My Journey Home
Draw a picture of your home and your school. Then draw yourself travelling home from school.
Home
Now draw FIVE things that could get in the way and stop you from getting home after school.
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BE CREATIVE!
Could a wall or possibly some long grass get in the way?
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I'm an arboreal reptile!
How would agricultural pastures affect reptile movement?
IMAGINE you were the size of this gecko and you left your treetop home to forage during the day. . .
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What are some things that might stop you from finding your way back home?
How do I get home from school?
What are some things that could get in my way?
School
A growing population means a growing demand for food.
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Watch the video to find out more!
What does increasing food demand mean for agriculture ?
How does this impact the landscape?
But... what about the native species?
Video link: 'Challenges of Feeding a Growing Planet' on Trimble Agriculture YouTube channel.
Everybody Needs Food
Blind Navigation
After going out for the day, do you think you would be able to find your way home with a blindfold on?
Play the Blind Navigation game with 4-5 friends and see how you go!
Activity Box
Blind Navigation game instructions
Now have a look at the annotated diagram below...
It shows reptile movement from a point of release in relation to a target tree. What do you notice?
Are these reptile patterns similar to any results from the game?
Pasture height and crop direction influence reptile movement in an agricultural matrix
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Citation: Kay, G.M., Driscoll, D.A., Lindenmayer, D.B, Pulsford, S.A., Mortelliti, A., 2016, 'Pastures Height and Crop Direction Influences Reptile Movement in an Agricultural Matrix', Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, Vol. 225, pp. 164-171.
Conservation Implications
Think about WHY these statements are true and consider WHAT the implications are for reptile conservation. ​​​
Most reptile species are found in remnant vegetation as opposed to in the agricultural matrix
The habitat within narrow patches of native vegetation is often altered by livestock grazing along the edges.
Reptile populations that are small and isolated face a high risk of extinction and no chance of replacement
Corridors or strips of native vegetation between tall pastures can reduce impacts of land clearing
SHARE and DISCUSS your ideas with your friends!​
Understanding Figures
Activity Box
Worksheet 3: Understanding Figures
Observe the figures in worksheet 3 and answer the questions.
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Did the figures make it easier to answer the questions?
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Sometimes reserachers and scientists use visual aids in their academic papers.
These images or diagrams are called FIGURES and they help the readers to understand the concepts.
How does this inform your own scientific investigations in the future?
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Do you think figures help people to understand research? ​
Write a Letter
You have noticed that the wheat farm in town has gone up for sale. New owners have taken interest and at the last council meeting they expressed that they hope to double their production by clearing more land and sowing more wheat. This is because the town has increased in size and requires more supply to meet demand.
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Your task is to write a letter to these new owners, you should include…
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A brief introduction: who you are, where you’re from, what you’re writing about.
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Why this is important to you
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What implications the clearing of land may have on native species
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What implications the sowing of more wheat may have on native species
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Why it is important to conserve species such as geckos.
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Any changes they could make to their plans to reduce the impact on native species and reptile populations on their land (think about the direction of crops and or their height).
Your letter is great! Let me share some of my ideas...
Yeah! Let's work together to improve our letters!
IMAGINE you are the new owner of the farm...
Would this letter provide you with enough information to consider biodiversity conservation in your agricultural practices?
