← Environmental Science syllabus

ScotlandEnvironmental Science

Area 1: Living Environment

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

What is biodiversity, why does it matter, and how is it measured?

Biodiversity as genetic, species and ecosystem diversity; how species and genetic diversity are measured; and the ecological and economic importance of biodiversity.
An SQA Higher Environmental Science answer on biodiversity, covering the three components of biodiversity, how species richness and a diversity index are measured, why genetic diversity matters, and the ecological and economic value of biodiversity.
10 min answer →

How do human activities reduce biodiversity, and how can it be protected?

Human influences on biodiversity: habitat loss and fragmentation, overexploitation, the impact of invasive non-native species, pollution, and the methods used to conserve and protect biodiversity.
An SQA Higher Environmental Science answer on human influences on biodiversity, covering habitat loss and fragmentation, overexploitation, invasive non-native species, pollution, and conservation methods such as protected areas, captive breeding and legislation.
10 min answer →

How do organisms depend on one another and on the flow of energy and nutrients?

Interdependence: ecological niche, competition, predation and herbivory, energy flow through food chains and webs, the recycling of nutrients, and ecological succession.
An SQA Higher Environmental Science answer on interdependence, covering the ecological niche, competition, predation and herbivory, energy flow and trophic levels, nutrient cycling, and primary and secondary succession towards a climax community.
11 min answer →

How do environmental scientists measure the living and non-living parts of an ecosystem?

Investigating ecosystems: biotic and abiotic factors, sampling techniques for measuring abundance and distribution, and the use of indicator species to monitor environmental conditions.
An SQA Higher Environmental Science answer on investigating ecosystems, covering biotic and abiotic factors, quadrat and transect sampling, measuring abundance and distribution, the use of indicator species, and the inquiry skills examiners reward.
10 min answer →