Unit Objectives:
Organisms, Populations & Communities
KNOWLEDGE of SUBJECT MATTER:
define key terms used in this unit
list abiotic and biotic factors operating in an
ecosystem
describe factors that are significant in the
distribution and abundance of nominated species
recall ways in which organisms influence and alter
their environments
name and recall the characteristics of the major world
biomes (ecosystems), and specifically the main biomes in Australia
understand the roles of each of the following and
describe their forms of relationship within a community:
producer, consumer, herbivore, omnivore, carnivore, decomposer,
competition, predator/prey, mutualism, commensalism, parasitism
recall that the overall growth rate of
population/community involves the combination of births, deaths, immigration
and emigration
describe the features of marine, freshwater and
terrestrial ecosystems
recognise structural, physiological and behavioural
adaptations of organisms to their environments
SIMPLE SCIENTIFIC PROCESSES:
study interactions between abiotic and biotic
components
investigate the relationships between organisms and
their surroundings
observe and record the characteristic features of a
selected natural ecosystem
communicate information in various forms including
transect diagrams, graphs, tables, food chains and webs
describe characteristic features of an organism that
suits it to its
way of life
relate the visible features of an organism to its way
of life
explain relationships within populations and
communities
evaluate observed or described changes in populations
and communities
calculate rates of change within a population
describe factors which are significant in the
distribution and abundance of a species
describe the interactions between organisms
(populations & communities), and organisms and their
environments
demonstrate appropriate selection of instruments and
methods for the collection of population and community data
COMPLEX REASONING PROCESSES:
interpret and evaluate data about environmental factors
and discuss possible consequences
critically analyse the influences of, and changes
resulting from, the interactions between organisms (populations
& communities), and organisms and their environments
select an environmental issue and construct an argument
to refute assumptions
construct a coherent strategy for management of a given
environmental problem
critically evaluate data by comparing two different
ecosystems
