Open Ended Investigation aim To photograph six different organisms (not including humans), classify them to the level of ‘family’, determine one characteristic that places them in each of their groups, and then use those organisms to construct a dichotomous key.
Method
Collecting Photographs of Organisms
1. Walk to a location with natural flora and fauna. (In this case I went to the Jim Ring Reserve)
2. Photograph at least two different species of ducks, and if possible, other birds which reside in the Jim Ring Reserve. Make sure your photos have good visibility on the characteristics of the animal.
a. If suitable photos cannot be taken from the Reserve, take a picture of an animal you own (a dog, a cat etc.).
3. Photograph at least two different species of plants or trees, taking a photo of the whole body of the flora as well as important notable features of the flora.
4. Photograph at least two different species of insects, at least with visibility of the important characteristics of the organism. identifying and researching each organism
1. Analyse the obvious features and characteristics of the animals in the photographs taken. (note their facial and body characteristics, such as feather colours and shape of beak)
2. Search in a site or a book for the type of species of the animal you have taken a photo of which reside in Australia, gaining information about the Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, and the Family of your animal.
3. After gaining information about the Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, and the Family of your organism, research the features of the organism which places them in those groups.
4. Repeat steps 1-3 for the plants which you have chosen.
5. Repeat steps 1-3 for the insects which you have chosen. creating a dichotomous key
1. Research and distinguish the most general traits that can be used to divide organisms into two categories. These traits should be exclusive to that organism’s biological classification, and should not be features which both organisms have. Write down these traits.
2. In the centre of the page, draw a dichotomous key, similarly to the figure below.
3. In your first box, write organisms, as all of the natural beings we have analysed are organisms.
4. Pick one distinct trait for each of two organisms so you can separate them into two different groups. Develop questions for these traits that will differentiate these organisms.
In this case, we have two insects, plants, and chordates, so we will pick a characteristic which distinguishes that insect from the other insect, plant from the other plant, and so on.
For example, Chlorophyll is picked, as only two organisms have this (plants). i.e. plants are separated from the group of insects + animals.
5. Below the previous key, write the question and draw two lines branching out from beneath it. These lines point to one of the two possible answers. Write the answers at the end of the line.
6. Continue to branch out your questions in the same way. If a species can be positively identified, write the name of the species below the answer to the last question; e.g. Fur or no Fur? Fur – Dog.
7. Repeat all these steps until all organisms are positively classified.

Australian Black Swan (Cygnus atratus)
Kingdom: Animalia
Heterotrophic – Black Swans do not produce their own food, rather they mainly feed on algae and submerged weeds by reaching their long necks down below the surface. Also, as an animal, they only possess a cell membrane, not a cell wall.
Phylum: Chordata
Like many other aviary animals and vertebrates, they have a backbone, which is a characteristic of Chordates.
Class: Aves
Aviary animals like the Black Swan are bipedal (their limbs are paired), with their forelimbs evolved into wings. They also possess feathers which allow them to fly and stay warm. Aves also have bills and no teeth, they use them to catch their food and dig through the mud in the bottom of the water. They also lay eggs after mating.
Order: Anseriformes