Nature and biodiversity :Grade 8 excursion to Pigeon Valley

The grade 8's today had and exciting and enjoyable morning at Pigeon valley doing an ecology study.  They identified some of the many trees in the reserve, counted the species of animals and plants in a quadrant and practiced their skills of making scientific diagrams.  The group enjoyed sightings of red duiker and one group were most fortunate to see a squirrel which quickly scampered away.  Someone even spotted a Narina Trogon (although he did not know what it was until some ardent bird watcher came by and helped him identify it)

Mrs Barnard

NAME:  _____________________________________

GRADE 8 ECOLOGY EXCURSION

PIGEON VALLEY

Equipment:  Worksheet; clipboard or something to press on; soft pencil 2HB; ordinary pencil; pen; jam jar with lid for specimens; blank piece of paper; camera or cell phone for pictures.

1. Describe the Pigeon valley ecosystem.  How would you define this as aquatic, forest or grassland?    (3)

2. In groups of three or four mark out an area about 3 m X 3 m (3 big steps).  In this square count:

1. The number of plants
2. The number of different plant species
3. The number of animals
4. The number of different animal species.

Fill the answers in in the table below    (4)

No. of plants	Different plant species	No of animals	Different animal species

3. Look at the soil in your marked area.  From your observations tick the relevant boxes to describe the soil you see.  (8)

Leaf Litter	Present		Not present
Soil Colour	Dark		Light
Humus (natural compost)	Present		Not present
Soil moisture	Damp		Dry

Do you think this soil is fertile or not?  Give a reason for your answer.  (2)

__________________________________________________________

4. Find a nearby tree.   (5)

Give your tree a name:  _______________________________

Try to find out the given scientific name of your tree  

Take a rubbing of the bark of your tree using the blank paper and the soft pencil.  Put your name on this piece of paper.

Draw a scientific diagram of your tree below labeling all parts.  (5)

Draw another diagram of your tree labeling this to show the process of photosynthesis.  (5)

Pick a leaf from your tree and draw a scientific diagram of the leaf labeling all parts including the stomata.  (4)

What is the function of the stomata?  (4)

5. Collect some specimens of animals.  Do this carefully and release them when you have finished.

Identify the animals you have collected.

Choose one of these and draw a picture of it below.  (2)

Is your animal a:   (Ring the correct answer)     (1)

1. Herbivore
2. Carnivore
3. Omnivore
4. Insectivore

Draw a food chain below for your animal.  Label this.  (3)

6. Identify the water course in the valley.  What has happened to it?  (2)

7. Spread out and sit quietly.  See if you can spot at least two different birds and hear two different calls.

Can you identify them?  (2)