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are here: Catalyst > Biology > Ecology and Environment > Ecosystem ecology, energy, nutrient cycles |
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| Please choose an article |
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| Starting a greener revolution |
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G Page,
Catalyst:
Secondary Science Review,
2010, Vol 20, Issue 4,
pages 15-17.
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| Summary:
How can we ensure a plentiful food supply in the future, and how can this be sustainable? |
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| Relevant
sub-topics:
Biotechnology, industrial biology, food production, Photosynthesis, mineral nutrition, Growth, control, hormones, Ecosystem ecology, energy, nutrient cycles, Human impact on Planet Earth, Farming |
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| Keywords:
food security, green revolution, sustainability, GM crops, farming, population
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article  |
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| The species that changed the world |
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C Lloyd,
Catalyst:
Secondary Science Review,
2010, Vol 20, Issue 4,
pages 21-22.
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| Summary:
Which species have had the greatest impact on planet Earth during its billions of years of history? Who comes out on top of the 'league table of life'? |
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| Relevant
sub-topics:
environmental impact, Evolution, Biodiversity, Adaptation, Ecosystem ecology, energy, nutrient cycles, Human impact on Planet Earth |
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| Keywords:
evolution, natural selection, artifical selection, adaptation, species
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article |
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| Encounters with aliens - invasive species |
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H Roy,
Catalyst:
Secondary Science Review,
2010, Vol 20, Issue 3,
pages 20-22.
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| Summary:
Harlequin ladybirds are just one invasive species that has spread through western Europe |
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| Relevant
sub-topics:
data and its limitations, working together, Biodiversity, Adaptation, Ecosystem ecology, energy, nutrient cycles |
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| Keywords:
biodiversity, invasive species, alien species, ladybirds, survey
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article |
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| A box of beetles |
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G Skinner,
Catalyst:
Secondary Science Review,
2009, Vol 19, Issue 4,
pages 4-5.
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| Summary:
Darwin's beetle collection - an early step in his scientific career |
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| Relevant
sub-topics:
publication and peer review, Biodiversity, Adaptation, Ecosystem ecology, energy, nutrient cycles |
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| Keywords:
entomology, natural history, beetles, Darwin
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article |
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| The Socotra archipelago |
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J Stacey,
Catalyst:
Secondary Science Review,
2009, Vol 19, Issue 4,
pages 6-8.
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| Summary:
The Socotra islands are a natural 'laboratory' where ideas about evolution can be tested. |
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| Relevant
sub-topics:
devising theories, testing theories, environmental impact, Biodiversity, Adaptation, Ecosystem ecology, energy, nutrient cycles |
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| Keywords:
biodiversity, endemic species, selection pressure, Darwin
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article |
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| Bioluminescence: learning from glow worms |
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C Baker,
Catalyst:
Secondary Science Review,
2009, Vol 19, Issue 3,
pages 4-6.
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| Summary:
Glow worms and other insevts emit light by bioluminescence |
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| Relevant
sub-topics:
Biodiversity, Adaptation, Ecosystem ecology, energy, nutrient cycles |
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| Keywords:
bioluminescence, glow worm, chemical reaction, biochemical
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article |
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| In the pink: Colour from carotenes |
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G Skinner, S Tomkins,
Catalyst:
Secondary Science Review,
2008, Vol 19, Issue 2,
pages 1-3.
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| Summary:
How pigments pass along a food chain. |
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| Relevant
sub-topics:
Nutrition, diet, digestion, Photosynthesis, mineral nutrition, Ecosystem ecology, energy, nutrient cycles, chemicals from living things |
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| Keywords:
food chain, food web, photosynthesis, spectrum
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article |
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| Forensic entomology |
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A Whitaker, M Hall,
Catalyst:
Secondary Science Review,
2008, Vol 19, Issue 1,
pages 1-3.
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| Summary:
How insects are used to provide clues at crime scenes. |
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| Relevant
sub-topics:
careers in science, Biodiversity, Ecosystem ecology, energy, nutrient cycles |
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| Keywords:
Insects, Entomology, Decomposition, Succession
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article |
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| Careers in ecology |
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K Devine,
Catalyst:
Secondary Science Review,
2008, Vol 18, Issue 4,
pages 13-15.
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| Summary:
Scientists with qualifications in ecology and environmental science play an increasingly important role in assessing the human impact on the Earth. |
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| Relevant
sub-topics:
working together, careers in science, environmental impact, Biodiversity, Ecosystem ecology, energy, nutrient cycles, Human impact on Planet Earth |
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| Keywords:
Ecology, Environmental management, Impact assessment, Pollution
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| Download
article |
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| Battle of the barnacles |
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G Skinner,
Catalyst:
Secondary Science Review,
2008, Vol 18, Issue 3,
pages 9-12e.
