ALL
Nutrient enrichment of water causing algal growth.
State what is meant by magnification
Toxins/microplastics increase up a food chain.
Define carrying capacity
The maximum population an environment can support.
State what "Carbon Footprint" is
Total greenhouse gas emissions of an activity, person, community, or country.
Define sustainable development
Meeting needs without harming future generations
Describe the difference between r-strategists and k-strategists.
R-strategists= many offspring, low survival
K-strategists= few offspring, high survival.
Describe one method to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from energy production.
Use renewable energy, improve efficiency, or carbon capture.
Describe how soil erosion can affect an ecosystem.
Loss of fertile topsoil = reduced plant growth = habitat degradation.
Describe the role of decomposers in an ecosystem.
Break down dead matter = recycle nutrients = support producers.
Describe the concept of an ecological niche.
The role and position of a species in its ecosystem, including resource use.
Distinguish between primary and secondary succession
Primary starts on bare rock with no soil; secondary starts on existing soil after a disturbance
Distinguish between gross primary productivity (GPP) and net primary productivity (NPP).
GPP: total energy captured by producers
NPP: energy available to consumers after respiration
Distinguish between climate change mitigation and adaptation.
Mitigation: reducing causes (emissions).
Adaptation: adjusting to impacts (flood defenses).
Compare and contrast biotic and abiotic factors in ecosystems.
Both influence ecosystems.
Biotic: living (plants, animals).
Abiotic: non-living (temperature, soil)
Compare and contrast the environmental impact of developed and developing countries.
Both affect the environment.
Developed: high per capita emissions.
Developing: higher population growth, localized resource depletion.
Discuss the effectiveness of marine protected areas (MPAs) in conserving biodiversity.
MPAs limit fishing and human activity which allows species recovery.
The effectiveness depends on size, enforcement, and connectivity.
Explain why urbanization can lead to increased flooding.
Impermeable surfaces (concrete) prevent infiltration which leads to greater runoff ->rivers overflow -> floods.
Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of nuclear energy.
Advantages: low CO₂, reliable.
Disadvantages: radioactive waste, high cost, accident risk.
Explain how nitrification happens in the nitrogen cycle.
Ammonia in soil is converted into nitrites and then nitrates by bacteria, making nitrogen available for plants to absorb.
Explain how deforestation can impact the water cycle.
Deforestation:
Less transpiration
More surface runoff
Soil erosion
Less infiltration
To what extent is renewable energy a sustainable solution to climate change?
Highly sustainable due to low emissions, but limitations include intermittency, high costs, and material/resource use for infrastructure.
To what extent is ecotourism beneficial for biodiversity conservation
Can provide funding and incentives for protection, but over-visitation and poor management can harm ecosystems.
Examine the causes and consequences of eutrophication in freshwater ecosystems.
Causes: agricultural runoff, sewage, nutrient enrichment
Consequences: algal blooms, oxygen depletion, fish kills, altered food webs.
Examine how climate change affects water availability globally
Alters rainfall patterns, increases drought/flood frequency, melts glaciers, causes regional water stress.
Examine the challenges of conserving endangered species.
Habitat loss, poaching, genetic bottlenecks, climate change
Solutions include legal protection, captive breeding, and community engagement.