MAP

results

i have decided to stop writing in my blogger and putting all my results in my report.

texture and colour

I collected soil from the A HORIZON which is the surface layer, and it was the dark and filled with organic matter like leafs, sticks, ants. It is old and well-developed soil, leaching has removed the most soluble minerals, leaving behind insoluble minerals like quartz and clays.

The colour was dark and the texture was very cloggy from organic matter and was very thick.

Biotic and abiotic features

biotic featurs are the living components of an environment, such as the numbers of competitors or the amount of grass to eat. Abiotic features are the non-living components of an environment, like temperature and rainfall.
The botanical gardens has a diverse range of both Biotic and abiotic.

Biotic features in the environment i studied:
Wildlife
Humans
Grass
Soil
plants
Soil samples

Abiotic:
Temperature
Rainfall
Water samples
Man made infrastrucutres (seats, footpaths, buildings, etc)
Ponds

Evidence of pollution:

Sample 1:

After collecting this sample i examined the pollution as the water was clear, but the water in the harbor was polluted in terms of rubbish lying in the water, this shows that there is minimal pollution.

Sample 2:

sample 2 was polluted as when i went down to collect the water i had to be careful because there was broken glass that looked like broken beer bottles. There was a lot of glass lying around on the sound i would say the sand was 25% glass. There was a few pieces of rubbish in the harbor.

Sample 3:


I took this sample from the main pond in the botanicals gardens it was very polluted as released the gas called rotten egg gas and my bottle contained floating particles of algae and other particles due to plant life in the pond. The bottle was a medium green colour which shows high levels of pollution.

Sample 4:

This was the most polluted out of all the samples areas due to the strong odor called rotten egg gas as it was the stronger than the last one. There also was more particles floating around like dirt and algae in the bottle. After taking the sample the bottle was green and look like lime cordial. The bottle was stained after releasing the water.

Problems that arised during the investigation

During the hand in week of the investigation i was sick, and this resulted in being out of school for 1 week. I have an extension until next Monday to hand in everything and finish my blog. Tomorrow i will collect my water and soil samples to due some more testing for the rest of the week and finish my report that i had already started.

topography

Sydney's urban area is in a coastal basin, which is bordered by the Pacific Ocean to the East, the Blue Mountains to the West, the Hawkesbury River to the North and the Royal National Park to the South. It lies on a submergent coastline, where the ocean level has risen to flood deep river valleys (ria) carved in the hawkesbury sandstone. Port Jackson, better known as Sydney Harbour, is one such ria and is the largest natural harbour in the world.[23] The Sydney area is not affected by significant earthquakes. The urban area has around 70 harbour and ocean beaches, including the famous Bondi Beach. Sydney's urban area covers 1,687 km2 (651 sq mi) as at 2001.[24] The Sydney Statistical Division, used for census data, is the unofficial metropolitan area [25] and covers 12,145 km2 (4,689 sq mi).[26] This area includes the Central Coast, the Blue Mountains, and national parks and other unurbanised land. This makes Sydney the third largest urban agglomeration in the world (with a population of over 3 million) behind Brasília (14,400 km²) and Tokyo (13,500 km²).[27]
Geographically, Sydney lies over two regions: the Cumberland Plain, a relatively flat region lying to the south and west of the harbour, and the Hornsby Plateau, a sandstone plateau lying mainly to the north of the harbour and dissected by steep valleys. The parts of the city with the oldest European development are located in the flat areas south of the harbour. The North Shore was slower to develop because of its hilly topography and lack of access across the harbour. The Sydney Harbour Bridge was opened in 1932 and linked the North Shore to the rest of the city.

Problems that arised during the investigation

First problem that i had was went i first collected my soil samples and forgot to bring a permanent marker instead i had to use a pen that faded. Then for water samples i also forgot the permanent marker and i had to use a key to mark the numbers on the top of the lid.

When taking the water samples i also came across a problem because i took a water sample from the main pond in the Botanical gardens and before i read a sign to watch out for the eels. I then took a lot a caution after reading that sign and took my water samples very quickly.

Also being a boarding it was hard to go out and collect the samples because the boarding staff must of believed that we were doing something else. To over come this problem we i had to get 3 people to come with me and collect the water and soil samples.

Another problem was carrying the water and soil samples around the park this is why i did not take the water samples from varies places because it was just to hard with nerve damage in one shoulder carrying 4 times 1.5L of water around was pretty hard.

Map of Botanical Gardens

Safety report

Presence of salt in water

Sample 1:
1-2 drops and it was very cloudy.

Sample 2:
1-2 drops and then it became cloudy.

Sample 3:
1-3 drops

Sample 4:
After 6 drops it begins to get cloudy, but 15 drops it becomes very cloudy and you cannot see it.

Phosphate testing

On friday during class i testing the phosphate in the water. My results were the following:

Sample 1:
10
Sample 2:
10
Sample 3:
15
Sample 4:
In between 10-15.

More animals as well as Marine.

I took water samples from both the ponds in the Botanical Gardens as well as samples from the harbor near the wharf. So i have put together the animals that live both in the pond and the harbor.

