What this topic covers
Topic 9: Ecosystems and material cycles has 4 subtopics:
- Adaptations, interdependence and competition
- Organisation of an ecosystem
- Biodiversity and the effect of human interaction on ecosystems
- Additional ecosystem anchors
← Back to topics
GCSE Edexcel Foundation Combined Science Biology · Topic 9 of 9
Topic 9: Ecosystems and material cycles – GCSE Edexcel Foundation Combined Science Biology revision notes
Choose a subtopic. Communities, ecosystems, biodiversity, trophic levels and material cycles. 27 lessons in 4 subtopics.
Revise Topic 9: Ecosystems and material cycles for GCSE Edexcel Foundation Combined Science Biology, including Adaptations, interdependence and competition.
27
Lessons
4
Subtopics
Topic 9: Ecosystems and material cycles lessons by subtopic
27 lessons, grouped by subtopic.
Adaptations, interdependence and competition
- Understanding Ecosystems and Their Organisation
- Competition and Survival in Communities
- Interdependence and Community Stability
- Physical Abiotic Factors in Ecosystems
- Chemical Abiotic Factors and Specialized Environments
- Analyzing the Impact of Abiotic Changes on Communities
- Living Factors Affecting Communities
- Analyzing Changes in Communities
- Types of Adaptations
- Extremophiles and Extreme Environments
Organisation of an ecosystem
- Working with ecological data
- Producers and feeding relationships
- Studying ecosystems and predator-prey relationships
- Material cycling in ecosystems
- The carbon and water cycles
- Microorganisms in material cycling
Biodiversity and the effect of human interaction on ecosystems
- What is Biodiversity and Why Does it Matter?
- Human Impact on Biodiversity
- Types and Sources of Pollution
- Human Impact on Pollution and Biodiversity
- How Human Activities Reduce Land for Wildlife
- Causes of Large-Scale Deforestation
- Understanding Global Warming and Its Biological Impact
- Human Impacts on Biodiversity
- Conservation Programmes and Habitat Protection
- Global and Local Environmental Solutions
Additional ecosystem anchors
More in this course
Go back to the full GCSE Edexcel Foundation Combined Science Biology topic list, or practise this topic with past-paper questions.
Frequently asked questions
What is Topic 9: Ecosystems and material cycles?
Communities, ecosystems, biodiversity, trophic levels and material cycles. 27 lessons in 4 subtopics.
How do you find the median?
To find the median, arrange all values in ascending order, then take the middle value. The Working with ecological data notes cover this in full.
What is the mode in a data set?
The mode is the value that appears most frequently in a data set; a data set can have no mode, one mode or multiple modes. The Working with ecological data notes cover this in full.
What is biodiversity?
Biodiversity is the variety of all the different species of organisms on Earth, or within an ecosystem, including plants, animals, fungi, bacteria and all other living things. The What is Biodiversity and Why Does it Matter? notes cover this in full.
What is precipitation?
Precipitation is water falling from clouds as rain, snow, sleet or hail. The The carbon and water cycles notes cover this in full.
What is a producer in a food chain?
A producer is an organism that synthesises molecules using energy from the environment, usually through photosynthesis, converting light energy into chemical energy stored in glucose. The Producers and feeding relationships notes cover this in full.
What is eutrophication?
Eutrophication is the process where excess nutrients in water cause algae blooms, leading to oxygen depletion and ecosystem damage, resulting in fish kills and loss of biodiversity. The Types and Sources of Pollution notes cover this in full.
How is a cactus adapted to compete for water?
A cactus has a widespread shallow root system to collect rainwater quickly, a thick, fleshy stem that stores water for dry periods, and spines instead of leaves to reduce water loss by transpiration. The Competition and Survival in Communities notes cover this in full.
What are biofuels?
Biofuels are renewable fuels made from biological materials like palm oil, soy or sugar cane, used as alternatives to fossil fuels in transport and energy production. The Causes of Large-Scale Deforestation notes cover this in full.