This study allows students to gain an understanding of the biophysical processes which combine to shape the beaches and dunes of sandy coasts. The site allows good opportunities for students to use field work skills to record primary data about physical and biological processes, assess human impact and observe management strategies employed on the Central Coast to ameliorate those impacts.
Students can observe the contrast between the urban and more natural sections of the beach and how management strategies are designed to protect the natural functioning of the area while allowing for recreational amenity and residential and commercial usage.
Fieldwork Activities to do
Working in their teams
Student teams to identify intertidal organisms and their habitats as they walk out to the high dry rocks. Use a simple key to classify one rock platform animal to phylum or class level.
Student teams conduct a Transect Study to record the distribution & abundance of at least four intertidal animals. Then move to another area so students can handle & examine various intertidal organisms to discover their specific adaptations. Draw a probable rock pool food chain.
Student teams to examine coastal dune plants to identify adaptations to the difficult dune environment or describe the physical processes that shape the beach headlands and investigate various geological features.
Students teams to observe and photograph the coastal geological formations that dominate their area of study.
Student teams to comment on how the coastal geology influences the organisms that are found. what they are and where they are located.
Student teams are to upload all field data to their respective team's wiki pages
This study allows students to gain an understanding of the biophysical processes which combine to shape the beaches and dunes of sandy coasts. The site allows good opportunities for students to use field work skills to record primary data about physical and biological processes, assess human impact and observe management strategies employed on the Central Coast to ameliorate those impacts.
Students can observe the contrast between the urban and more natural sections of the beach and how management strategies are designed to protect the natural functioning of the area while allowing for recreational amenity and residential and commercial usage.
Fieldwork Activities to do
Working in their teams
Student teams are to upload all field data to their respective team's wiki pages