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Conservation of the Western Swamp Tortoise
- 1. Conservation of the Western Swamp Tortoise Janet Durrant, Semester 2, 2013
- 2. Western Swamp Tortoise – The Problem
- 3. Inquiry Questions 1. What are the key biological attributes of the Western Swamp Tortoise and where is the species found? 2. What factors have led to the Western Swamp Tortoise becoming an endangered species? 3. What conservation efforts have been made to improve the endangered species status of the Western Swamp Tortoise and which groups/organisations have been and continue to be, involved?
- 4. Findings Attributes: 1.Semi-aquatic freshwater, short necked tortoise 2.Webbed 3.Varied feet shell colours including cream and brown 4.Maximum shell size 155mm adult males and 135mm adult females 5.Wild populations exist only in the Swan Valley in a small number of protected nature reserves
- 5. Findings Cont… Contributing factors to endangered status Human activity – land development Age to maturity Climate Bush change fires Predators
- 6. Findings cont… Conservation efforts Western Swamp Tortoise Recovery Plan Key conservation efforts within the plan include; The existence and management and protection of the Nature Reserves where tortoise populations occur in the wild, A successful captive breeding program at Perth Zoo The existence of captive “insurance populations” at both Perth and Adelaide Zoos Public education and awareness programs
- 7. Conclusions Western Swamp Tortoise Recovery Plan Developed by key organisations committed to ensuring the continuity of the species Realistic Goals and Outcomes Implications & call to action Further and ongoing commitment required Recovery Plan should ensure this, however a focus must be kept on education and awareness Personal interest to explore further
- 8. Australian Curriculum - Science
- 12. Cross-curriculum Priorities Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures Asia and and Australia’s engagement with Asia, Sustainability
- 13. Sustainability Code Organising ideas Systems OI.1 The biosphere is a dynamic system providing conditions that sustain life on Earth. OI.2 All life forms, including human life, are connected through ecosystems on which they depend for their wellbeing and survival. OI.3 Sustainable patterns of living rely on the interdependence of healthy social, economic and ecological systems. World Views OI.4 World views that recognise the dependence of living things on healthy ecosystems, and value diversity and social justice are essential for achieving sustainability. OI.5 World views are formed by experiences at personal, local, national and global levels, and are linked to individual and community actions for sustainability. Futures OI.6 The sustainability of ecological, social and economic systems is achieved through informed individual and community action that values local and global equity and fairness across generations into the future. OI.7 Actions for a more sustainable future reflect values of care, respect and responsibility, and require us to explore and understand environments. OI.8 Designing action for sustainability requires an evaluation of past practices, the assessment of scientific and technological developments, and balanced judgments based on projected future economic, social and environmental impacts. OI.9 Sustainable futures result from actions designed to preserve and/or restore the quality and uniqueness of environments.
- 14. Australian Curriculum - Geography
- 16. Stars and Wishes… Knowledge about the Inquiry process An insight into and the beginnings of an understanding of the Australian Curriculum Framework Use of Web 2.0 tools and technology
Notes de l'éditeur
- Welcome to my presentation on the Conservation of the Western Swamp Tortoise.
- The Inquiry Questions I investigated are…What are the key biological attributes of the Western Swamp Tortoise and where is the species found?What factors have led to the Western Swamp Tortoise becoming an endangered species?What conservation efforts have been made to improve the endangered species status of the Western Swamp Tortoise and which groups/organisations have been and continue to be, involved?
- What are the key biological attributes of the Western Swamp Tortoise and where is the species found?The Western Swamp Tortoise is a small semi-aquatic freshwater, short-necked tortoise.Feet are webbed and shells can vary in colour from cream to black.Adult males reach a maximum size of 155mm and females 135mm. The species is critically endangered and exists in the wild only in a small number of protected nature reserves in the Swan Valley, Western Australia.
- What factors have led to the Western Swamp Tortoise becoming an endangered species?Human activity such as development of land for housing, agriculture and industry has destroyed much of the Western Swamp Tortoises natural habitat.Specific lifestyle attributes of the tortoise including its ability to survive only in specific swamp and weather conditions mean that changes in rainfall and bush fires can have extreme impacts on a tortoises ability to grow and reproduce.Due to their small size and aestivation in shallow burrows or under leaf matter, leaves Western Swamp Tortoises relatively exposed and vulnerable to a variety of predators. With a reproductive age varying from between 7 to 10 years, predation has a big impact on the adult breeding population.
