LO: Explore interdependence

We have seen that it is important to maintain biodiversity. However, when introducing new conservation measures, we need to ensure that we will not cause new problems elsewhere in the ecosystem.

TASK ONE

Revise food webs and food chains. Work through each page and complete the tasks on paper or in a new word document. Pay particular attention to the questions on p13-15. These two fictional food webs show how a change in one population affects other populations within the ecosystem.

TASK TWO

Bioaccumulation occurs when toxins build up - or accumulate - in a food chain. There are two real examples included in this document.

TASK 3 - Minamata

Read the story of how mercury affected the ecosystem in Minamata in Japan.

Use the information to draw a food web.

EXTENSION (optional)

Create a news report about Minamata. This could be:

• A newspaper article
• An online news report written in HTML
• A podcast
• A video for a televised children's news show