Days 7 - 10: Focus Dives

Concepts

• biotic components of aquatic environments, including organisms, communities and populations

• relationships between biotic and abiotic components

• interdependent relationships between aquatic organisms

• ecosystems and habitats of aquatic organisms

• aquatic organisms' behavioural, structural and functional adaptations suited to their habitat.

• definitions of conservation, sustainability and environmental remediation

• different values, beliefs, perspectives and behaviours in relation to conservation strategies

Procedures and skills

• risk management plans

• identification and classification of common local aquatic organisms

• identification of aquatic threats, injuries and emergencies, e.g. hypothermia, hyperthermia, marine stings, drowning

• gathering of primary information relating to the ecology of the chosen environment, e.g. measuring of water quality parameters, e.g. pH, dissolved oxygen, nitrates

• survey techniques, e.g. transect sampling, quadrats, random sampling

• library and/or online research - participation in a citizen science project.

Evaluate

• survey techniques for aquatic environments

• the importance of aquatic environments to society, culture, industry and the wider environment

• how aquatic industries affect their environment, e.g. overfishing, aquatic runoff, human erosion activities

• management strategies used to conserve and sustain aquatic ecosystems, e.g. marine parks, native titles, fishing rules and regulations

Plan

• management of risks and hazards

• projects in aquatic ecosystems, e.g. contribute to a citizen science project