Lesmahagow High School
Life On Earth
Life On Earth
National 5 Biology: Learning Outcomes
Circle a face to show how much understanding you have of each statement:
 if you fully understand enough to do what the outcome says
 if you have some understanding of the statement
 if you do not yet understand enough to do what the statement says.
Once you have completed this, you will be able to tell which parts of the topic
that you need to revise, by either looking at your notes again or by asking for an
explanation from your teacher or classmates. Remember to revisit these
learning outcomes regularly to evaluate your progression!
Each topic of biology requires you to learn and understand a variety of subject
specific vocabulary. The words you will be expected to define are in bold. To
help you learn these words you could produce a topic glossary or flashcards.
Biodiversity and the Distribution of Life
By the end of this topic I will be able to:
1
Define biodiversity.
2
Explain why a high level of biodiversity is beneficial for
humans.
3
State that biotic and abiotic factors, natural disasters
and human influences are all factors that affect
biodiversity in an ecosystem.
4
Give examples of:
i. biotic factors, e.g. grazing & predation
ii. abiotic factors
iii. Natural disasters, forest fires
iv. human influences
5
Define the word biome.
6
Name (at least) three different biomes.
7
Give two factors that influence the global distribution
of biomes on earth.
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8
Define the word ecosystem.
9
Define the word niche.
10
State a niche includes the use an organism makes of
Life On Earth
the resources in its ecosystem and its interactions with
other organisms in the community.
11
Give examples of the different niches played by
different organisms, e.g. predator, prey or parasite.
Energy in Ecosystems
By the end of this topic I will be able to:
1
Construct simple food chains and food webs.
2
State what the arrows in a food web/chain show.
3
Describe the effect on other organisms in a food web
if one organism is added or removed.
4
Define interdependence.
5
Describe that at each level in a food chain 90% of
energy is lost and only 10% is passed on.
6
Calculate the energy passed on or loss at each level of
a food chain.
7
State 3 ways that energy is lost at each level in a food
chain.
8
Define and compare of pyramids of biomass, pyramids
of energy and pyramids of numbers.
9
Draw examples of unusual pyramids of numbers, e.g. a
pyramid including an oak tree as the producer or fleas
as the top link in the food chain.
10
State why organisms require nitrogen.
11
Describe how animals acquire nitrogen.
12
Name the form of nitrogen that can be absorbed by
plant roots.
13
Describe the roles of:
i. Nitrifying bacteria
ii. Denitrifying bacteria
iii. Root nodule bacteria
iv. Free-fixing soil bacteria.
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14
Life On Earth
Describe the role of decomposers in the breakdown of
proteins (convert proteins and nitrogenous wastes to
ammonium and nitrate).
15
Define the word competition.
16
State the different resources animals compete for.
17
State the different resources plants compete for.
18
Define interspecific competition.
19
Give one example of interspecific competition and how
animals/plants may overcome this.
20 Define intraspecific competition.
21
Give one example of intraspecific competition.
Sampling Techniques and Measurements of Abiotic and Biotic Factors
By the end of this topic I will be able to:
1
Give examples of abiotic factors in an ecosystem.
2
Give examples of biotic factors in an ecosystem.
3
Describe how abiotic factors in an ecosystem can be
measured, e.g. using a light meter to measure light
intensity.
4
Describe what each of the following techniques can be used to measure
and how to use it:
i. Quadrat
ii. Pitfall trap
iii. Tullgren funnel
iv. Tree beating
v. Kick sampling (for stream sampling)
5
Describe how to minimise possible sources of errors
with each sampling technique.
6
Explain how a named abiotic factor, e.g. light or
moisture, can affect the distribution of a green plant.
7
Carry out calculations to estimate the number of
organisms per area.
For example, a quadrat analysis found there were
5 Dandelions per m2 of parkland. How many
Dandelions would be found in 150 m2?
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Life On Earth
Adaptation, natural selection and the evolution of species
By the end of this topic I will be able to:
1
Define mutation as a random change to genetic
material.
2
Describe and give examples of mutations that are
neutral, give an advantage or disadvantage.
3
State that mutations are spontaneous and are the
only source of new alleles (genes).
4
Define the term mutagenic agents.
5
Give examples of mutagenic agents.
6
Define the word adaptation.
7
Give
examples
of
structural,
behavioural
and
physiological adaptations.
8
Describe that genetic variation within a population
makes it possible for a population to evolve over time
in response to changing environmental conditions.
9
Describe the process of Natural selection.
10
Explain what the phrase “survival of the fittest”
means.
11
Define the word species.
12
Define the word speciation.
13
Describe the process of speciation.
Human Impact on the Environment
By the end of this topic I will be able to:
1
Describe
that
the
increasing
human
population
requires an increased food yield.
2
Describe the intensive farming methods used to
increase food production, including the use of:
i. Fertilisers
ii. Pesicides, e.g. DDT
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Life On Earth
iii. Biological control
iv. GM crops
3
Describe the possible environmental benefits of
biological control and GM crops.
4
Describe the possible environmental problems that
can arise when fertilisers can leach into fresh water.
5
Define bioaccumulation.
6
Describe
how
DDT,
or
another
pesticide,
can
accumulate in a food chain.
7
Define the term Indicator species.
8
Give an example of an indicator species used to
indicate air pollution.
9
Give an example of an indicator species used to
indicate fresh water pollution.
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