Last week, our Year 12 Biology class along with teacher Miss Belonogoff, travelled up to the Bunya Mountains for an excursion to collect ecological data in a rain forest and woodland area. The students had to learn to develop their skills in using lab equipment to measure abiotic and biotic factors within the environment. The first stop on the trip was Burton's Well where the students split into two groups to make a 50 metre transect line in two separate areas of the woodland. A variety of data and samples were collected including the gradient of the line, soil and plant samples, light, temperature, humidity, wind speed and soil moisture. The second stop was the rainforest at Dandabah and again, two transect lines were formed with a different set of data and samples collected. The students have now brought all their information and samples back to the labs and a range of investigative tests have been performed including plant identification, soil pH, moisture and mineral content. The excursion and the skills learnt both in the field and back in the lab aligns with the QCAA Biology syllabus in which the students are learning about biodiversity and the interconnectedness of life.