At the year 12 camp at Tongariro National park 12 Biology students spent a day in the ngahere/forest around Ōwhango. The focus was on preparing for Assessment Bio2.6 (AS91158): Investigate a pattern in an ecological community.

Last week we went to Arataki visitors centre in the Waitākere Ranges to gather more data to be assessed. Students spent the day in the forest discovering the biodiversity within the Podocarp/Broadleaf Forest at Arataki.

With the help of the qualified educators and the park rangers the students could see for themselves how species are adapted to different abiotic factors (temperature, humidity, light intensity) and biotic factors (commensalism, mutualism, competition and predation) which determine their place and role within the forest. They collect data on the abiotic conditions and biotic relationships within each strata of the forest and collaborate to build a forest profile for use back in the classroom.