Harbor:

Fish: Marine - Osteicthyes

About 85 per cent of all fishes belong to the class Osteichthyes - the bony fish. Of these, the vast majority live in the marine environment and as a group they dominate our seas. They have evolved to fill nearly every available niche, from filter feeders to scavengers and top predators. In terms of numbers of species, they are the dominant group of vertebrate animals on the planet.

• Bony fish have a skeleton made of bone.
• Most have a single gill opening on either side of their head.
• Most can sense slight changes in water pressure through a row of sensitive pits on their side (lateral line).
• Most species produce eggs rather than have live young.

Sydney Harbour and the surrounding coastal waters are home to a rich diversity of bony fish. These include commercially important species such as Snapper and Bream, aquarium fish like the seahorses and some bizarre looking species like the Weedy Sea dragon. All can be found living in the waters of Australia's largest city.

Sea horse:

Hippocampus whitei

			Hippocampus whitei" border="0" height="132" width="180"> White's Seahorse, Hippocampus whitei Photo: Kevin Deacon

White's Seahorse occurs in a variety of habitats. It can be found in shallow protected waters in seagrass, algae beds and under wharves. This seahorse is endemic to (only found in) Australia. It occurs in depths to about 25 m along the south-eastern and south-western coasts of Australia. It is common in Sydney Harbour.

Snapper:

Pagrus auratus

			Pagrus auratus" border="0" height="132" width="180"> Pagrus auratus Photo: Sydney Aquarium

The Snapper is only recorded from Australia and New Zealand. It is one of the most popular food fishes in Australia, growing to 1.3 m in length and weighing at least 20 kg. Snapper are caught using commercial fishing methods but are also reared in offshore fish farms.








Leatherjackets:

Monacanthus chinensis

			Monacanthus chinensis" border="0" height="132" width="180"> Monacanthus chinensis Photo: Sydney Aquarium

The Fan-bellied Leatherjacket is easily recognised by the large skin flap on its belly and its concave snout. It occurs at depths of 5-50 m in rocky and weedy areas but is also caught by trawlers in more open seabed areas. It is often found in estuaries, near seagrass beds.

Ponds:

Snakes, lizards and other reptiles - Reptilia

About 40 species of reptiles are found in the Sydney region including turtles, lizards and snakes. As more and more bushland is cleared to accommodate Sydney's increasing population, several reptile species are experiencing population declines and are becoming harder to find.

Many people have a fear of reptiles, particularly snakes. However, reptiles are shy creatures and, if given the chance, will escape rather than attack. Most snakes only bite as a last resort and the majority of bites to humans are inflicted while people are trying to catch or kill them.

All native reptile species are protected within New South Wales.

Features of reptiles:

• Reptiles are ectothermic (their body temperature varies with the outside temperature).
• Reptiles have scales.
• Lay eggs when young.
  

Pseudechis porphyriacus

			Pseudechis porphyriacus" border="0" height="132" width="180"> Red-bellied Black Snake, Pseudechis porphyriacus Photo: Pavel German

The Red-bellied Black Snake is widespread on the coast and ranges of eastern Australia. It is one of the more common species of large venomous snake still found in the Sydney region. It possibly still occurs in remnant bushland and the larger reserves on the northern foreshores of Sydney Harbour.

Physignathus lesueurii

			Eastern Water Dragon, resting Photo: Gareth Carter

The Eastern Water Dragon is a large lizard found living along waterways in Sydney. It is grey-brown in colour with black banding and a row of spines from the crest of the head to the tail. There is usually a broad black stripe extending from the eye to the back of the head, and males often have a red belly and chest.

Habitat:
Urban areas, fresh water, forests and woodlands, grasslands.

Morelia spilota spilota

			Morelia spilota spilota" border="0" height="180" width="132"> Diamond Python, Morelia spilota spilota Photo: Pavel German

The Diamond Python is a distinctive large, black snake with cream to yellow markings. It is found in large bushland areas and national parks of Sydney, but often goes undetected because of its nocturnal, slow-moving habits. During the day, it may be seen basking in trees and occasionally it is found in roofs and rafters. A Diamond Python in your roof will not cause any damage but will help control rats and possums.

Birds in the sydney region:

Birds - Aves

Birds are a familiar sight in Sydney's bush, backyards, parks and gardens. A diverse group, birds exhibit a range of adaptations for all environments. They can fly, walk, run, swim and dive. They occupy the air, oceans, fresh water, seashores, rainforests, deserts and polar regions. They have extraordinary colours and cryptic patterns that enable them to be well camouflaged. Worldwide there are around 10,000 species of birds of which over 700 occur in Australia.

Birds are warm-blooded vertebrates with feathers. This easily distinguishes them from all other living animals. Other easily observed features include:

• forelimbs modified as wings
• jaws lacking teeth and with a horny cover
• they walk on their two hindlimbs

Although birds cannot be mistaken for any other living group of animals, the line between birds and non-birds is much less distinct if fossil animals are examined. Many characteristics that distinguish birds from other living vertebrates first arose in certain groups of dinosaurs. For this reason, many scientists believe that birds evolved directly from these dinosaurs.

