Biodiversity WebQuest
Science Communication, 2010/2011

Activity 3

"Biodiversity WebQuest"

1 October 2010
&
9 October2010

Look for answers to the following questions on the web sites given, or do your own search: Complete the question sheet.

1. The silhouette of which animal is shown in the first zero of the “2010 International Year of Biodiversity” logo?
    
2. The World Wildlife Foundation (WWF) offers tips on what you can to conserve biodiversity on their web site. Give two that appeal to you. http://www.panda.org/about_our_earth/biodiversity/
    
3. On 7 June 2004 President Thabo Mbeki signed into law the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act of 2004. According to this act complete the following statement:
   “To provide for the management and ______________ of South Africa’s biodiversity within the framework of the National ______________ Management Act, 1998; the protection of ______________ and ______________ that warrant national protection, the sustainable use of ______________ biological resources, the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from bioprospecting resources; the establishment and functions of a South African National Institute and matters connected therewith.”
    
4. SANBI, the South African National Biodiversity Institute’s Biodiversity Advisor website offers access to information on South Africa's biodiversity and lists threatened ecosystems on their website. Name two critically endangered ecosystems:
   http://biodiversityadvisor.sanbi.org/index.asp
    
5. Use the Biodiversity explorer http://www.biodiversityexplorer.org/index.htm to name four snake families native to southern Africa.
    
6. Download the April 2009 Easy Science supplement from the SAASTA website (South African Agency for the Advancement of Science and Technology) http://www.saasta.ac.za/
   Help! Follow the link under previous versions on the Easy Science page:
   Use the document to answer the following questions:
   1. What is the centre of origin of tomatoes?
       
   2. What is bioprospecting?
       
   3. Give one successful example from South Africa.
       
   4. How much of the world’s land area is being used for agriculture?
       
7. According to the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT) and their status of species in South Africa; 10% of South Africa’s birds and frogs and 20% of our mammals are threatened. http://soer.deat.gov.za/themes.aspx?m=416
   Name one fresh water species that is threatened
    
8. What is the slogan for 2010 International Year of Biodiversity?
   
   

Homework

Irene Schoeman

References & Resources

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