NSWTR 2024 HR - Flipbook - Page 23
F TO YEAR 2 SECTION
CLIMATE CHANGE, FOOD AND ECOSYSTEMS
Climate change a昀昀ects species survival, which
in turn a昀昀ects our access to food and clean
water. Clean water is a basic human right, yet
climate change is already a昀昀ecting our access to
clean water; for example, it causes more 昀氀oods and
droughts to occur globally. Climate change, pesticide
use and habitat loss are causing us to lose many
species, and also decreasing the overall population
of many insects. Globally, up to 40% of insects
are threatened with extinction over the next few
decades. This a昀昀ects the birds and animals that
rely on insects for food, and us as we rely on
insects to pollinate the plants that we eat.
Bogong moths that once gathered in millions in
the caves around NSW have dropped dramatically.
Dr Ken Green, a scientist at the Australian National
University, monitored the bogong moths for 40 years
and found numbers had dropped from millions to just
a few individuals.
Mountain pygmy possums rely on bogong moths for
food, as do many other alpine lizards, frogs and birds.
The moths are also culturally important to multiple
clans and language groups of Indigenous Australians.
Losing these moths isn’t just about losing food – it
alters an entire ecosystem.
SPECIES SURVIVAL – MORE THAN JUST SUSTAINABILITY
FOOD, BUGS, BIRDS AND US
CHOCOLATE AND MIDGES: A MALE FORCIPOMYIA MIDGE. CHRISTOPHE QUINTIN VIA FLICKR. CACAO BEANS. UNSPLASH/LY LE MINH / NATIVE BEES: DAVID CLODE/UNSPLASH / SHUTTERSTOCK
Think of the ecosystem as a big team where each
member plays a part. Plants make leaves, fruit, nuts
and seeds that some animals eat, and they get eaten by
other animals. Everything has a role to play.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle follows the
journey of a little caterpillar as it eats various foods
before transforming into a beautiful butter昀氀y. While the
book doesn’t explicitly focus on ecosystems, it indirectly
introduces young readers to the interconnectedness of
living things in nature, showcasing the life cycle of a
butter昀氀y and emphasising the importance of balance
and harmony within ecosystems for the wellbeing of
all creatures.
CHOCOLATE AND MIDGES
Did you know that without the
biting midges of the genus
Forcipomyia, we wouldn’t have
chocolate? These tiny creatures are
perfectly adapted to pollinate cacao
昀氀owers, which rely on the midges
for their ongoing survival, as we rely
on them in turn to create the cacao
beans we rely on for delicious chocolate.
NATIVE BEES
Our amazing Australian bees have
been busy helping our native
plants grow for a long time.
They help fruits like mangoes,
watermelons, and lychees grow big
and tasty in Queensland.
DOWNLOAD ALL OF THE LINKS IN THIS
BOOKLET AT WWW.SCIENCEWEEK.NET.AU/
SCHOOLS/2024-RESOURCE-BOOK-LINKS/
READ MORE
SUGARBAG BEE HONEY A FEAST FROM NATURE,
WITH STINGLESS INSECTS CREATING DELICIOUS
OUTBACK BUSH TUCKER (ABC NEWS)
WHY LOSING AUSTRALIA’S BIODIVERSITY
MATTERS FOR HUMAN HEALTH
(COSMOS MAGAZINE)
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