THEME IV: MAN AND HIS ENVIRONMENT
Overview
All living organisms are part of a complex network of
interactions called the web of life. This section
focuses on the interrelationships among living things. These
include two major processes. The first is
the cycling of nutrients, as illustrated by the carbon cycle.
The second major process is the flow of
energy from sunlight to organisms further down the food
chain.
16. Organisms and their Environment
Content
• Energy Flow
• Food Chains and Webs
• Carbon Cycle
• Effects of Man on the Ecosystem
• Environmental Biotechnology
Learning Outcomes:
Candidates should be able to:
(a) briefly describe the non-cyclical nature of energy flow.
(b) explain the terms producer, consumer and trophic level in
the context of food chains and food
webs.
(c) explain how energy losses occur along food chains, and
discuss the efficiency of energy
transfer between trophic levels.
(d) describe and interpret pyramids of numbers and biomass.
(e) describe how carbon is cycled within an ecosystem.
5094 BIOLOGY (WITH SPA) ORDINARY LEVEL 2009
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(f) evaluate the effects of
• water pollution by sewage and by inorganic waste
• pollution due to insecticides including bioaccumulation up
food chains and impact on top
carnivores
(g) outline the roles of microbes in sewage disposal as an
example of environmental biotechnology.
(h) discuss reasons for conservation of species with reference
to the maintenance of biodiversity,
management of fisheries and management of timber production.
Use the knowledge gained in this section in new situations or to
solve related problems.
This is o level syllabus on ecosystem, pls check syllabus before
asking
syllabus (c) seab