INQUIRYING ABOUT THE WORLD 171 PROJECT PROPOSAL FORMATIVE
Complete the proposal under the following headings as they provide guidelines for the overall format and contents of the proposal.
DECLARATION: By submitting this assessment I declare the following;
• that I have retained a copy of this assessment.
• this is my own work and I have not previously submitted this work for assessment.
• this work complies with university rules, including those concerning plagiarism and copyright.

Title Page
Project Title: Indian Myna Inquiry: Our Native Species or Invasive Species
Problem Statement
In this inquiry I will be investigating one of the 100’s worlds most invasive species, the Indian Mynas. This bird has been introduced pest bird and they are growing rapidly. The India Myna was first introduced to Australia in Victoria between 1864 and 1873 into Melbourne’s market garden to control insects (Birds In Backyards). When they first introduced in Australia, they ate insects. Since then, their diet has dramatically change – eating basically everything. Now Indian Myna are predominant bird in suburb of Canberra and Eastern coast of Australia. This inquiry will discuss about the growing numbers of Indian Mynas and their impacts to our native wildlife and health risks poses to human. Indian Mynas have become problem in cities and urbanised areas, they have learnt to adapt in human environment. They are also competing with Australian native wildlife food, nesting sites and territories. They are commonly found near shopping centres, high level of humans. What is your inquiry question or problem? Describe the area that you are researching (one paragraph). Include your concept map from Assessment 1B in the appendix

Rationale: Rationale (approximately 200- 300 words)
Why have you chosen to investigate this question or problem and what does it mean to you?
Writing tips:
Use your existing rationale from Assessment 1 and check for spelling and grammar.
This topic was chosen because Indian Mynas are predominantly seen around Canberra suburbs. Although I am not directly affected by the Indian Mynas; I believe that Canberra, the capital city of Australia is directly affected and is where we should focus our efforts on fighting the Indian Mynas. Management strategies such as public education, and trapping program are put in place to combat the invasion of Indian Mynas. Therefore it is necessary for the community of Canberra and other states to continually protect and preserve our vulnerable, and endangered species. Hence it is important for me to investigate management strategies put in place to ensure the safety our native species, and as well making sure that continual monitoring program Through this I need to develop a knowledge and understanding about other contributing factors affecting our native birds for the sustainable future.

Research Questions:
Writing tips: ( Approximately 100 words)
Ensure the questions are in a logical sequence with the more introductory or explanatory questions first.
Ensure that your questions are clearly defined and explicit.

– Describe Indian Mynas – behaviour, habits and invasion.
-What management strategies are put in place to combat the invasion of this introduced species?
-What conservation solutions/strategies can be implement to foster a sustainable for native species of Australia?

these should be developed and refined from those submitted in Assignment 1b, ensuring you are using the feedback provided.

Proposed methodology (Methodology (approximately 100- 300 words)

I have completed a web-based search and created a concept map investigating this topic. I then processed my topic to a number of questions after a few exchange emails to a member of CIMAG (Canberra Indian Myna Action Group) to talk about the recent conservation plans and reports. These report questions will now be investigated through ongoing research focused on recently published scientific articles and project reports.
Describe how you investigated your inquiry. ( Approximately 100-300 words)
• What was a particular challenge? (e.g. biased emotive websites were prevalent, lack of statistical evidence or research interesting waning)
• What was specifically helpful or unique to your investigation?

Discussions and Findings (approximately 600- 800 words)
Write a synthesis (summary) of all your collected data in a report that clarifies ideas around your research questions.
Writing tips:
Reference any evidence that you use in your synthesis of the data.
Consider the research question findings one by one in separate paragraphs, which summarise the data that support the findings

Conclusions and Implications (approximately 200- 400 words)
What are your overall conclusions and are there any implications for the environment, local community or wider community. For example do we need to change our practice, take affirmative action in same way?

Here you can bring back your response and provide a summary of the problem
• How can the problem be addressed,
• Can it be addressed or is it more complex
For example: “Based on the evidence here, the future of the tiger/cane toad will continue to………” etc.
Reflection
Links to the Australian Curriculum (approximately 200- 300 words)
Review the Science as a Human Endeavour strand in the Australian Curriculum: Science. Identify the content descriptions that best align with your project. What year are they from? What specific aspects of the research or the problem are most strongly linked with Science as a Human Endeavour?
The Cross-curriculum priority of sustainability in the Australian Curriculum is described under a range of organising ideas, which themselves are grouped under
Systems, World views, and Futures. Your project should have links to these areas. What are they and how can they be described?

References
Use APA 6th as the format for your work and include at least 10 reputable references.

Resource Identification
1.) Grarock, Lindenmayer, Wood,& Tidemann (2013) researched the invasion process theory to enhance the understanding and management of introduced specie the Indian Myna.
2.) Griffin & Boyce (2009) Journal about Indian Mynahs, learning about dangerous places by observing the fate others.
3.) Bergstrom, Lucieer, Kiefer, Wasley, Belbin, Pederson, & Chown (2009) journal that discusses about the indirect effects of invasive species removal devastate World Heritage Island.
4.) Handke (2008) President of Canberra Indian Myna Group Inc explains restoring some balance and Tackling Indian Mynas.
5.) Pell & Tidemann (1996) discusses about the impacts of two exotic hollow- nesting birds on two native parrots in Savannah and woodland in Eastern Australia.

References
ACT Government. Territory and Municipal Services . (n.d) Indian Myna Birds. Retrieved from http://www.tams.act.gov.au/parks-recreation/plants_and_animals/invasive_species/vertebrate_pest_management/pest_animals/animals/indianmynabirds
Canberra Birds. Canberra Ornithologist Group. (n.d) Common Myna (Sturnus Tristis). Retrieved from http://canberrabirds.org.au/our-birds/canberra-garden-birds/thrushes-starlings/common-myna/
Dhami, M. K (2009) Review of the Biology and Ecology of the Common Myna (Acridotheres tristis) and some implications for management of this invasive species. Retrieved from http://www.issg.org/cii/electronic%20references//pii/references/pii_review_of_the_biology_and_ecology_of_the_common_myna_and_some_implications_for_management_.pdf.
Grarock, K. Lindenmayer, D.B. Wood, J.T. & Tidemann (2013) Using invasion process theory to enhance the understanding and management of introduced species. Journal of Environmental Management, 129 (2013) 398-409. Retrieved from http://www.sciencedirect.com
Grarock, K. Tidemann, C.R. Wood, J.T & Lindenmayer, D.B (2014) Are invasive species drivers of native species decline or passengers of habitat modification? Austral Ecology. A Journal of ecology in the southern Hemisphere (39), 106-114. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com.dbgw.lis.curtin.edu.au/doi/10.1111/aec.12049
Grarock, K . Tidemann, C.R. Wood, J. & Lindenmayer, D.B (2012) Is it Benign or is it a Pariah? Empirical Evidence for the Impact of the Common Myna (Acridotheres tristis,) on Australian Birds. http://dx.doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0040622
Griffin, A. S. & Boyce, H.M (2009) Indian Mynahs, Acridotheres tristis, learn about dangerous places by observing the fate of others. Animal Behaviour 78 (2009) 79-84. Retrieved from http://www.sciencedirect.com
Pell, A.S. and Tidemann, C.R. (1997). The impact of two exotic hollow-nesting birds on two native parrots in savannah and woodland in eastern Australia. Biological Conservation 79: 145-153.