In Term 3, Elwood Primary School's Nature Ambassadors had the opportunity to preform a play, representing the web of life in the Yalukit Willam Nature Reserve not far from our school.

Our goal was to teach our school community and other schools about the importance of this reserve and the importance on creating a sustainable environment for all. 
 
- Harriet and Leah, 5S

Yalukit Willam Nature Reserve’s Wetland Web of Life- Student Story 
View our play at the Sustainability Festival via the link: https://youtu.be/nknvNJ146X4 

It’s a beautiful day and the Sun is high in the sky.

Thanks to the sun’s light energy, there is Algae growing in the water, as well as Water ribbons. On the water edge, there are also Reeds and Bulrushes.

Near the bank, the Purple Swamp Hen is running in the reeds where it feeds and makes its nest.

Mosquito Larvae (which is the baby form of a mosquito that swims in the water) eats the algae for its food source.

Thanks to the mosquito larvae (not only do they grow up to be mosquitos!) but the fish and the frogs are well fed and happy eating them!

The visiting White Faced Heron makes a meal of these fish and frogs, scooping them up with its big beak!

The Pacific Black Duck and Pied Cormorant love the fish too! The duck bobs its tail up, and places its head down in the water to seek out food. The pied cormorant is an excellent diver and can swim underwater for a minute or two when fishing!

A water boatman (a small water bug, less than a cm) is swimming in the water like someone rowing a boat. It is eating the algae, as well as the reeds. It also likes to eat dragonfly larvae which is the baby form of the dragonfly which lives in the water.

This water boatman provides food for many, including fish, frogs and diving beetles. But the water boatman is also fast, and quick to swim away!

The Yabby is a scavenger, it’s great at eating up all the rotting plant and animal matter, digesting it and recycling nutrients into the food web. A diligent worker and an important part of this web of life.

An Eastern-long neck turtle is poking its nostrils above the water. They like to eat the algae, as well as the water boatman and yabby.

On the bank, a lizard is sunning itself on a warm rock. When it has the chance, it snaps at the dragonfly (now an adult, it lives above the water rather than below) or makes a meal out of the frog.

Every single part of this ecosystem needs each other to survive and thrive. If we lost one part (due to pollution or loss of habitat), the rest of the species are affected too.

This is why the Wetlands at the Yalukit Nature Reserve is so important for our local biodiversity as well as a beautiful place to enjoy!