4.7 Ecology 4.7.1 Adaptations, interdependence and competition Spec ref. Summary of the Learning outcomes Suggested Opportunities to develop Opportunities to apply practical Self/peer specification content timing scientific communication skills and enquiry skills assessment What most candidates should be (hours) Opportunities and able to do resources Reference to past questions that indicate success 4.7.1.1 Communities Understand and use the 1 Look at pictures of different Observe organisms in their ecosystem, community, habitats and brainstorm habitats and suggest Organisms need a competition, habitat, factors that affect the survival relationships. supply of materials interdependence. of organisms in a habitat. from surroundings and Describe factors that affect the other organisms to survival of organisms in their survive and habitat. Discuss how organisms reproduce. Explain how one species depend on each other for One species depends on others for survival. survival and introduce the depends on others Describe a stable community term ‘interdependence’. for food, shelter, as one where all the species Resource competition hide pollination, seed – and environmental factors are cards with resources around dispersal etc. This in balance, so population sizes room you have to obtain 3 is called – remain fairly constant. Give an different resources to survive. interdependence. example of a stable Competition: Investigate competition in Stable community. radish or cress seedlings. communities. radish or cress Describe resources that plants Investigate the effect of seeds Plants compete for and animals compete for in a planting density on height of seed trays light, space, water given habitat. seedlings. compost and mineral ions. Measure height and calculate ruler. Present and analyse the results.
4.7 Ecology 4.7.1 Adaptations, interdependence and competition Spec ref. Summary of the specification content Learning outcomes What most candidates should be able to do Suggested timing (hours) Opportunities to develop scientific communication skills Opportunities to apply practical and enquiry skills Self/peer assessment Opportunities and resources Reference to past questions that indicate success 4.7.1.1 Communities Organisms need a supply of materials from surroundings and other organisms to survive and reproduce. One species depends on others for food, shelter, pollination, seed dispersal etc. This is called interdependence. Stable communities. Plants compete for light, space, water and mineral ions. Understand and use the ecosystem, community, competition, habitat, interdependence. Describe factors that affect the survival of organisms in their habitat. Explain how one species depends on others for survival. Describe a stable community as one where all the species and environmental factors are in balance, so population sizes remain fairly constant. Give an example of a stable community. Describe resources that plants and animals compete for in a given habitat. 1 Look at pictures of different habitats and brainstorm factors that affect the survival of organisms in a habitat. Discuss how organisms depend on each other for survival and introduce the term ‘interdependence’. Resource competition – hide cards with resources around room – you have to obtain 3 different resources to survive. Investigate competition in radish or cress seedlings. Observe organisms in their habitats and suggest Investigate the effect of planting density on height of seedlings. Measure height and calculate Present and analyse the results. Competition: radish or cress seeds seed trays compost ruler. relationships.
AQA-8461-SOW-ECOL.DOCX