Ecological Processes

3 dot points, in syllabus order. Each dot point has a focused answer, with exam-style questions and worked answers where available.

How does energy move through ecosystems and how are nutrients recycled to sustain life?

Explain energy flow through trophic levels and the cycling of carbon, nitrogen and water, and interpret food webs and ecological pyramids.

Trophic levels, energy transfer and the ten percent rule, ecological pyramids, and the carbon, nitrogen and water cycles with Tasmanian examples, for TCE Environmental Science and Society Level 3.

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How do the structure of ecosystems and the biodiversity they contain keep the natural world functioning?

Describe the structure of ecosystems and explain why biodiversity at gene, species and ecosystem levels matters for ecological function.

Ecosystem structure, levels of biodiversity, niches, keystone species and Tasmanian examples such as kelp forests and the Tasmanian devil, for TCE Environmental Science and Society Level 3.

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What controls the size of populations and the way species interact within a community over time?

Explain the factors that regulate population size and describe the main interactions between species, including competition, predation, mutualism and succession.

Population growth models, carrying capacity, density-dependent and independent factors, species interactions and ecological succession with Tasmanian examples, for TASC Environmental Science Level 3.

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