Teachers can use this presentation to help their students learn about biodiversity.

1. Biodiversity – Weird & Wonderful
Creatures!
Year 5 & 6

3. Madagascan Aye Aye

4. Echidna

5. Leafy Sea-Dragon

6. The Star-Nosed Mole

7. Naked Mole Rat

8. Spiny Leaf Insect

9. The Leech

10. Bird of Paradise

11. Tarsier

12. Penguins

13. These extraordinary
creatures…
…are very important for our planet!
Many other animals and plants rely on
them and they rely on other animals
and plants.
They are connected!

14. Biodiversity
Biodiversity is a term used
to describe all the living
things that make up the web
of life on Earth.
From a microscopic bacteria
to a polar bear!
From a gum tree to a blow
fly!

15. Activity: What would life be like without all these
strange animals?

16. Habitats
A habitat is the place where an organism lives.
A habitat will provide the
animal with the resources it
needs for survival.

17. We can show how organisms connect through
food chains and food webs…..

18. Food webs/chains…
The arrow shows the flow of energy. The arrow
points to where the energy goes.
Flow of energy

19. Forest Food web

20. Why do we need biodiversity?
We need high levels of
biodiversity for clean
air, food, fresh water,
clothes, energy and
medicine.
Without biodiversity,
life for humans would
be both dull and
dangerous!

21. Threats to Biodiversity
Humans have been damaging our biosphere
and ecosystems, which is affecting our
biodiversity!
What has happened in these pictures below?

22. Although humans have been changing the
Australian landscape for 50,000 years or more,
the changes in the last 200 years have caused
a terrible loss of soil, vegetation and
biodiversity.
This sounds bad! What on earth are we
humans doing to cause all this?

23. What are humans doing…
• Pollution • Deforestation
• Introduced
Animals
• Climate change

24. Tips for helping biodiversity
• Use less stuff!
• Plant native plants in your garden - good for the birds, butterflies
and bees, and good for the soil!
• Pollute less by driving less, buying less and wasting less and
thinking about what you’re flushing down the drain!
• Buy organic fruit and veggies if you can - these haven’t been
sprayed with chemicals that can harm biodiversity!
• Lock up your pets at night - the night belongs to native animals!
• Donate some time to vegetating or cleaning up a local wildlife
park!
• Choose sustainably harvested fish to have with your chips!
• Spread the word!
• For more tips and more information on biodiversity visit the Cool
Australia site (www.coolaustralia.org).

25. Lets review…
1. What is biodiversity?
2. Why do we need high levels of
biodiversity?
3. What are humans doing to influence
biodiversity?
4. What is your favorite weird and wonderful
creature? Is it likely to become extinct?