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Revised iTested Exam readyJ

Topic 1 Foundations of environmental systems

and societies

1.1 Environmental value systems

Development of the modern environmental movement ■

Social systems ■ □
Range of environmental value systems ■
Decision making on environmental issues ■
Environmental value systems of different societies ■ □
Personal viewpoints on environmental issues ■ □
Intrinsic value ■ □
1.2 Systems and models

Concept and characteristics of systems ■

Transfer and transformation processes ■
The systems concept on a range of scales ■ □
Open systems, closed systems and isolated systems ■ □
Models ■ □
1.3 Energy and equilibria

The first and second laws of thermodynamics and

their relevance to environmental systems ■
The nature of equilibria ■ □
Positive feedback and negative feedback ■
Tipping points ■
Resilience of a system ■ □
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1.4 Sustainability

Resources and natural income ■

Sustainability, natural capital and natural income ■
Sustainable development ■
Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA) ■ □
Environmental impact assessments ■ □
Ecological footprints ■ □
1.5 Humans and pollution

The nature of pollution ■

The major sources of pollutants ■
Pollution management: the process of pollution
and strategies for reducing impacts

Human factors that affect the approaches to

pollution management ■ □
The costs and benefits to society of the WHO's ban
on the use of DDT

Topic 2 Ecosystems and ecology

2.1 Species and populations

Species, populations, habitats and niches ■

Abiotic and biotic factors ■
Population interactions ■
Limiting factors and carrying capacity ■ □
5- and J-population curves ■ □
2.2 Communities and ecosystems

Communities and ecosystems ■

Photosynthesis and respiration ■
Food chains and food webs ■
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Pyramids of numbers, biomass and productivity ■ ■ ■

Pyramid structure and ecosystem functioning ■
2.3 Flows of energy and matter

Pathway of energy entering the atmosphere ■ □

Transfer and transformation of energy ■
Gross productivity, net productivity, primary
productivity and secondary productivity ■
Gross primary productivity and net primary productivity ■
Gross secondary productivity and net secondary
productivity ■
Maximum sustainable yield ■
Transfer and transformation of materials
within an ecosystem ■ □
Human impacts on energy flows and matter cycles ■
2.4 Biomes, zonation and succession

Biomes ■
The tricellular model of atmospheric circulation ■
The effect of climate change on biomes ■
Succession ■
Density-dependent and density-independent factors ■ □
Changes through a succession ■
Climax communities ■
Ecosystem stability and succession ■ □
Zonation ■
2.5 Investigating ecosystems

Measuring a biotic components of the system ■ □

Identifying organisms in ecosystems ■
Measuring biotic components of the system ■
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Methods for estimating the abundance of organisms ■ ■ ■

Method for estimating the biomass of trophic levels ■ □
Diversity and the Simpson's diversity index ■
Measuring changes along an environmental gradient ■
Measuring changes due to a specific human activity ■
Topic 3 Biodiversity and conservation

3.1 An introduction to biodiversity

Biodiversity ■
Diversity indices ■
3.2 Origins of biodiversity

Evolution ■
The role of isolation in forming new species ■
Plate activity ■ □
Past and present rates of species extinction ■ D □
3.3 Threats to biodiversity

The number of species on Earth ■ □

Factors that lead to loss of diversity ■
Tropical biomes and sustainable development ■ □
Factors that make species prone to extinction ■
Extinct, critically endangered and back from the brink ■
Natural area of biological significance under threat ■
3.4 Conservation of biodiversity

Arguments for preserving species and habitats ■

The role of intergovernmental and non-governmental
organisations ■
International conventions on biodiversity ■
Designing a protected area ■
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Strengths and weaknesses of the species-based

approach to conservation ■
A mixed approach to conservation ■
Topic 4 Water, aquatic food production systems
and societies

4.1 Introduction to water systems

The hydrological cycle ■

Ocean circulation systems ■ □
4.2 Access to freshwater

Access to freshwater

4.3 Aquatic food production systems

Demand for aquatic food resources ■

Unsustainable and sustainable fishing practices ■
4.4 Water pollution

Sources of freshwater and marine pollution ■

Biodegradation of organic material ■ □
Indicator species ■
Biotic indices ■
Eutrophication ■ □
Pollution management strategies ■
Topic 5 Soil systems and terrestrial food
production systems and societies

5.1 Introduction to soil systems

The soil system ■ □

Soil structure and texture ■ □
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5.2 Terrestrial food production systems

and food choices

Sustainability ■
Inequalities ■ □
Food distribution ■
Factors influencing food production systems ■
Food yield from different trophic layers ■
Cultural choices ■ □
Terrestrial food production systems ■
Contrasting food production systems ■
Links between social systems and food production ■
Food sustainability ■
5.3 Soil degradation and conservation

Soil fertility and succession ■ □

Soil degradation ■
Soil conservation measures ■ □
Topic 6 Atmospheric systems and societies

6.1 Introduction to the atmosphere

The atmosphere is a dynamic system ■

The greenhouse effect ■
6.2 Stratospheric ozone

The role of ozone ■ □

Ozone-depleting substances (ODSs) ■ □
6.3 Photochemical smog

Primary and secondary pollutants ■

Pollution management strategies ■
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6.4 Acid deposition

The causes of acid deposition ■

The effects of acid deposition ■
Pollution management strategies ■ □
Topic 7 Climate change and energy production

7.1 Energy choices and security

Energy sources
□
The advantages and disadvantages of
contrasting energy sources ■ □
Energy security ■ □
Energy choices ■ □
Energy efficiency and energy conservation ■
7.2 Climate change - causes and impacts

Climate and weather ■

Atmospheric and oceanic circulatory systems ■
Greenhouse gases and the greenhouse effect ■
Human activities and greenhouse gases ■
The impacts of climate change ■
Positive and negative feedbacks ■
Complexity of climate change ■
Global dimming ■
7.3 Climate change - mitigation and adaptation

Mitigation strategies ■
Adaptation strategies ■ □
International agreements ■ □
Individuals' reductions in greenhouse gas emissions ■
 Are you ready? 173

Topic 8 Human systems and resource use

8.1 Human population dynamics

Demographic indicators

Global population change

Population growth and resources

Age-sex (population) pyramids

The demographic transition model

Factors affecting population dynamics

8.2 Resource use in society

Renewable and non-renewable natural capital

Natural capital - goods and services

The dynamic nature of natural capital

8.3 Solid domestic waste

Types of solid domestic waste

Non-biodegradable waste

Waste disposal methods

Pollution management strategies

8.4 Human population carrying capacity

Carrying capacity

Ecological footprints

Degradation, consumption and population growth

The role of technology