Biology Year 11 - Module 4 - Lesson 6
Abiotic Factors — The Physical and Chemical Environment
1. Key Ideas
Drive through the Snowy Mountains and you will see a sharp line where snow gums stop and alpine herbfields begin. That line is not drawn by competition or predation — it is drawn by temperature, wind and soil. Understanding how non-living factors shape where organisms can survive is the foundation of distribution ecology.
- Key facts and terms for Abiotic Factors — The Physical and Chemical Environment
- How the main ideas in Abiotic Factors — The Physical and Chemical Environment connect
2. Success Criteria
By the end, you should be able to:
- Key facts and terms for Abiotic Factors — The Physical and Chemical Environment
- Where this lesson fits in Module 4
- How the main ideas in Abiotic Factors — The Physical and Chemical Environment connect
3. Key Terms
4. Activity: Build the Lesson Map
Use the lesson to complete the table. Keep answers brief but specific.
| Prompt | Your answer |
|---|---|
| Main concept | |
| Important example | |
| Common mistake to avoid | |
| How this links to the next lesson |
5. Short Answer Questions
1. Q1. The snow gum (Eucalyptus pauciflora) grows up to exactly 1,800 m elevation in the Snowy Mountains but no higher. What non-living factor(s) do you think prevent it from growing above this line? How would you test your prediction?
2. Q2. If the average temperature in the Snowy Mountains increased by 2 degrees Celsius over the next 50 years, predict what would happen to the distribution of snow gums. Would the treeline move up, down or stay the same? Explain your reasoning.
6. Extend: Apply the Idea
A student gives a memorised answer about Abiotic Factors — The Physical and Chemical Environment but does not use evidence or reasoning.
Improve the answer by writing a stronger response that uses accurate terminology, a relevant example and a clear explanation.
7. Multiple Choice
1. What is the best first step when answering a question about Abiotic Factors — The Physical and Chemical Environment?
A. Identify the key concept being tested
B. Write every fact from memory
C. Ignore the command word
D. Skip examples and evidence
2. Which answer would show stronger understanding of Abiotic Factors — The Physical and Chemical Environment?
A. An answer with accurate terms and reasoning
B. A copied definition only
C. A single-word response
D. An answer with no example
3. What should you do if a question asks you to explain?
A. Link the idea to a reason or cause
B. List unrelated facts
C. Only draw a diagram
D. Write the shortest possible answer
8. Success Criteria Proof
Finish with evidence that you can do each success criterion.