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Unit 7: Organisms and The Environment Recommended Prior Knowledge

This unit covers topics in biology including energy flow through ecosystems, carbon and nitrogen cycles, parasitism and malaria transmission, and the human impact on the environment through deforestation, pollution, and habitat destruction. It discusses the need for conservation efforts to protect biodiversity, manage fisheries and timber production, and reasons for recycling materials. Learning objectives address key concepts like trophic levels, pyramids of number and biomass, and effects of water, air, and pollution on global warming, acid rain, and insecticides.

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46 views2 pages

Unit 7: Organisms and The Environment Recommended Prior Knowledge

This unit covers topics in biology including energy flow through ecosystems, carbon and nitrogen cycles, parasitism and malaria transmission, and the human impact on the environment through deforestation, pollution, and habitat destruction. It discusses the need for conservation efforts to protect biodiversity, manage fisheries and timber production, and reasons for recycling materials. Learning objectives address key concepts like trophic levels, pyramids of number and biomass, and effects of water, air, and pollution on global warming, acid rain, and insecticides.

Uploaded by

haya
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Unit 7: Organisms and the Environment

Recommended prior knowledge:


Learners should have knowledge of the different forms of energy, of plant nutrition, respiration and transpiration. Knowledge of the great diversity of life
and habitats would be helpful.

Context:
1. This unit, whilst considering some of the fundamental topics of biology, also takes a broader view of the subject and investigates some of the ethical issues
raised by human interference with the environment.

Outline:
Energy flow is traced through biological systems and the carbon and nitrogen cycles are considered in some detail. There is a reference to parasitism in the
shape of the transmission and control of malaria, but control measures employed lead into a consideration of the human effect on the ecosystem in a wider sense –
deforestation, pollution and damage to habitats leading to a need for conservation.

Tick the check box if you are sure you have completed activities and have achieved the Objective.
Anything unclear can be given in comment box.

Learning objectives Comments Check Box

Syllabus Candidates should be able to:


reference
15(a) State that the Sun is the principal source of energy
input into biological systems
15(b) Describe the non-cyclical nature of energy flow
15(c) Define the following terms and establish the
relationship of each in food webs: producer,
consumer, herbivore, carnivore, decomposer, food
chain
15(d) Describe energy losses between trophic levels and
infer the advantages of short food chains

15(e) Describe and interpret pyramids of numbers and of


biomass

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15(f) Describe and state the importance of the carbon
cycle

15(g) Describe the nitrogen cycle in making available


nitrogen for plant and animal protein, including the
role of bacteria in nitrogen fixation, decomposition
and nitrification (details of denitrification and the
names of individual bacteria are not required)
15(h) Understand the role of the mosquito as a vector of
disease

15(i) Describe the malaria pathogen as an example of a


parasite and Describe the effects of humans on the
ecosystem with emphasis on examples of
international importance (tropical rain forests,
oceans and important rivers)
15(k) Describe the consequences of deforestation in terms
of its effects on soil stability, climate and local
human populations
15(l) Evaluate the effects of:
 water pollution by sewage, by inorganic
waste and by nitrogen containing fertilizers
 air pollution by greenhouse gases (carbon
dioxide and methane), contributing to
global warming
 air pollution by acidic gases (sulfur
dioxide and oxides of nitrogen),
contributing to acid rain
 pollution due to insecticides
15(m) Discuss reasons for conservation of species with
reference to maintenance of biodiversity,
management of fisheries and management of timber
production
15(n) Discuss reasons for recycling materials, with
reference to named examples

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