Internal assessment resources

Have you ever visited the NZQA website? This link will take you to the assessment resources page where you will find information about the internal assessments. The most relevant section at the moment is probably the marking schedule for the ecological patterns investigations. Use this to help you to prepare for the assessment at the end of this term.

Ecology Investigation

Have you chosen which native species you are going to research for your assessment?  By now you have covered the theory in class and you should be busy collecting articles and information so you have all the material you will need to write your reports.
One good way to get started could be to read the Wikipedia entry for your species. At the foot of the Wikipedia entry there is a list of references they have quoted. These references are a great starting point for your research. Please ask your teachers if you have any problems.

More Photos from Zealandia field trip

Zealandia field trip 2013

Reproductive strategies

In this clip Mr Anderson talks about two different reproductive strategies, R and K. After watching this clip, you should consider what does R stand for? What does K stand for? What does it mean by a continium? Think about our native species, what strategy do they follow in general? Compare with Introduced species? What impact will this have on populations of our native species?

Ecosystem chains

What is ecosystem ecology? How does it differ to Population or Community ecology? Click here to find out more.
Energy efficiency? How does % energy flow decrease as you move up the trophic levels? Click here for further information

What is an ecological niche?

The following video clip from 'the virtual school' gives a good overview of what an ecological niche is and how we describe them. Click here to watch clip

Stoat killed by domestic cat

http://db.tt/KGbwRGxd

(warning realistic image)