Environmental Science syllabus, dot point by dot point
Every dot point in the TAS Environmental Science course document, in syllabus order, with a focused answer for each. Open any dot point for the answer, exam-style questions and links to related points.
Ecological Processes
Section overview →How does energy move through ecosystems and how are nutrients recycled to sustain life?
How do the structure of ecosystems and the biodiversity they contain keep the natural world functioning?
What controls the size of populations and the way species interact within a community over time?
Human Dependence and Impact on Ecosystems
Section overview →How do agriculture and food production both depend on and degrade the ecosystems that support them?
How does the growth and consumption of the human population determine its impact on ecosystems?
How do human societies depend on ecosystems, and how does using their resources change them?
How does pollution move through ecosystems, and how can waste be managed to reduce harm?
Local and Global Changes to Ecosystems
Section overview →How did human chemicals damage the ozone layer, and how was the problem addressed?
Why is biodiversity declining, and what role do introduced species and habitat change play in Tasmania?
How does clearing and fragmenting land change ecosystems locally and globally?
How is the enhanced greenhouse effect changing the climate, and what does it mean for Tasmanian ecosystems?
Principles for Ecologically Sustainable Management
Section overview →How do scientists monitor environments and collect reliable field data to inform management decisions?
What principles guide decisions that balance environment, economy and society over the long term?
How do laws, policies and stakeholders shape decisions about managing the environment?
What does ecologically sustainable development mean, and how is it used to manage and conserve Tasmanian environments?