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EnglandBiology

4.7 Ecology

4 dot points across 4 inquiry questions. Click any dot point for a focused answer with worked past exam questions where available.

How are organisms adapted to their environment, and what do they compete for?

The factors organisms compete for, the difference between abiotic and biotic factors, structural, behavioural and functional adaptations, and the meaning of extremophiles.
A focused answer to AQA GCSE Biology 4.7.1, covering what organisms compete for, abiotic and biotic factors, the three types of adaptation, and extremophiles.
9 min answer →

What is biodiversity, and how are human activities affecting it?

The meaning of biodiversity, the effects of human population growth and resource use, pollution of land, water and air, the impact of deforestation and global warming, and the methods used to maintain biodiversity.
A focused answer to AQA GCSE Biology 4.7.3, covering biodiversity, the effects of human population growth and pollution, deforestation, global warming, and the methods used to maintain biodiversity.
9 min answer →

How is an ecosystem organised, and how do materials cycle through it?

The levels of organisation in an ecosystem, feeding relationships and food chains, predator-prey cycles, the carbon and water cycles, and the role of decomposers, with the required practical on sampling.
A focused answer to AQA GCSE Biology 4.7.2 to 4.7.3, covering the levels of organisation in an ecosystem, food chains and predator-prey cycles, the carbon and water cycles, decomposers, and the sampling required practical.
10 min answer →

How is energy transferred through trophic levels, and how can food production be made sustainable?

Trophic levels and the transfer of biomass, the calculation of efficiency of biomass transfer, pyramids of biomass, the impact of food security, and methods of sustainable food production including fish stocks and biotechnology.
A focused answer to AQA GCSE Biology 4.7.4 to 4.7.5, covering trophic levels, the transfer and efficiency of biomass, pyramids of biomass, food security, and sustainable methods of food production.
10 min answer →