Learn.
Module 1: Cells as the basis of life
- Electron microscope
- Prokaryotic cells
- Eukaryotic cells
- Cell organelles
Module 2: Organisation of living things
- Surface area to volume ratio
- Diffusion and osmosis Experiment
Module 3: Biological diversity
IQ: How do environmental pressures promote a change in species diversity and abundance?
- How do environmental pressures promote a change in species diversity and abundance?
- Investigate changes in a population of organisms due to selection pressures over time, for example: Cane toads in Australia and prickly pear distribution in Australia
IQ: What is the relationship between evolution and biodiversity?
- Explain biological diversity in terms of the Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection by examining the changes in and diversification of life since it first appeared on the Earth.
- Analyse how an accumulation of microevolutionary changes can drive evolutionary changes and speciation over time, for example
– Evolution of the horse
– Evolution of the Platypus
- Explain how punctuated equilibrium is different from the gradual process of natural selection
- Explain, using examples, how Darwin and Wallace’s Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection accounts for: Convergent evolution & Divergent evolution
IQ: How did Darwin do it?
- Investigate, using secondary sources, evidence in support of Darwin and Wallace’s Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection, including but not limited to:
- Biochemical evidence, comparative anatomy, comparative embryology, biogeography
- Techniques used to date fossils and the evidence produced
- Explain modern day examples that demonstrate evolutionary change, for example
- The cane toad
- Antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria
- Investigate, using secondary sources, evidence in support of Darwin and Wallace’s Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection, including but not limited to:
- Biochemical evidence, comparative anatomy, comparative embryology, biogeography
- Techniques used to date fossils and the evidence produced
Module 4: Ecosystem dynamics
IQ: What effect can one species have on the other species in a community?
Students:
● investigate and determine relationships between biotic and abiotic factors in an ecosystem,
including:
– the impact of abiotic factors
– the impact of biotic factors, including predation, competition and symbiotic relationships
– the ecological niches occupied by species
– predicting consequences for populations in ecosystems due to predation, competition, symbiosis and disease
– measuring populations of organisms using sampling techniques
● explain a recent extinction event
IQ: How do selection pressures within an ecosystem influence evolutionary change?
Students:
● analyse palaeontological and geological evidence that can be used to provide evidence for past
changes in ecosystems, including but not limited to:
– Aboriginal rock paintings
– rock structure and formation
– ice core drilling
● investigate and analyse past and present technologies that have been used to determine
evidence for past changes, for example:
– radiometric dating
– gas analysis
● analyse evidence that present-day organisms have evolved from organisms in the past by examining and interpreting a range of secondary sources to evaluate processes, claims and conclusions relating to the evolution of organisms in Australia, for example:
– small mammals
– sclerophyll plants
● investigate the reasons for changes in past ecosystems, by:
– interpreting a range of secondary sources to develop an understanding of the changes in biotic and abiotic factors over short and long periods of time (ACSBL025, ACSBL026)
– evaluating hypotheses that account for identified trends (ACSBL001)
IQ: How can human activity impact on an ecosystem?
● investigate changes in past ecosystems that may inform our approach to the management of
future ecosystems, including:
– the role of human-induced selection pressures on the extinction of species
– models that humans can use to predict future impacts on biodiversity
– the role of changing climate on ecosystems
● investigate practices used to restore damaged ecosystems, Country or Place, for example:
– mining sites
– land degradation from agricultural practices
Master.
- Biology study notes
- Sample internal exams
- Sample preliminary exams