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Year 10 - Geography

Changes in small-scale ecosystems

Ecosystems, biomes and the biosphere

Unit Summary

This unit teaches pupils about ecosystems and biomes at different scales. Pupils learn about the factors influencing biome distribution and the physical systems and processes regulating them. Pupils will also learn about the impact of population growth and resource extraction on biomes.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to explain how natural changes and human activities affect the balance of small-scale ecosystems.

Key Notes

  • Ecosystems are finely balanced and can be affected by changing one component.
  • College Lake is the site of a range of small-scale ecosystems: lake, marshland and chalk grassland.
  • Natural events as well as human actions can create changes that affect the complexity and productivity of ecosystems.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • biotic: living components of an ecosystem, such as plants and animals
  • abiotic: non-living components of an ecosystem such as soils and climate
  • food web: a complex interconnection of food chains within an ecosystem
  • habitat: the natural home or environment in which an animal or plant lives
  • biodiversity: the variety of plants and animals in the world or in a particular habitat

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • Changes that affect ecosystems are always created by people.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

1. Explain this geography topic using two clear key points.

Ecosystems are finely balanced and can be affected by changing one component. College Lake is the site of a range of small-scale ecosystems: lake, marshland and chalk grassland.

2. Define this geography term and use it in an example. 'biotic'

living components of an ecosystem, such as plants and animals.

3. Correct this common geography misunderstanding.

Mistake: Changes that affect ecosystems are always created by people. Correction: Naturally-occurring events such as storms also affect ecosystems. For example, a storm could fell trees which may have been a habitat for other species.

More Lessons In This Unit

Browse all guides in the Year 10 Geography guide library.