Topic Two (1.2): Ecology and Ecosystems

 Introduction

To start with much of this topic will be familiar to you from your IGCSE course. Succession is the new concept to focus on here as a lot of this leads into or builds up from the evolution and adaptation work from last year. Ideas about the effect of biotic and abiotic factors on populations may seem like old news, but make sure you don’t skip over this topic – it’s important that you deepen your understanding each time you come across the same broad area!

 Reading

Edexcel AS/A Level Biology Student Book 2 pages 22 to 36

 Read and Make Notes

Read pages 22 to 27, making appropriate notes and completing the ‘in-text’ questions.

 Consolidate

Now consolidate your understanding by working through these additional resources:

WATCH – Introduction to Ecology (Khan Academy) Links to an external site.

WATCH – Succession (Khan Academy) Links to an external site.

REVIEW – Succession Flash Cards Download REVIEW – Succession Flash Cards

 Read and Make Notes

Read pages 28 to 36, making appropriate notes and completing the ‘in-text’ questions.

 Consolidate

Now consolidate your understanding by working through these additional resources:

REVIEW – Population Mindmap Download REVIEW – Population Mindmap

READ – Niche Factsheet Download READ – Niche Factsheet

Tasks

Complete the following:

• Complete questions 3 to 5 on pages 48 to 49.

 Top Tips

Make sure that you understand the following key points:

• Although you might already know about the lynx and the hare, or the effect of temperature on plant growth, what sets the A2 apart from IGCSE is the detail and maturity in your answers. The same answers are often still correct, so don’t drop them completely, but try to use as many of the new key words as are relevant to take your work to the next level.
• You don’t have to learn about specific species written in the book. Instead, expect to be given information about a different species and make suggestions about how it copes with similar conditions using what you have learned from the examples in your textbook.

 Key Terms

Check that you know all of the terms in the Subject Vocabulary boxes on pages 25, 27, 30 and 36 and add any you don’t know to your glossary.