Examples of human interactions with ecosystems, including use of peat
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can describe examples of human interactions with ecosystems, including the use of peat, eutrophication, and the introduction of non-indigenous species.
Key learning points
- Growing food helps feed the increasing human population, but can have negative impacts on ecosystems and biodiversity.
- The use of peat and destruction of peat bogs as an example of a negative impact.
- Eutrophication as an example of a negative impact.
- The introduction of non-indigenous species as an example of a negative impact.
- Ways of mitigating some of these negative impacts.
Keywords
Biodiversity - Biodiversity is the range of different living organisms that live in a place.
Fertiliser - Fertiliser are minerals that are added to the soil to help plants to grow.
Eutrophication - Eutrophication is the process in which a body of water is overly enriched with plant nutrients. This leads to excessive growth of simple plants such as algae.
Indigenous species - Indigenous species are the species that occurs naturally in an ecosystem. They are sometimes referred to as native species.
Common misconception
A common misconception is that the excessive growth of the plants in eutrophication is the cause of a reduction in biodiversity as a result of the plants using up the oxygen in the water.
Steps in eutrophication are outlined. Increased minerals cause the growth of plants at the surface resulting in the death and decomposition of the plants. Decomposition results in microbes using oxygen, resulting in biodiversity loss.
Teacher tip
Pupils can research a number of invasive species and present how the species has impacted an ecosystem. As an extension, pupils could additionally research how some organisms have also been introduced to support both successful and unsuccessful attempts to control invasive species numbers.
Licence
except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What does an increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide cause?
Q2.Which of the following reduces the land available for other organisms and therefore reduces biodiversity?
Q3.Why does deforestation increase the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere?
Q4.Some species migrate. What impact does global warming have on these species?
Q5.Methane is one of the greenhouse gases. What human activities are leading to a rise in atmospheric methane levels?
Q6.A long term shift in weather patterns is known as...
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Peat bogs trap and store an important element. This is released when peat is burned. What is this element that is stored in a peat bog?
Q2.Why do the populations of invasive species often grow so quickly?
Q3.Peat bog habitats have been destroyed by humans. The peat is used for what human activities?
Q4.What happens when eutrophication in a pond takes place?
Q5.When taken to a new habitat, non-native plants often threaten native plants of the new habitat. Why do they do this?
Q6.How do humans cause eutrophication of aquatic habitats?
To help you plan your 11 biology lesson on: Examples of human interactions with ecosystems, including use of peat, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 11 biology lesson on: Examples of human interactions with ecosystems, including use of peat, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
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The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
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Explore more key stage 4 biology lessons from the Maintaining biodiversity and human impacts unit, dive into the full secondary biology curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.