A classification key is a series of questions about the features of organisms that help us to classify them correctly.

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

Estimate means to give an approximate value, for example, you can estimate the population of fish in a lake by sampling.

Sampling is a survey of plants and/or animals which provides information about the populations of organisms.

Measuring the size and distribution of populations of organisms

Combined science

Components of an ecosystem

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 means to give an approximate value, for example, when sampling the population of fish in a lake?

The white tray helps the organisms to see each other.

It helps you to be able to identify organisms as the white makes them stand out.

The water makes sure that they stay alive after being caught.

The white tray helps to create an environment that is similar to the habitat.

The image shows a sample of organisms found from a pond. Why has the net been emptied into a white tray which contains water?

Mark the organisms with something that is harmful.

Mark the organisms with a bright mark so you can see them.

Mark the organisms with a mark that means the organism doesn't stand out.

Capture more organisms as soon as marked individuals are released.

When carrying out a mark-release-recapture experiment what do you need to remember to do?

100 beetles were caught and marked in a mark-release-recapture experiment. Two days later in a second catch 80 beetles were caught. 40 of these were marked. What is the population of beetles?

30 woodlice were caught and marked in a mark-release-recapture experiment. Two days later in a second, 15 woodlice were caught. 5 of these were marked. What is the population of woodlice?

What do we call a survey of plants and/or animals which provides information about the populations of organisms?

Which of the following pieces of apparatus would be useful to sample small organisms on the leaves of a tree?

What piece of equipment might be used to sample plants and slow-moving animals?

a feature that helps an organism to survive in a habitat

when the person carrying out an investigation affects the outcome

the range of different living organisms (species) that live in a place

the mass of living material in one or more organisms

Match the following words with their definitions.

A habitat provides organisms with food, shelter and a place to live. Which of the following might be the habitat of a robin?

Measuring the size and distribution of populations of organisms

Lesson outcome