Impacts of environmental changes on the distribution of organisms
I can evaluate evidence of the impacts of environmental changes on the distribution of organisms.
Impacts of environmental changes on the distribution of organisms
I can evaluate evidence of the impacts of environmental changes on the distribution of organisms.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Increasing amounts of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere are associated with climate change.
- Changes in ecosystems can affect mean temperature and water availability.
- Changes in ecosystems can leave organisms less well adapted to survive and thrive there.
- Evaluation of data linking changes in atmospheric gases and changes in biodiversity.
- Evaluation of data linking changes in water availability and changes in biodiversity.
Keywords
Greenhouse gas - a gas responsible for the greenhouse effect by absorbing and re-radiating infrared radiation that warms the atmosphere
Climate change - a long-term shift in weather patterns
Distribution - where species are located
Abundance - how many individuals of a species are present
Biodiversity - the range of different living organisms (species) that live in a place
Common misconception
A common misconception is that a small increase in greenhouse gases and a small rise in Earth's temperature will not have much impact on organisms on Earth beyond land ice melting.
The lesson discusses how small changes in weather patterns can have a significant impact on organisms as their habitats change and no longer provide them with food, shelter and a place to reproduce.
To help you plan your year 11 biology lesson on: Impacts of environmental changes on the distribution of organisms , download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 11 biology lesson on: Impacts of environmental changes on the distribution of organisms , download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
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The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
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Explore more key stage 4 biology lessons from the Maintaining biodiversity and human impacts unit, dive into the full secondary biology curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Licence
Starter quiz
6 Questions

Exit quiz
6 Questions

