An ecosystem is made up of all the living organisms in a place, interacting with each other and their non-living surroundings.

A group of organisms of the same type in the same place is called a population.

A community is made up of all the organisms that live in the same place.

Biotic factors are the living components of an ecosystem.

Abiotic factors are the non-living components of an ecosystem.

Components of an ecosystem

Combined science

Measuring the size and distribution of populations of organisms

Estimating population size using quadrats: practical

Estimating population size and distribution using transects: practical

Competition and adaptations in ecosystems

The role of microorganisms in decomposition

Material cycles: the carbon cycle

Material cycles: the water cycle

Pupils will learn about biomass transfer including calculating the efficiency of transfers between trophic levels. They will learn about human impacts on the environment, food security and biotechnology to help maintain biodiversity and achieve food security.

Pupils learned about interdependence within ecosystems and how plants and animals are adapted to their environment. Pupils undertook ecological sampling to estimate population sizes and looked at the impact of humans on biodiversity.

This unit explores ecosystem organisation, biotic and abiotic factors, material cycling, and the role of decomposers. It covers methods for identifying species and measuring their distribution. Emphasis is on selecting appropriate techniques, accurate measurements, sampling, and fieldwork practices.

Living organisms and their environments

What is made up of all the living organisms in a place, interacting with each other and their non-living surroundings?

Which of the following are abiotic factors?

Which of the following are biotic factors?

The predator population decreases - there is less food for the predators to eat.

The predator population decreases - there is more food for the predators to eat.

The predator population increases - there is less food for the predators to eat.

The predator population increases - there is more food for the predators to eat.

Predators hunt and eat prey. As the number of prey individuals decreases, what will happen to the population of predators?

As the population of greenfly increases, the population of ladybirds increases.

As the population of greenfly increases, the ladybird population stays the same.

As the population of greenfly increases, the population of ladybirds decreases.

The greenfly population increases in summer when it is warm. This is because there is plenty of food so the greenfly reproduce quickly. Greenfly are food for ladybirds. Which statement is correct?

What will happen if the caterpillar population decreases?

The place where an organism lives which provides food, shelter and a place to reproduce is called a ...

a feature of an organism that helps it to survive

a model which shows how food is passed from one organism to another

Match the words with the correct definitions.

Which of the following organisms is a top predator in the food chain:
grass → rabbit → cat → owl.

How many consumers are in the following food chain?
Phtyoplankton → zooplankton → small fish → large fish → shark.

ladybird → bird  cat → greenfly → lettuce

lettuce → greenfly → ladybird → bird → cat

lettuce → cat → ladybird → bird → greenfly

cat → bird → ladybird → greenfly → lettuce

Ladybirds are eaten by birds. Birds are eaten by cats. Ladybirds eat greenfly. Greenfly eat lettuce. Which of the following is the correct food chain?

the number of one type of organism in a specific area

interacting populations of different species in a place

Match the word with the correct definition.

Starter Quiz

The place where an organism lives which provides food, shelter and a place to reproduce is called a ...