Book a tutor
SearchResourcesRevision notesFlashcardsMind mapsExam questionsTopic testsPracticalsGCSE Biology coursesAQA GCSE Biology (8461)AQA GCSE Combined Science: Trilogy (8464)Edexcel GCSE Biology (1BI0)Edexcel GCSE Combined Science (1SC0)IGCSE Biology coursesCambridge IGCSE Biology (0610)Cambridge IGCSE Combined Science (0653)Edexcel International GCSE Biology (4BI1)Edexcel International GCSE Science (Double Award) (4SD0)IB Diploma Biology coursesIB Diploma Biology SLIB Diploma Biology HLA-level Biology coursesEdexcel International A Level Biology (YBI11)Edexcel International AS Level Biology (XBI11)MoreBlogVideosAboutContact
Book a tutor

Edexcel International A Level Biology, topic 5

Energy Flow, Ecosystems and the Environment

Energy Flow, Ecosystems and the Environment is topic 5 of Pearson Edexcel International A Level Biology (YBI11) and is examined in Unit 4. It covers photosynthesis, productivity and energy transfer, ecosystems and succession, climate change and its effects, the effect of temperature on enzymes, and evolution and speciation. It includes core practicals 10, 11 and 12.

Subtopics

Work through them in order. Each one has notes, exam questions and flashcards, and a PDF of each.

  1. 1Photosynthesis A Level onlySpec 5.1–5.8The light-dependent and light-independent reactions, chloroplast structure, pigments and spectra, and the core practical on rate of photosynthesis.NotesQuestions 11Flashcards 22
    1. The overall reaction and the role of ATP
    2. The light-dependent reactions
    3. The light-independent reactions (Calvin cycle)
    4. Chloroplast structure and function
    5. Pigments, spectra and chromatography
    6. Core practical 10: factors affecting the rate of photosynthesis
  2. 2Productivity and ecosystems A Level onlySpec 5.9–5.15Productivity and energy transfer, ecological terms, biotic and abiotic factors, niche, the ecology core practical, and succession.NotesQuestions 9Flashcards 18
    1. Gross and net primary productivity
    2. Efficiency of biomass and energy transfers
    3. Population, community, habitat and ecosystem; biotic and abiotic factors
    4. The concept of niche
    5. Core practical 11: a study of the ecology of a habitat
    6. Succession
  3. 3Climate change A Level onlySpec 5.16–5.20, 5.25–5.26Evidence for and causes of climate change, the carbon cycle, models, effects on organisms, and the conflict between human needs and conservation.NotesQuestions 9Flashcards 21
    1. Evidence for climate change
    2. Causes of anthropogenic climate change and the greenhouse effect
    3. The carbon cycle and reducing atmospheric carbon dioxide
    4. Predicting climate change: extrapolation and models
    5. Effects of climate change on plants and animals
    6. Evaluating scientific conclusions on controversial issues
    7. Reforestation, sustainable resources and biofuels
  4. 4Temperature, evolution and speciation A Level onlySpec 5.21–5.24Temperature and enzyme activity (Q₁₀), the development core practical, evolution by mutation and selection, and allopatric and sympatric speciation.NotesQuestions 9Flashcards 14
    1. Temperature, enzyme activity and Q₁₀
    2. Core practical 12: temperature and the development of organisms
    3. Evolution: mutation and natural selection
    4. Isolation and speciation

Whole topic

When you have done the subtopics: test yourself on everything, or print the lot.

Revision notesAll revision notesEvery subtopic in one PDF · 33 pagesDownload PDFWorksheetTopic testAll 38 questions (142 marks) with the mark scheme · 21 pagesDownload PDF
FlashcardsAll flashcards75 cards from every subtopicPractisePrint
Mind mapMind mapThe whole topic on one pageViewPDF