- What conservation efforts have been made to improve the endangered species status of theWestern Swamp Tortoise and which groups/organisations have been and continue to be, involved? The Western Swamp Tortoise Recovery Plan is a major and coordinated approach to the conservation of the species. There are a number of key organisations who contribute to the continuity of this plan and its ongoing review. Major organisations include the Perth Zoo, Department of Conservation and the Friends of the Western Swamp Tortoise group. The Adelaide Zoo is now also a key organisation, housing the only tortoises outside of Western Australia.Key conservation efforts outlined within the plan include;The existence and management and protection of the Nature Reserves where tortoise populations occur in the wild, A successful captive breeding program a Perth ZooThe existence of captive “insurance populations” at both Perth and Adelaide ZoosPublic education and awareness programs
- In conclusion, based on the evidence here, the future of this critically endangered freshwater tortoise species,will continue to be managed by dedicated partners and the wider community committed to ensuring the survival of the species. It can be concluded that the existence of the Western Swamp Tortoise Recovery Plan ensures a coordinated and well researched approach to meeting realistic goals to decrease the chance of extinction and protect and increase populations in the wild. The implications of a successful Recovery plan are that the goals set and desired outcomes will continue to be met and reviewed, funds and actions will be secured in order to prolong the survival of this species. The work done so far in conserving the species is a result of passionate and educated individuals and organisations. A continued focus is required on education and awareness to ensureongoing commitment to the cause. Having researched this species in depth, I am keen to find out more about what I can do on a personal level to preserve and promote awareness and plan to look into becoming a “Friend of the Western Swamp Tortoise”.
- Curriculum Links I have examined the Australian Science Curriculum and its 3 interrelated strands. I believe that my Survival of the Western Swamp Tortoise Project can be linked at numerous year levels. In reference to this current slide, the Science Understanding strand can be linked to the Biological Sciences sub-strand from the Foundation Year to Year 6 following the theme of the needs of living things, habitats, attributes, life cycles, categorisation, survival and environmental change. It can also be linked under the Earth and Space Sciences strand in the Foundation Year, in regards to the changes in season and rainfall greatly affecting the tortoises life cycle including growth and survival.
- Following on, the Science Understanding strand can also be linked to the Biological Sciences sub-strand in Year 7 in regards to interactions between organisms, food chains and how human activity can effect these interactions. Whilst I did not explore the Western Swamp Tortoise at this level, there is also potential to link the topic to the Australian Science Curriculum at Years 8, 9 and 10 by researching higher level information relating to survival and reproduction systems, environmental components and energy flow, DNA and evolution of the species.
- As this was an Inquiry Project, there are a number of links to the Science Inquiry Skills strand, in the Foundation Year to Year 6 across the sub-strands; Questioning and predicting, planning and conducting, processing and analysing data and information, evaluating and communicating. Whilst completing the different aspects of the project, these 5 sub-strands were covered. Questioning and planning by developing the inquiry questions, whilst not required to conduct primary research, a lot of secondary research was conducted. Information collected during research as analysed and synthesised. Evaluation of data for its relevance and validity were required and finally communication at each stage of assessment via creation of a Voki, a concept map, a written report and an oral presentation.
- There are links to the Science Inquiry Skills strand across all Year levels, including Year 7 – 10.The only link that I could potentially see under the Science as a Human Endeavour strand was in Years 9 and 10 – in regards to “the values and needs of contemporary society can influence the focus of scientific research” – in regards to conservation and sustainability.
- The Australian Curriculum also has three cross-curriculum priorities which are embedded in all learning areas. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures Asia and Australia’s engagement with Asia, and Sustainability
- There are a number of links between the survival of the Western Swamp Tortoise as a species and preserving its unique habitat which are linked to the cross curriculum priority – Sustainability. Almost all of the Organising Ideas under Sustainability can be linked to learning about the history of the Western Swamp Tortoise, its attributes and life cycle, its requirements for survival and current and existing conservation efforts.
- There are also links to the Geography Learning Area. In Year 4 – the focus of “The earth’s environment sustains all life” with Key Inquiry Questions relating to the environment supporting living things and approaches to environmental sustainability. In Year 5 – the focus of “Factors that shape the human and environmental characteristics of places” with Key Inquiry Questions relating to environmental influences and the impact of fire and floods.
- And in Year 10 – the focus of “Environmental change and management” with Key Inquiry Questions regarding environmental management and change.
- Thank you for listening to my presentation.