B17 Biodiveristy and ecosystems

Key learning point Revision activity Tick

To be able to define biodiversity and explain why 1. Write a definition of biodiversity
it is important. 2. List 3 habitats with high biodiversity and 3 with
low biodiversity. What problems might this second
habitat have?
To be able to explain the effects of human 1. Create a leaflet on the effects of human
population growth on; the land, managing waste population growth.
and pollution. 2. Find a graph of the human population growth.
Add labels to show the resources we are using and
the effects this is having on the environment.
To be able to explain how human activities 1. Bullet point the key ways that human activities
pollute the land. pollute the land.
2. Make flashcards on the ways humans pollute the
land: sewage, household waste, industrial waste,
toxic chemicals, farming, bioaccumulation
To be able to explain how human activities 1. Add to your flashcards above: eutrophication,
pollute water. bioindicators, fertilisers
2. Make flow diagrams to show how
bioaccumulation and eutrophication occur.
To be able to explain how acid rain is formed and 1. Make a cartoon of the steps to forming acid rain.
the effects of acid rain. 2. Read the information then try the test on the
site:
https://www.bbc.com/education/guides/znsk7ty/re
vision
To be able to explain how smoke pollution and 1. Write a 5 mark exam paper question on the
smog are formed. formation of smog, then make a markscheme.
2. Make a leaflet to explain why London has more
smog than Woodley.
To be able to describe deforestation and explain 1. Write a definition for deforestation. Link this to
the reasons for it. biodiversity.
2. Bullet point 3 reasons why deforestation occurs.
To be able to explain the impact of deforestation 1. Watch the video and summarise the key points:
on biodiversity and why it matters. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3TAC703uKJQ
2. Make a poster to stop deforestation, include key
points on the impact it has.
To be able to explain the damaging effects of 1. Write a letter to a garden centre explaining why
peat bog destruction. we need peat free compost.
2. Explain why peat is a good source of fuel, linking
it to chemistry and combustion.
To be able to explain what is meant by global 1. Bullet point the differences between global
warming. warming and the greenhouse effect.
2. Draw a flow diagram to show how global
warming occurs.
To be able to suggest how global warming might 1. Make flashcards on these possible effects: loss of
affect the life on Earth. habitat, changes in distribution, changes in migration
pattern, reduced biodiversity.
2. Make a poster to try to slow the rate of global
warming: what can people do to help? What are the
effects?
To be able to explain the effect of environmental 1. Write definitions and examples for: seasonal
change on distribution of organisms change, geographical change, negative changes,
positive changes
 2. Find a map showing distribution changes of a
species. Add labels to explain what has happened.
To be able to explain and give examples of how 1. Add to your flashcards: breeding programmes,
people are trying to maintain biodiversity on regeneration of habitats, field row and hedgerow
Earth; habitat protection, Breeding programs, introduction, reduction of deforestation and
Field row and hedgerow introduction, reduction recycling.
of deforestation and recycling resources. 2. Make a mindmap on biodiversity – the risks to it,
the benefits, the ways we maintain biodiversity. Try
to include the whole topic.
To be able to construct pyramids of biomass 1. Watch the video and summarise the key points:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpY0U-T_iVc
2. Write some exam questions for yourself about
constructing the pyramids then answer them.
To be able to explain the transfer of biomass 1. Draw a flow diagram to show were energy is lost
along a food chain and why it isn’t 100% from an organism.
efficient. 2. Make flashcards on each of the ways energy is
lost from an organism.
To be able to describe some of the factors 1. Make a mind map on food security and what can
affecting food security. affect it: birth rates, changing diets,
pests/pathogens, environmental changes,
agriculture costs, conflicts
2. ‘Food security is one of the biggest problems
facing the human population today’ – how would
you respond to this statement?
To be able to explain how farmers are making 1. Create a leaflet on how farmers make their food
food production efficient. production more efficient, include: reducing stages
in a food chain, limiting movement, controlling
temperature and farming fish.
2. Add to the mindmap above about making food
production efficient.
To be able to describe sustainable food 1. Draw and label a diagram of a fermenter, explain
production, including tackling the problem of how it works and why it is beneficial.
overfishing. 2. List some methods that the government have
used to tackle the problem of overfishing.

Q1.The UK contains large areas of peat bogs that have been present for thousands of years.
(a) Peat is removed from peat bogs.
The peat can be mixed with air and added to garden compost.
The release of carbon dioxide from peat is a problem.
Give two other reasons why gardeners should use less peat-based compost in the future. (2)
(b) Explain why mixing peat with air leads to the release of carbon dioxide.(4)
Q2.Global warming may reduce biodiversity in some areas.
(a) What is biodiversity? (2)
(b) What two gases cause global warming? (2)
(c) Give two effects of global warming that could reduce biodiversity in an area. (2)
Q3.In the last 200 years the concentration of carbon dioxide in the Earth’s atmosphere has risen.
Explain how a rise in carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere can decrease biodiversity. (6
marks)
Q4.In this question you will be assessed on using good English, organising information clearly
and using specialist terms where appropriate.
Deforestation affects the environment.
Deforestation is causing a change in the amounts of different gases in the atmosphere. This change
causes global warming and climate change
Give the reasons why deforestation is taking place.
Describe how deforestation is causing the change in the amounts of different gases in the atmosphere.
(6 marks)
5. Describe 3 ways in which fish stocks can be protected. (3)
6. Explain why there would be more food for everyone if people only ate plants (6)