NSWTR 2024 HR - Flipbook - Page 54
1. Describe some of the main changes in species diversity
in your ecosystem over the course of the game.
2. Did any of the species in your ecosystem increase
in numbers? If so, what allowed them to be so
successful?
3. Share your answer to Question 2 with your peers
and collate a list of all the human activities and
environmental conditions that are potentially
helpful for species and may assist their diversity and
survival.
4. Did any of the species in your ecosystem become
extinct (none were left) or endangered (only 1 was
left)? If so, what was the cause of the pressure that
led to their extinction or endangerment?
5. Share your answer to Question 4 with your peers
and collate a list of all the human activities and
environmental conditions that are potentially
harmful for species diversity and survival.
n Crisis
!
Conser
estions
STAGE 5 – CONSERVATION CRISIS!
QUESTIONS
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YEAR 9-10 SECTION
7. Would each of the scenarios
on the cards always have only a positive or only
negative e昀昀ect on species diversity? Give reasons and
examples to support your answer.
8. Scientists propose that life on Earth is at the
beginning of a new major extinction event – how
might this game play out in a way that helps
demonstrate or model the possible mechanism or
consequences of another major extinction event?
9. In what ways do you think the game is an accurate
model of how species diversity changes in an
ecosystem over time?
10. In what ways do you think the game is NOT an
accurate model of how species diversity changes in
an ecosystem over time?
6. Which activities and actions do you undertake in
your everyday life that promote species conservation
and diversity? What actions could you take?
3. Suggest how a mutation in the DNA of a single organism that helps its survival might become more
common in the species population over time. In other words, how might that helpful mutation be passed
on to other individuals in the group?
4. Scientists hope to be able to bring the extinct thylacine species back to life. How do they plan on doing
this? Provide a brief outline as described in the text.
5. If the technology to bring back extinct species such
as the thylacine is successful, what do you think
are the bene昀椀ts and drawbacks of using this genetic
technology? Think broadly, such as, how the DNA
SPECIES SURVIVAL – MORE THAN JUST SUSTAINABILITY
Rea
engineered animal(s)
might be treated, how
society might react, and
whether any new laws need
to be made. Could or should the
technology be used to bring back other
extinct organisms?
s
2. Describe how the mutation(s) in echidna DNA that
led to the backward facing legs help their survival.
d Con
ne
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1. How is the genetic information of organisms coded
in their DNA?
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orl
ct
UNDERSTANDING DNA
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STAGE 5 – REAL-WORLD CONNECTIONS
6. Which human activities mentioned in the text contribute to species reduction and destruction? Suggest
other human activities that have the potential to
create harm to di昀昀erent species that we should avoid
or reduce.
7. Why is it important for survival of a species to have
genetic variety?
8. What do scientists mean when they say they have
‘sequenced’ or ‘de-coded’ a species?
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