An example of a small scale UK ecosystem to illustrate the concept of interrelationships within a natural system, an understanding of producers, consumers, decomposers, food chain, food web and nutrient cycling.
The balance between components. The impact on the ecosystem of changing one component.
An overview of the distribution and characteristics of large scale natural global ecosystems.
The physical characteristics of a tropical rainforest.
The interdependence of climate, water, soils, plants, animals and people.
How plants and animals adapt to the physical conditions.
Issues related to biodiversity.
Changing rates of deforestation.
A case study of a tropical rainforest to illustrate:[video]
causes of deforestation – subsistence and commercial farming, logging, road building, mineral extraction, energy development, settlement, population growth
impacts of deforestation – economic development, soil erosion, contribution to climate change.
Amazon forest case study - Coolgeography
Value of tropical rainforests to people and the environment.
Strategies used to manage the rainforest sustainably – selective logging and replanting, conservation and education, ecotourism and international agreements about the use of tropical hardwoods, debt reduction.
or QUIZLET
The physical characteristics of a cold environment.
The interdependence of climate, permafrost, soils, plants, animals and people.
How plants and animals adapt to the physical conditions.
Issues related to biodiversity.
Characteristics of cold environments - Geoactive
Characteristics of cold environments II - Geoactive
A case study of a cold environment to illustrate [video]: • development opportunities in cold environments: mineral extraction, energy, fishing and tourism • challenges of developing cold environments: extreme temperature, inaccessibility, provision of buildings and infrastructure.
The value of cold environments as wilderness areas and why these fragile environments should be protected.
Strategies used to balance the needs of economic development and conservation in cold environments – use of technology, role of governments, international agreements and conservation groups.