On Monday the 17th of November the year 11/12 Geography class of four headed down to Avalon. We embarked on a day’s learning about Ecosystems at Risk. We had the pleasure of two other schools: Marta Maria and Blue Mountains Grammar. Once we had all met we began our adventures. We walked down Avalon beach to the sand dunes and began our documentation. As we moved from the fore-dune through to the hind- dune we measured temperature, vegetation types and height, soil temperature, wind speed and direction, soil type and soil moisture. From this activity we saw how the environment changes as you move away from the coast and how even tiny changes result in vegetation changes.
After we had learnt all it seemed we could possibly learn from the dunes at Avalon it was time to reenergise and go over to Careel Bay and learn about the Intertidal Wetlands.
We did much of the same things – temperature, wind speed and direction, vegetation etc. Again we saw how delicate is the ecosystem balance and how easy it is for them to be put at risk. We also learnt about various development proposals that are endangering the ecosystem.
Over-all it was a very educational day and we all came away having learnt a lot about ecosystems at risk. Thanks to Mrs Riley, Miss Wilson and the Coastal Environment Centre.
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