Outdoor Ed SAC Flashcards
Components of an ecosystem
An ecosystem consists of interactions between organisms and their environment. Components include:
Organism: An individual living thing.
Species: A group of organisms that can interbreed.
Population: A group of organisms of the same species in one area.
Community: Multiple populations of different species interacting in an environment.
Biotic
living plants and animals
Abiotic
non-living structures such as rocks, soils, sunshine and water
El Niño
extensive warming of the central and eastern tropical Pacific, associated with an increased probability of drier conditions in Australia
La Niña
extensive cooling of the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean, associated with increased probability of wetter conditions in Australia
neutral phase
where warming winds towards the western Pacific keep the central Pacific Ocean relatively cool, associated with average rainfall and temperatures for eastern Australia
Effects of short term changes of natural environments- Day to Night
Day to Night (Short-Term):
Temperature changes: Cooler temperatures at night impact plant photosynthesis and animal activity patterns.
Animal behavior: Nocturnal animals become active, while diurnal animals rest.
Effects of short term changes of natural environments- Seasons
Seasons (Short-Term):
Plant growth: Many plants bloom in spring and summer, while they become dormant in winter.
Animal behavior: Some animals hibernate or migrate during colder seasons, adapting to changing resources.
Indigenous Australians use seasonal changes to guide their movements.
They moved to river plains during snowmelt for water and food.
They traveled to high plains for cooler weather and bogong moths.
During dry periods, they gathered food from waterholes in the Murray River.
After rains, they moved to flowing rivers for shelter and resources.
Effects of short term changes of natural environments- Migration
Migration (Short-Term):
Animal relocation: Animals move to more favorable environments to access food, breed, or escape harsh conditions (e.g., birds flying to warmer climates during winter).
Effects of long term changes of natural environments- Climate Change
Climate Change (Long-Term):
Habitat loss: Rising temperatures and altered weather patterns cause habitat destruction and biodiversity loss.
Species adaptation or extinction: Some species may adapt to new conditions, while others risk extinction if they cannot adjust.
Indigenous Peoples’ Perspectives on Land Management:
Land is viewed as a mother, deserving respect and care.
All daily needs come from the land, requiring deep knowledge to avoid negative consequences.
Thousands of years of experience have shaped how Indigenous Australians care for their land and thrive as communities.
Indigenous Peoples’ Land Management:
Practices are best observed in northern Australia where traditional lifestyles remain strong.
In Victoria, colonisation disrupted traditional practices, but oral histories from Elders are being recorded and used to restore traditional land management.
Early European explorers’ diaries also describe Indigenous land management techniques, such as fire use and river damming for fishing.
-Indigenous perspectives -Traditional Burning:
Fire was used by Indigenous peoples for sustainable land management, keeping the land healthy and thriving.
- Indigenous perspectives - Agriculture:
New research and historical accounts reveal that pre-European Indigenous communities practiced large-scale agriculture.
Evidence includes plant domestication, irrigation, sowing, and harvesting.
Early explorers observed large-scale agriculture, such as extensive grain fields and tilled gardens.
- Indigenous perspectives - Hunting:
Hunting undomesticated animals (e.g., kangaroos, emus) provided protein.
Governed by customary laws that regulated what could be hunted, how it was consumed, and protected certain sacred animals.
