To compare the living things in two habitats and understand that different habitats have distinctly different
sets of flora and fauna
•
To understand that living things within a habitat will find a wide range of ways to survive in that habitat (e.g.
some may be nocturnal, some diurnal, and so on)
•
To investigate some of the human impacts on marine habitats
Pre-Visit Activity:
Allow students time to research and find definitions for the following terms before visiting the displays at the
museum.
Term
Meaning
Example
Predator
Prey
Consumer
Producer
Food Chain
Top predator
Nocturnal
Diurnal
Hibernation
Invertebrate
Post-Visit Activity:
Write an account of how the two habitats are similar and how they are different. This could be done in table
format with headings supplied by the teacher.
Students should mention the differences in flora and fauna in the aquatic and terrestrial habitats. These could
be related to differences in the physical surroundings. i.e. temperature, rainfall, salt concentrations, and so on.
Student Worksheet
Habitat Comparisons
PART A: MARINE REPTILES EXHIBITION
1. Human activities have an impact on the environment. List the threats to the survival of marine turtles due to
human impact.
(a) ……………………………………………….
(b) …………………………………………….
(c) ……………………………………………….
(d) …………………………………………….
(e) ……………………………………………….
(f) ……………………………………………..
(g) ………………………………………………
2. Marine turtles are a protected species in Australia. Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islanders have
harvested turtles and crocodiles for centuries. Apart from food, what other uses did Aboriginal people and
Torres Strait Islanders make of turtles and crocodiles?
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...............
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3. There are many organisms in the hanging displays in this
exhibit.
These make up several of the consumers found
in marine environments. List the ones that you
can see around the room under the following
headings.
Types of Turtles
Types of Sea Snakes
Types of Crocodiles
Types of Fish
Types of Birds
Types of invertebrates (e.g.
crabs, sponges, corals etc)
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Student Worksheet
Habitat Comparisons
4. Watch the video on turtle reproduction. How does the temperature of the sand affect whether male or
female turtles will hatch?
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5. In the video some predators of the young turtles are mentioned. List these below:
……………………………………
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…………………………………..
6. Examine the turtle skulls. Adult turtles don’t have any teeth. How are Green turtles able to eat and process
their food?
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7. Look at the structure of the skulls of the Leatherback, Hawksbill, and Loggerhead turtles. How is the
structure of each of their skulls related to their diet?
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8. Test your observation and classification skills. Some questions are shown on the TV monitor about the
unknown turtle beside it. Answer the questions to help you identify the species of turtle. What species did
you get?
My classification: …………………………………………….
9. What do you consider are the top predators in this marine ecosystem?
…………………………………..
……………………………………
…………………………………
10. Write down a food chain that may exist in this environment.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
11. How is the skull and body of a saltwater crocodile different from that of a freshwater crocodile?
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
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Student Worksheet
Habitat Comparisons
Post-Visit Activities:
11. Think about what physical conditions marine organisms must face.
How is moving through water different from moving in air?
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Look at the shapes of sharks and the larger predatory fish. What do you notice?
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
As organisms move deeper, how does light intensity and pressure change?
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Marine organisms live in water but so do freshwater organisms. How does the water differ?
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
What is the function of the ‘tears’ produced by marine turtles?
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
12.
Investigate ways that marine organisms are adapted to living in the sea.
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Habitat Comparisons
Student Worksheet
PART B: TEEMING TROPICS DISPLAY (a section in the Discover Queensland exhibition)
Examine the beautiful butterfly and moth display by Frederick Dodd. On this wall are many examples of different
insects commonly found in the tropical areas of Queensland. View the iridescent beetles, myriads, wasps, spiny
ants, and many more amazing creatures. Read the information panels and answer the following questions.
1. What group of organisms are called the rainforest recyclers? How do they do this?
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
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2. Examine the beetles, myriads, spiny ants, wasps or any of the
insects on the wall panels.
Choose one and write down some adaptations that
the animal has. (An adaptation is something that
helps an organism survive in its environment. It could
be a structural feature; how the animal behaves; how
it functions; or how it reproduces.)
Animal
3.
Feature
How it helps with survival
Look inside the tree trunk to find organisms that may shelter there. Look for spiders, snakes, insects, and
mammals. Again, note any interesting facts about these specimens.
Organism
Interesting Fact
Red-bellied black snake
Carpet python
King cricket
Huntsman spider
Quoll
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Student Worksheet
4.
Habitat Comparisons
Now examine the organisms found on the outside of the rainforest tree trunk. Look for spiders, insects,
mammals, and a parasitic plant. Write down some interesting facts about each of them.
Organism
Interesting Fact
Tarantula
Insect grubs
Panda snail
Centipede
Striped possum
Strangler fig
5. There is a great diversity of species to be found that live within the branches of rainforest trees.
In this exhibit find:
3 species of birds;
2 species of mammals;
2 species of amphibians (e.g. frogs and toads);
1 species of reptile; and
1 species of molluscs (e.g. snails and slugs).
Complete the table below.
Birds
Mammals
Amphibians
Reptiles
Molluscs
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Student Worksheet
Habitat Comparisons
Post-Visit Activities:
6. Think about what physical conditions rainforest organisms must face. What would the conditions be like in
the following locations in a rainforest habitat?
Think about conditions such as:
Light intensity (bright or dim); temperature; rainfall; wind speed (calm or windy)
(a) Forest floor:
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
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(b) In the lower branches of trees:
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(c) Upper canopy (in the branches at the top of the rainforest trees)
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7. Which organisms in the rainforest habitat are nocturnal (active at night)? What is the advantage of this?
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8. How do some organisms in a rainforest habitat avoid the low temperatures of winter? Give some
examples.
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