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Environmental Impacts on Wildlife

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Environmental Impacts on Wildlife

Read the field notes, then solve the questions. Use evidence from the notes to explain how environmental changes affect wildlife and what people can do to help.

Field notes: two Australian habitats

A habitat provides animals with food, water, shelter and places to raise young. When a habitat changes, wildlife may need to move, adapt or compete for resources. CORAL REEFS: During a marine heatwave, seawater stays warmer than usual. Corals can become stressed and lose the tiny algae that live inside them. This is called coral bleaching. Bleached coral is not automatically dead, but it is weaker and may die if stressful conditions continue. Reefs provide food and shelter for many fish and other animals, so reef damage can affect a whole community. WOODLANDS: Hot, dry weather can make bushfires more likely and intense. Fire can destroy shelter and food, although some Australian plants regrow after fire and some animals can escape or shelter. If fires are too frequent or severe, animals may have less time to recover. Clearing woodland for roads or buildings also breaks habitat into smaller patches, making it harder for animals to find food, mates and safe routes. HELPING WILDLIFE: Protecting connected habitat, restoring native plants, reducing pollution and following fire-safety advice can reduce some pressures. No single action fixes every problem, and wildlife recovery can take time.

Investigate the impacts

Use the field notes to answer each question. Give evidence where asked.

1.Complete the chain for a coral reef during a marine heatwave: warmer seawater → → coral may become weaker.

2.Which statement about coral bleaching is supported by the field notes?

Bleached coral is always dead immediately.
Bleached coral is stressed and may die if difficult conditions continue.
Bleaching creates more shelter for reef animals.

3.Explain one way that damage to coral could affect animals other than coral.

4.Every bushfire is harmful to every Australian plant and animal, and no species can recover afterwards.

TrueFalse

5.Match each environmental pressure on the left to the impact it can cause on the right.

Woodland clearing
Marine heatwave
Very frequent or severe fires

Corals can become stressed and bleach
Habitat is split into smaller patches
Wildlife may have less time to recover

6.A new road divides woodland into separate patches. Give one difficulty this could create for animals living there.

7.How is coral bleaching different from habitat being broken into smaller patches by a road?

8.Which action could help animals move between separated woodland patches?

Restore native plants to connect habitat patches.
Clear more woodland beside the road.
Add litter to the patches.

9.A local group has time for one project: restore native plants between woodland patches, or put up a sign asking people not to litter near a reef. Which project would you choose if the main concern is animals being unable to travel between patches? Explain why.

10.If a woodland is cleared into smaller patches and fires happen very frequently, predict one challenge wildlife may face. Use two details from the field notes.