Species diversity and identification

Part 1 - Virtual fieldwork preparation

NOTE - Only complete this virtual fieldwork section if you are unable to attend the field trip to the Minnamurra River study site.

Species diversity and identification

Lesson goals

PART 1: Virtual fieldwork preparation

Describe and identify the variety of key plant and animal species which inhabit Minnamurra's coastal ecosystems

Lesson description

Students learn key identifying features of the key plant and animal species, facilitating their ID in further ecosystem investigations.

Estimated time

60 minutes

Supporting materials

Lesson 6 Worksheet Part 1- Species diversity and identification

Outcomes

Working Scientifically - Planning Investigations

Designs and evaluates investigations in order to obtain primary and secondary data and information
Assess risks, consider ethical issues and select appropriate materials and technologies when designing and planning an investigation

Ecosystem Dynamics

The ecological niches occupied by species

Worksheet access

Click on the image below to access the Lesson 6, Part 1 worksheet - Species diversity and identification. Once opened, save to your personal google drive or download your own copy.

Once saved, use your current knowledge and resources below to complete the document.

Lesson 4 worksheet Part TWO - Species diversity and identification

Plants of the low tide zone

Grey Mangrove

Grey Mangroves - Avicennia marina

The Grey Mangrove is a key species of Minnamurra's coastal ecosystem. It is a small tree, with broad distribution across Australia's east coast. It is extremely salt tolerant, and thrives in the intertidal region of the ecosystem. This species can be identified through the presence of pencil like, aerial roots, known as pneumatophores, and typically pointed leaves with a dull grey undersides. For further information please visit the links below.

Grey Mangrove link #1

Grey Mangrove link #2

River Mangrove

River Mangrove- Aegicerus corniculatum

The River Mangrove is another highly salt tolerant plant, with a wide range across coastal salt marshes of Australia. This species is typically seen as a small shrub growing within the inter-tidal zone, with bright green, glossy leaves and a lack of aerial roots known as pneumatophores. For further information please visit the links below.

River Mangrove Link #1

River Mangrove Link #2

Animals of the low tide zone

Mud Whelk

Pyrazus ebeninus

This mollusc is a large snail with an elongated spiral shell. It is very common in estuaries across the east coast of NSW, with its long tracks left from foraging for detritus often visible in the mud at low tide.

Sydney Mud Whelk

Sydney Rock Oyster

Saccostrea glomerata

This is a sedentary mollusc which affixes to hard objects such as rocks, tree stumps or concrete pylons. It begins life as plankton, known as spat, which drift through the water. Once a suitable substrate is found, it attaches securely and grows into its adult form, obtaining food by filtering particles from the water.

Sydney Rock Oyster

Bembicium

Bembicium auratum

This small snail is well camouflaged within the intertidal zone. It crawls across hard surfaces scraping off the micro-algae with a sharp tongue known as a radula.

Bembicium

Crab

various spp.

A wide variety of crab species inhabit the intertidal zone of the Minnamurra estuary. Typically, they are small species which forage for dead and decaying plant and animal matter in the mud. As protection from predators and drying out, they live in burrows dug into the soft mud.

Soldier Crab

Semaphore Crab

Plants of the high tide zone

Samphire

Sarcacornia quinqueflora

This plant grows as a short groundcover at the margins of the high tide zone within coastal ecosystems across Australia and New Zealand. The segmented stems are typically green and fleshy, however turn red and woody as they age.

Samphire

Sedge

various spp.

This plant grows in defined tussocks or clumps above the high tide mark, with long, slender and spiky leaves. The fresh growth is typically a dark green, with older stems dying back to light brown.

Sedge

Seablite

Suaeda australis

Seablight is a bright green, bushy groundcover common within the above high tide zone. The triangular fleshy leaves are typically slender and pointed and grow to form a dense thicket.

Seablite

Saltwater Couch

Sporobolus virginicus

This plant grows as a short and stiff grass above the high tide mark. Fresh growth grows as a light green, while older leaves turn a light brown as they age and die.

Saltwater Couch

Warrigal Greens

Tetragonia tetragonioides

This plant forms long vines or creepers along the ground, from which bright green, triangular leaves sprout. Found in the above high tide zone, this plant formed an important food source for Aboriginal people living in coastal regions of Australia.

Warrigal Greens

Saltbush

Rhagodia candolleana

Saltbush grows as a dense shrub across the above high tide zone. The small and waxy leaves are highly resistant to water loss, and can be identified by their oval shape.

Saltbush

Sheoak

Sheoak - Casurina glauca

This tall tree grows in dense forests above the upper margins of the high tide mark. Although salt tolerant, it is unable to survive regular inundation by brackish water, so forms a key species within the above high tide zone. The long and slender 'leaves' are actually a series of connected branchlets, as the true leaves have evolved to grow as small, remnant structures in an effort to reduce water loss and subsequent salt uptake. For further information please visit the following link.

Sheoak

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