 |
 |
 |
|
 |
|
Food webs, Classification and Biodiversity Additional secondary activities to accompany the Gould League Food webs, Classification and Biodiversity kit. |
Wildlife in a poa
Level 4 - 6
Curriculum area Science
Outcomes
Students:
- Examine the species that depend on a poa grass for their habitat.
- Interpret data to demonstrate biomass and number pyramids.
Materials and preparation
|
A poa plant (native tussock grass) dug out of the ground (including roots) immediately prior to the poa count Equipment for the poa count - petri dishes, tweezers, balances, invertebrate ID information, enough small pots (tubes) and soil for each student |
 |
Outline
Count the wildlife in a poa plant: Dig up the plant and quickly pull it apart and capture all of the invertebrates living in and around the whole plant (note - take safety precautions against bites). Identify, count and weigh each type of creature. Weigh the plant material and then arrange the data into a numbers and biomass pyramid.
Give the poa a hair cut and divide it into small pieces that each student can plant in a pot to take home and grow on to their own mini wildlife refuge.
Draw up a food web for the poa habitat.
Typical results of a poa count are:
|
Level |
Animal |
Number |
Average Weight |
Total Species |
|
Carnivore |
Centipede |
6 |
1 |
6 |
|
Carnivore |
Tiny spider |
66 |
0.5 |
33 |
|
Herbivore |
Larval form |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
Herbivore |
Earwig |
3 |
1 |
3 |
|
Herbivore |
Millipede |
8 |
1 |
8 |
|
Herbivore |
Caterpillar |
5 |
2 |
10 |
|
Herbivore |
Beetle |
4 |
5 |
20 |
|
Herbivore |
Worms |
5 |
5 |
25 |
|
Herbivore |
Scuds |
12 |
0.2 |
2.4 |
|
Herbivore |
Snails |
7 |
50 |
350 |
|
Herbivore |
Slugs |
24 |
10 |
240 |
|
herbivore |
slater |
98 |
5 |
490 |
This totals to a biomass pyramid as such:
Secondary carnivore 6
Primary carnivore 33
Herbivores 11149.4
|
|