CB9 Ecosystems and material cycles personal learning checklist

GCSE Edexcel Combined Science · Biology Paper 2

Name ____________________ Class __________ Date __________

Tick one box per statement. Red: need help. Amber: partly confident. Green: can do independently.

I canRedAmberGreen
Communities and relationships
Distinguish organisms, populations, communities and ecosystems and explain interdependence.
Explain how abiotic factors, competition and predation affect abundance and distribution.
Interpret food chains and webs to predict direct and indirect population changes.
Compare parasitism and mutualism using examples and benefits or harm to each partner.
Fieldwork methods
Plan representative random quadrat sampling with consistent counting rules and sufficient repeats.
Calculate sampled area, density and estimated populations from quadrat data.
Compare random quadrats with continuous and interrupted belt transects along environmental gradients.
Calculate species frequency and interpret abundance, percentage cover and environmental correlations.
Biodiversity and human impacts
Explain biodiversity's value and evaluate conservation, reforestation and captive breeding.
Evaluate fish farming and non-indigenous species using ecological benefits, risks and management.
Explain eutrophication from nutrient input through algal growth, decomposition and oxygen depletion.
Carbon and water cycles
Distinguish material recycling from energy flow and describe carbon transfer by photosynthesis, feeding and respiration.
Explain decomposers, combustion and long-term carbon stores within the carbon cycle.
Describe evaporation, transpiration, condensation, precipitation, infiltration and runoff in the water cycle.
Nitrogen and farming
Explain why organisms need nitrogen and how plants and animals obtain nitrogen compounds.
Distinguish nitrogen fixation, decomposition, nitrification and denitrification in the nitrogen cycle.
Evaluate fertilisers and legume crop rotation using nutrient availability, yield and environmental impacts.
Safe water supplies
Distinguish potable from pure water and explain filtration and disinfection.
Compare distillation and reverse osmosis desalination using energy costs and brine impacts.

Next revision priority: __________________________________________________