Year 9 Term 3: Understanding and Managing
Ecosystems
Check
ASSUMED KNOWLEDGE STAGE 4 OUTCOMES
SC4-14LW
relates the structure and function of living things to their classification, survival and
reproduction
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SC4-15LW
explains how new biological evidence changes people’s understanding of the world
LW2 Conserving and maintaining the quality and sustainability of the
environment requires scientific understanding of interactions within, the
cycling of matter and the flow of energy through ecosystems.
5LW2a. recall that ecosystems consist of communities of interdependent organisms
and abiotic components of the environment (ACSSU176)
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Define the terms habitat, community, ecosystem and environment
Distinguish between abiotic and biotic
Identify the factors determining the distribution and abundance of a species in each
environment
Discuss techniques that estimate populations. eg transects and quadrats
Outline the factors which affect numbers in predator and prey populations in an
ecosystem
5LW2b. outline using examples how matter is cycled through ecosystems such as
nitrogen (ACSSU176)
Describe in detail the importance of cycles of materials in ecosystems
 Carbon
 Nitrogen and
 Water Cycles
5LW2c. describe how energy flows through ecosystems, including input and output
through food webs (ACSSU176)
Describe the role of photosynthesis and respiration in ecosystems
Identify uses of energy by organisms
Define the terms producer, consumer, autotroph and heterotroph
Explain trophic interactions between organisms in an ecosystem using food chains,
food webs and pyramids of biomass and energy
Construct and analyse a range of food chains and food webs
Describe the role of decomposers in ecosystems
5LW2d. analyse how changes in some biotic and abiotic components of an
ecosystem affect populations and/or communities
Using a chosen food web predict how changes in the biotic and abiotic features of
an ecosystem affect populations of organisms
Date
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5LW2e. assess ways that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples' cultural
practices and knowledge of the environment contribute to the conservation and
management of sustainable ecosystems
Research task(s)
Assess ways that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples' cultural practices
and knowledge of the environment contribute to the conservation and management
of sustainable ecosystems
COSMOS. Issue 49. Pesticides part of bee collapse written by Elizabeth Finkel.
Read, review article and answer questions provided
5LW2f. evaluate some examples in ecosystems, of strategies used to balance
conserving, protecting and maintaining the quality and sustainability of the
environment with human activities and needs
Research task(s)
Discuss strategies used to balance human activities and the needs of ecosystems:
Different sides of the argument
Compare indigenous and non-indigenous land use. E.g. Burn-off leads to the
recycling of materials v’s non indigenous deforestation, over grazing and over
cropping. Raised water table, salinisation, erosion
Discuss strategies used to balance human activities and the needs of ecosystems
with conserving, protecting and maintaining the quality and sustainability of the
environment
Research and describe some impact of human activities on ecosystems. Include
Australian examples; management of river systems, introduction of feral animals and
plants
Analyse why different cultural groups e.g. Aboriginals hold different views in relation to
scientific issues. Provide environmental issues
Discuss examples of positive and negative impacts of recent scientific developments on
the environment, eg. biological controls in particular ecosystems, desalination plants
Give reasons why society should support scientific research in general and with an
environmental focus
Identify choices that need to be made when considering whether to use certain scientific
advances, eg. Environmental impact
5LWadd3 investigate how models can be used to predict the changes in
populations due to environmental changes, eg the impact of fire or flooding,
introduction of a disease or predator
Research task(s)
investigate how models can be used to predict the changes in populations due to
environmental changes, eg the impact of fire or flooding, introduction of a disease
or predator.
Student groups to research a specific Australian example
TOPIC TEST
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