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Impacts of environmental changes on the distribution of organisms

I can evaluate evidence of the impacts of environmental changes on the distribution of organisms.

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New
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Year 11
Edexcel
Higher

Impacts of environmental changes on the distribution of organisms

I can evaluate evidence of the impacts of environmental changes on the distribution of organisms.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Increasing amounts of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere are associated with climate change.
  2. Changes in ecosystems can affect mean temperature and water availability.
  3. Changes in ecosystems can leave organisms less well adapted to survive and thrive there.
  4. Evaluation of data linking changes in atmospheric gases and changes in biodiversity.
  5. 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...

Pupils can research how different species are impacted (both positively and negatively) by a changing climate.
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This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which of the following are examples of conservation?
Correct answer: gene banks
deforestation
urbanisation
Correct answer: nature reserves
quarrying
Q2.
The destruction of habitats through deforestation causes...
an increase in biodiversity.
no change in biodiversity.
Correct answer: a reduction in biodiversity.
Q3.
Eutrophication reduces biodiversity in aquatic habitats when...
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: farmers use too much fertiliser and this washes into ponds and rivers.
farmers use too much pesticide on their crops which wash into ponds and rivers.
farmers do not use enough fertiliser and it doesn't get into ponds and rivers.
farmers use organic methods to grow crops.
Q4.
A species which is naturally found in an area is called a species.
Correct Answer: native, endemic, indigenous
Q5.
Why might a population of an invasive species grow quickly?
Invasive species are native to an area.
Invasive species are prey to many animals.
Correct answer: Invasive species have no natural predators in the area.
Invasive species eat all other species.
Q6.
What are reasons why species become endangered?
habitat protection, introduced species and climate change
deforestation, pollution and seed banks
urbanisation, quarrying and captive breeding programmes
Correct answer: habitat destruction, humans hunting animals for food and introduced species

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Why might a species become extinct as a result of climate change?
The species may adapt too quickly to warmer temperatures.
The species may adapt too quickly to cooler temperatures.
Correct answer: The species may adapt too slowly to warmer temperatures.
They migrate to other habitats where they are well adapted.
Q2.
What does the term 'distribution of a species' mean?
how many individuals of a species there are
Correct answer: where a species is found
how species rely on each other
the conditions that a species is adapted to live in
Q3.
Why is climate change causing sea levels to rise?
There are more droughts.
Correct answer: There is melting of glacial ice.
There is increased rainfall/precipitation.
Plants are taking up less water from the soil.
Q4.
Which of the following is not a main factor that affects the distribution of organisms?
temperature
levels of atmospheric gases
availability of water
Correct answer: increased number of predators
Q5.
A species of plant is found in mountains at altitudes between 800 m and 1000 m where the temperature is colder. What will happen to the species of plant as the Earth's temperature increases?
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: The plant will be found at higher altitudes where the temperature is colder.
The plant will be found at lower altitudes where the temperature is warmer.
The plant will remain between the same altitude range.
Q6.
What trends or patterns are shown in the graph of the population of wildebeest from 1990-2010?
An image in a quiz
The number of wildebeest is increasing.
Correct answer: The number of wildebeest is declining.
The wildebeest live in habitats where there is lots of rainfall.
Correct answer: Droughts have been occurring more frequently.
The number of wildebeest predators have increased.