Some of the major birds living in the Sydney region:
A
Arctic Skua
Australasian Gannet
Australasian Grebe
Australian King-Parrot
Australian Owlet-nightjar
Australian Pelican
Australian Raven
Australian Spotted Crake
Australian White Ibis
Australian Wood Duck
Azure Kingfisher

B

Baillon's Crake
Barn Owl
Bar-tailed Godwit
Bell Miner
Black Swan
Black-backed Magpie
Black-browed Albatross
Black-faced Cuckoo-Shrike
Black-faced Flycatcher
Black-fronted Dotterel
Black-winged Stilt
Brown Cuckoo-Dove
Brown Goshawk
Brown Honeyeater
Brown Thornbill
Brown Warbler
Brush Cuckoo
Buff-banded Rail

C

Cape Petrel
Caspian Tern
Cattle Egret
Channel-billed Cuckoo
Chestnut Teal
Chestnut-tailed Heathwren
Cicadabird
Clamorous Reed-Warbler
Collared Sparrowhawk
Common Coot
Common Greenshank
Common Koel
Common Sandpiper
Common Tern
Crested Pigeon
Crested Tern
Crimson Rosella
Curlew Sandpiper

D

Darter
Dollarbird
Dominican Gull
Double-banded Dotterel
Dusky Moorhen
Dusky Woodswallow

E

Eastern Curlew
Eastern Reef Heron
Eastern Rosella
Eastern Spinebill
Eastern Whipbird
Eastern Yellow Robin
Eurasian Skylark

F

Fairy Martin
Fairy Prion
Fan-tailed Cuckoo
Figbird
Fluttering Shearwater
Fork-tailed Swift
Fuscous Honeyeater

G

Galah
Gang Gang Cockatoo
Golden Whistler
Golden-headed Cisticola
Goldfinch
Great Cormorant
Great Egret
Greater Knot
Greenfinch
Grey Butcherbird
Grey Fantail
Grey Shrike-Thrush
Grey Teal
Grey-tailed Tattler

H

Hoary-headed Grebe
Horsfield's Bronze-Cuckoo
House Sparrow

J

Japanese Snipe

L

Large Sand Dotterel
Large-billed Scrubwren
Laughing Kookaburra
Leaden Flycatcher
Lesser Knot
Lewin's Honeyeater
Little Black Cormorant
Little Corella
Little Cuckoo-Shrike
Little Falcon
Little Grassbird
Little Lorikeet
Little Penguin
Little Pied Cormorant
Little Tern
Little Thornbill
Little Wattlebird
Long-billed Corella


M

Magpie-lark
Mallard
Marsh Sandpiper
Masked Plover
Mistletoebird
Mongolian Dotterel
Musk Duck
Musk Lorikeet

N

Nankeen Kestrel
Nankeen Night Heron
New Holland Honeyeater
Noisy Friarbird
Noisy Miner

O

Olive-backed Oriole

P

Pacific Black Duck
Pacific Golden Plover
Pallid Cuckoo
Peaceful Dove
Pectoral Sandpiper
Peregrine Falcon
Pied Cormorant
Pied Currawong
Pink-eared Duck
Pomarine Skua
Powerful Owl

R

Rainbow Bee-eater
Rainbow Lorikeet
Red Wattlebird
Red-browed Finch
Red-browed Treecreeper
Red-capped Dotterel
Red-kneed Dotterel
Red-necked Stint
Red-rumped Parrot
Red-whiskered Bulbul
Restless Flycatcher
Richard's Pipit
Rock Dove
Rockwarbler
Rose Robin
Ruddy Turnstone
Rufous Fantail
Rufous Whistler

S

Sacred Kingfisher
Satin Bowerbird
Scarlet Honeyeater
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper
Shining Bronze-Cuckoo
Short-tailed Shearwater
Shy Albatross
Silver Gull
Silvereye
Sittella
Sooty Oystercatcher
Southern Boobook
Southern Giant Petrel
Southern Skua
Spice Finch
Spine-tailed Swift
Spotless Crake
Spotted Pardalote
Spotted Turtle-Dove
Striated Heron
Striated Pardalote
Striated Thornbill
Sulphur-crested Cockatoo
Superb Fairy-wren
Superb Lyrebird
Swamphen

T

Tawny Frogmouth
Terek Sandpiper
Tree Martin

V

Variegated Fairy-wren

W

Wandering Albatross
Wedge-tailed Shearwater
Welcome Swallow
Whimbrel
Whiskered Tern
White-breasted Sea-Eagle
White-browed Scrubwren
White-cheeked Honeyeater
White-eared Honeyeater
White-eyed Duck
White-faced Heron
White-fronted Chat
White-fronted Tern
White-headed Pigeon
White-naped Honeyeater
White-plumed Honeyeater
White-throated Nightjar
White-throated Treecreeper
White-throated Warbler
White-winged Black Tern
White-winged Triller
Willie Wagtail
Wonga Pigeon
Wood Sandpiper

Y

Yellow-faced Honeyeater
Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo
Yellow-tailed Thornbill
Yellow-throated Scrubwren
Yellow-tufted Honeyeater