The interdependence of biotic and abiotic components in hot deserts
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain how biotic and abiotic components in a hot desert such as soil, climate, animals, plants and people are interdependent.
Key learning points
- Hot desert ecosystems exhibit interdependence of climate, water, soils, plants, animals and people.
- Food chains and food webs show how biotic and abiotic components are interdependent in a hot desert.
- Nutrient cycles show how biotic and abiotic components are interdependent in hot desert.
Keywords
Biotic - the living elements of an ecosystem (e.g. plants, animals)
Abiotic - the non-living elements of an ecosystem (e.g. water, nutrients)
Interdependence - the connections between different components of the environment, where each component depends on or influences the others
Evapotranspiration - the transfer of water to the atmosphere through evaporation from surfaces and transpiration from plants
Common misconception
Litter in the nutrient cycle is considered biotic.
Litter in the nutrient cycle is considered abiotic because it consists of non-living organic material, such as dead leaves and decomposing matter. Although it originated from living organisms, once it becomes litter, it is classified as non-living.
Teacher tip
If pupils have a strong understanding of nutrient cycles from studying ecosystems earlier in the course, then it is appropriate to challenge them to explain how the nutrient cycle of hot deserts changes in response to environmental change, such as a reduction in rainfall or removal of vegetation.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Hot deserts are found near the tropics of ...
Q2. is the average weather conditions of a place taken over a long period of time, typically 30 years.
Q3.__________ is a measure of the variety of living organisms within a particular habitat, ecosystem, biome, or all over Earth.
Q4.Match the term with its definition.
geographical zone of specific climate, vegetation and animals
interactions between organisms living in a particular environment
where a specific species or population of organisms lives
Q5.Put these biomes in the most likely order; starting at the Equator and moving north or south.
Q6.Which of the following is a characteristic of a hot desert?
Assessment exit quiz
5 Questions
Q1. means the living elements of an ecosystem (e.g. plants, animals).
Q2. means the non-living elements of an ecosystem (e.g. water, nutrients).
Q3.Which of these components are abiotic?
Q4.Understanding the between biotic and abiotic components in hot deserts helps us understand their physical processes and how human pressures can affect them.
Q5.Which of these could effect evapotranspiration in hot deserts?
To help you plan your 10 geography lesson on: The interdependence of biotic and abiotic components in hot deserts, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 10 geography lesson on: The interdependence of biotic and abiotic components in hot deserts, 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.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 geography lessons from the Hot deserts unit, dive into the full secondary geography curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.