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| Summary:
Biologists look for patterns in the distribution of barnacle species on the sea shore, and seek to interpret them. |
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| Relevant
sub-topics:
representing and interpreting data, testing theories, Biodiversity, Adaptation, Ecosystem ecology, energy, nutrient cycles, Human impact on Planet Earth |
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| Keywords:
Molluscs, Competition, Experimental ecology, Surveying, Rocky shore
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article |
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| Arctic coral reefs |
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T Kerby, J Hall-Spencer,
Catalyst:
Secondary Science Review,
2007, Vol 18, Issue 2,
pages 14-16.
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| Summary:
Recent expeditions to the Arctic Ocean have revealed previously-unknown deep-sea coral reefs. How do these havens of biodiversity survive, and how are human activities damaging them? |
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| Relevant
sub-topics:
environmental impact, Biodiversity, Adaptation, Ecosystem ecology, energy, nutrient cycles, Human impact on Planet Earth |
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| Keywords:
Environment, Human impact, Greenhouse effect, Coral bleaching, Climate change
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article |
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| Forests, carbon and climate |
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M Disney,
Catalyst:
GCSE Science Review,
2007, Vol 17, Issue 4,
pages 12-15.
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| Summary:
Scientists are only beginning to understand just how complex and fascinating the relationship between trees, the carbon cycle and climate really is. Explore how aspects of your GCSE science course relate to the latest research. |
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| Relevant
sub-topics:
Biochemistry, Photosynthesis, mineral nutrition, Ecosystem ecology, energy, nutrient cycles, Human impact on Planet Earth, environmental and green chemistry |
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| Keywords:
Photosynthesis, Respiration, Carbon cycle, Climate change, Greenhouse gas
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article |
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| Measuring carbon cycling |
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M Disney,
Catalyst:
GCSE Science Review,
2007, Vol 17, Issue 4,
pages 18-19.
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| Summary:
Look at how to measure parts of carbon cycling as it happens in forests. |
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| Relevant
sub-topics:
making measurements, Ecosystem ecology, energy, nutrient cycles, Human impact on Planet Earth |
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| Keywords:
Carbon cycling, Climate change, Data logging
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| Download
article |
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| Predator and prey - try this |
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N Collins,
Catalyst:
GCSE Science Review,
2006, Vol 16, Issue 4,
page 17.
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| Summary:
Experimenting with waterboatmen |
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| Relevant
sub-topics:
making measurements, devising theories, testing theories, Ecosystem ecology, energy, nutrient cycles |
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| Keywords:
predator, prey, predation, observation
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| Download
article |
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| Oceanographers |
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N Collins,
Catalyst:
GCSE Science Review,
2006, Vol 16, Issue 4,
pages 20-22.
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| Summary:
How scientists detect changes in the oceans |
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| Relevant
sub-topics:
working together, careers in science, environmental impact, Biodiversity, Ecosystem ecology, energy, nutrient cycles, Human impact on Planet Earth |
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| Keywords:
oceanography, careers, data logging, salinity, climate change, research
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article |
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| Plants and mineral nutrients |
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N Collins,
Catalyst:
GCSE Science Review,
2006, Vol 16, Issue 3,
pages 8-10.
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| Summary:
If a plant or tree were to be burned, most of it would go up in smoke, but part of it would be left behind as ash. Look at the chemicals that make up the ash and the role they play in the life of the plant. |
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| Relevant
sub-topics:
Photosynthesis, mineral nutrition, Ecosystem ecology, energy, nutrient cycles, Farming, industrial processes |
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| Keywords:
Plant nutrition, Photosynthesis, Mineral ions, Deficiency symptoms, Nutrient cycling
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article |
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| Intensive crop production systems |
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N Collins,
Catalyst:
GCSE Science Review,
2005, Vol 16, Issue 2,
pages 15-17.
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| Summary:
Much of the food that we eat comes from systems in which large numbers of plants or animals are grown under closely controlled conditions, designed to maximise production. In this article we look at two intensive crop production systems which illustrate key points in your GCSE course. |
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| Relevant
sub-topics:
rates of reaction, Growth, control, hormones, Ecosystem ecology, energy, nutrient cycles, Human impact on Planet Earth |
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| Keywords:
Factors affecting plant growth, Photosynthesis, Human impact on the environment
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article |
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| Is salmon good for you? |
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J Taylor,
Catalyst:
GCSE Science Review,
2005, Vol 16, Issue 2,
pages 18-19.
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| Summary:
Are there harmful chemicals in farmed fish? |
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| Relevant
sub-topics:
science in the media, risks and benefits, ethical issues, Ecosystem ecology, energy, nutrient cycles, Human impact on Planet Earth, Farming |
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| Keywords:
fish farming, bioaccumulation, poison, PCBs, risk analysis, nutrition
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| Download
article |
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| Predators, prey and populations |
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N Collins,
Catalyst:
GCSE Science Review,
2005, Vol 16, Issue 1,
pages 8-10.
