a community of organisms (such as plants and animals) that interact with one another and their non-living (abiotic) environment

an organism that is able to absorb energy from the sun through photosynthesis

an organism that gets its energy by feeding on other organisms (animals and/or plant matter)

the connections between different organisms (plants and animals) that rely on one another for their source of food

an organism such as a bacterium or fungus that breaks down dead plant or animal tissue or waste

Understanding small-scale ecosystems

Geography

Changes in small-scale ecosystems

The distribution and characteristics of global biomes

The factors affecting biome distribution

Using GIS to visualise the distribution and characteristics of global biomes

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.

Ecosystems, biomes and the biosphere

living components of an ecosystem, such as plants and animals

non-living components of an ecosystem such as soils and climate

a complex interconnection of food chains within an ecosystem

the natural home or environment in which an animal or plant lives

the variety of plants and animals in the world or in a particular habitat

a large-scale global ecosystem, for example, a tropical rainforest

the spread (which may have a regular pattern) of, for example, a type of vegetation

the average weather conditions (such as rainfall and temperature) recorded over a 30-year period

distance from the Equator north or south. Lines of latitude run east-west on a map, e.g., the Tropic of Cancer

the distribution, storage and movement of water in the environment

a GIS (geographic information system) is a computer system that captures, analyses and displays geographic data to help understand spatial patterns

a digital map which is available online. It will usually be interactive or can be created or saved by the user online (‘in the cloud’)

the spread of information (data) across an area, creating spatial patterns which geographers attempt to describe, explain and analyse

the selection of some data in a GIS layer to visualise spatial patterns more clearly

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Ecosystems, biomes and the biosphere

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