An inquiry approach is often recommended for science education. It supports student-directed learning and can enhance engagement because students pursue questions and lines of inquiry that interest them.
This question bank provides an initial list of questions about takahē conservation and places to begin an inquiry.
Takahē – an introduction, Takahē – a context for learning and Planning pathways using takahē resources have links to further resources and student activities.
Q 1. What is ecology?
Q 2. What is an ecosystem?
Q 3. What is the difference between a habitat and an ecological niche?
Q 4. What are biotic and abiotic factors?
Q 5. What are adaptations? What are structural, behavioural and physiological adaptations?
Q 6. Describe some adaptations of a takahē. Identify them as either structural, behavioural or physiological adaptations.
Q 7. What is an interrelationship? Describe the differences between interspecific and intraspecific relationships in an ecosystem.
Q 8. Why are our New Zealand species unique?
- New Zealand’s unique ecology
- The uniqueness of New Zealand plants
- Tuatara
- Investigating our fern flora origins
- Native frogs
Q 9. What makes a pest a pest?
Q 10. Why are our native species so vulnerable to introduced species?
Q 11. What is biodiversity?
Q 12. How are species classified?
Q 13. What do ecologists measure when studying populations and how do they do it? What does it tell them?
Q 14. What do population growth and survivorship data tell us?
Q 15. Describe the predator-prey relationship.
Q 16. What are some limiting factors for a population?
Q 17. What are the impacts of a bottleneck/founder effect on small populations? What impact does this have on genetic diversity and viability?
Q 18. Why do we give animals conservation rankings?
Q 19. What is captive management?
- Captive management for conservation
- Translocation
- Captive management of skinks
- Saving reptiles and amphibians – timeline
- Takahē conservation efforts