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| Summary:
Animals that kill and eat other animals are called predators; the animals they eat are called prey. Explore some general principles about predator–prey relationships and look in some detail at the adaptations shown by a predatory insect being used in the control of an insect pest. |
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| Relevant
sub-topics:
Biodiversity, Ecosystem ecology, energy, nutrient cycles, Farming |
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| Keywords:
Predator, Prey, Population, Biocontrol
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| Download
article |
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| Food webs uncoupled |
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C Reid, N Collins,
Catalyst:
GCSE Science Review,
2005, Vol 15, Issue 3,
pages 16-18.
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| Summary:
As part of your GSCE science course you learn about food chains and food webs. You also study evidence for global climate change and consider possible causes. Now explore how climate change might affect food web, with evidence from a long-term study which started in 1931. |
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| Relevant
sub-topics:
Ecosystem ecology, energy, nutrient cycles, Human impact on Planet Earth |
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| Keywords:
Food chains, Food webs, Climate change, Producers, Consumers, Plankton
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| Download
article |
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| Twenty-first century plant hunter |
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J Taylor,
Catalyst:
GCSE Science Review,
2004, Vol 15, Issue 2,
pages 6-7.
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| Summary:
Dan Luscombe travels the world looking for new plant species |
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| Relevant
sub-topics:
working together, careers in science, environmental impact, Biodiversity, Ecosystem ecology, energy, nutrient cycles, Human impact on Planet Earth |
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| Keywords:
botany, conifer, careers, botanical gardens, identification, classification
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article |
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| Tree power |
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J Taylor,
Catalyst:
GCSE Science Review,
2004, Vol 15, Issue 1,
pages 16-18.
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| Summary:
Wood is a renewable source of energy. Could we use wood to generate electricity in the UK, and what are the advantages and disadvantages? |
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| Relevant
sub-topics:
Photosynthesis, mineral nutrition, energy resources, environmental impact, Ecosystem ecology, energy, nutrient cycles, Human impact on Planet Earth, Farming |
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| Keywords:
Biomass, Energy resources, Photosynthesis, Renewables, Sustainability
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article |
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| A life in brine |
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M Dockery, S Tomkins,
Catalyst:
GCSE Science Review,
2003, Vol 13, Issue 4,
pages 1-3.
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| Summary:
Brine shrimps can easily be kept in a jar or aquarium. This article explores some aspects of their lives which are relevant to your GCSE science course. |
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| Relevant
sub-topics:
Structure, Biodiversity, Adaptation, Ecosystem ecology, energy, nutrient cycles, Human impact on Planet Earth |
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| Keywords:
Osmosis, Active transport, Producer, Consumer, Food chains and webs
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| Download
article |
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| Energy transfer |
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J Taylor,
Catalyst:
GCSE Science Review,
2002, Vol 13, Issue 2,
pages 9-11.
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| Summary:
You may have wondered why the real-life food chains you have studied aren’t very long. In this article we show how the loss of energy from food chains limits the number of animals that can survive on the energy fixed by a patch of vegetation. |
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| Relevant
sub-topics:
Biochemistry, Exercise, breathing, respiration, Photosynthesis, mineral nutrition, Ecosystem ecology, energy, nutrient cycles |
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| Keywords:
Efficiency of energy transfer, Heat, Respiration, Egestion, Trophic level
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article |
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| Effects of climate change |
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M De Boo,
Catalyst:
GCSE Science Review,
2002, Vol 13, Issue 2,
pages 14-17.
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| Summary:
Since records began 350 years ago, nine of the warmest years recorded have been since 1990. You might think warmer temperatures are a good thing, but climate change has far reaching implications. Learn about the impact we have on our global environment and the resulting climate change. |
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| Relevant
sub-topics:
making measurements, data and its limitations, environmental impact, environmental impact, Ecosystem ecology, energy, nutrient cycles, Human impact on Planet Earth |
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| Keywords:
Considering ideas and evidence, The power and limitations of science, uncertainties in scientific knowledge, Patterns and relationships in data, The impact of humans on the environment, Interrelationships of organisms
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article |
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| Where have all the skylarks gone? |
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C Mead,
Catalyst:
GCSE Science Review,
2002, Vol 13, Issue 1,
pages 12-15.
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| Summary:
Living things can act as biological indicators of problems in the way we are managing our environment. Skylarks and other birds are disappearing from our farmland. How do we know that this has happened, why have they declined and what can we do to encourage them back? |
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| Relevant
sub-topics:
Biodiversity, Adaptation, Ecosystem ecology, energy, nutrient cycles, Human impact on Planet Earth, Farming |
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| Keywords:
Population, Pesticides, Human impact on development, Data Collection and analysis
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| Download
article |
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