VCE Environmental Science

Image from Google Earth – copied and resized in Irfanview

This is an aerial view of the Western District Lakes, between Camperdown and Winchelsea in the western district of Victoria. These saline lakes are one of Australia’s 65 important RAMSAR wetlands sites - areas designated as wetlands of international importance due to their ecological, botanical, zoological, limnological or hydrological importance.

The Western District Lakes are important geomorphic features of a basaltic landscape. Water regimes vary both seasonally and annually so at any time the various lakes range from fresh to hypersaline. They support large numbers of mainly non-breeding waterbirds and are particularly important during periods of widespread drought and as moulting sites for some species.

Work in a group to create a table showing each of the lakes and the conservation categories of  bird and other notable flora and fauna species at each site. Go to http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dcdxvn6b_7f4bq6phd and add your data to the spread sheet.

On Monday 14th and Tuesday 15th September, Xavier and his meangerie of native Australian animals came to visit. “Wild Action” is the zoo that comes to you – students had the opportunity to see and touch native lizards, snakes and other vertebrates.