Habitats
This is the place where a plant or animal lives and gets what it needs to survive.
What is a habitat
Plants need this energy source to make their own food.
What is sunlight
This physical condition often determines whether reptiles are active or inactive.
What is temperature
Cutting down forests changes this important part of an animal's environment.
What is its habitat
First Nations Australians have carefully observed Country for thousands of these units of time.
What are generations (or thousands of years)
These four physical conditions commonly affect living things in a habitat.
What are sunlight, water, temperature and soil
(Accept: rainfall or shelter where appropriate.)
This happens to many plants if they receive too little water.
What is wilting or slower growth
Many nocturnal animals become active during this time of day.
What is night
Bright street lights at night can confuse these types of animals.
What are nocturnal or migratory animals
This word describes the deep knowledge First Nations Australians have about the land, plants, animals and seasons.
What is Country (or Traditional Ecological Knowledge/First Nations knowledges)
If a habitat becomes much hotter and drier, this may happen to many of the plants and animals living there.
What is reduced growth, movement to another habitat, or death if they cannot adapt
Soil with too much salt can cause this effect on many plants.
What is reduced growth or plant death because it is harder to absorb water
Long periods of low rainfall may cause this problem for many Australian animals.
What is less food and water, leading to fewer surviving animals
Pollution entering rivers can affect living things because it changes this physical condition.
What is water quality
Some First Nations groups use seasonal changes instead of calendar months because these better show changes in this.
What are weather, plants, animals or environmental conditions
Scientists compare these before and after a habitat changes to understand its impact on living things.
What are observations or data (such as the number of organisms, growth or survival rates)
When testing how sunlight affects plant growth, this variable should stay the same to make the investigation fair (controlled variables in the experiment)
What is the amount of water, the type of plant, soil, pot size or temperature (Accept any controlled variable.)
Warmer ocean temperatures can cause this to happen to coral reefs.
What is coral bleaching
Building more roads and houses can reduce biodiversity because it does this to habitats.
What is destroy or fragment habitats
Traditional cultural burning is used in some areas to help maintain healthy ecosystems by reducing fuel loads and supporting these.
What are native plants and animals (or biodiversity)
A wetland loses water during a long drought. Predict two likely impacts on the living things there.
What are reduced food and water availability, fewer animals surviving or breeding, migration, increased competition, or loss of biodiversity
Two identical plants are grown. One receives 8 hours of sunlight and one receives 2 hours. Predict and explain the likely difference.
What is the plant receiving more sunlight will usually grow taller and healthier because it can photosynthesise more
Honey bees rely on flowering plants for food. Predict what might happen after a long drought and explain why.
What is fewer flowers leading to less food, reduced bee populations and lower pollination of plants
Suggest one human action that could reduce the impact of artificial lighting on nocturnal animals and explain why it would help.
What is using shielded or dimmer lights, turning lights off when not needed, or reducing light pollution because it allows animals to feed, migrate and reproduce more naturally
Explain why First Nations Australians' knowledge is valuable for understanding how physical conditions affect living things today.
What is because it is based on thousands of years of careful observation of Country, helping scientists and communities understand sustainable ways to care for habitats, plants and animals