Biology Year 11 - Module 4 - Lesson 17
Human Impacts — Habitat Destruction, Fragmentation, Pollution and Introduced Species
1. Key Ideas
The Great Barrier Reef receives sediment and fertiliser runoff from 35 river catchments covering 423,000 square kilometres of farmland. Every wet season, tonnes of nitrogen and phosphorus wash into the Coral Sea, triggering algal blooms that smother seagrass and feed crown-of-thorns starfish. This is not a single problem. It is habitat destruction upstream, pollution in the water, and introduced species predation combined — a multi-stressor crisis that no single solution can fix.
- Key facts and terms for Human Impacts — Habitat Destruction, Fragmentation, Pollution and Introduced Species
- How the main ideas in Human Impacts — Habitat Destruction, Fragmentation, Pollution and Introduced Species connect
2. Success Criteria
By the end, you should be able to:
- Key facts and terms for Human Impacts — Habitat Destruction, Fragmentation, Pollution and Introduced Species
- Where this lesson fits in Module 4
- How the main ideas in Human Impacts — Habitat Destruction, Fragmentation, Pollution and Introduced Species 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. A large forest is cleared for agriculture, leaving only small isolated patches of trees surrounded by wheat fields. Predict how bird populations in the remaining patches would change over 50 years in terms of population size, genetic diversity, and extinction risk.
2. Q2. A river receives agricultural fertiliser runoff, causing an algal bloom. The algae die and decompose. Predict what happens next to oxygen levels, fish populations, and the overall aquatic food web.
3. Q1. A large forest is cleared for agriculture, leaving only small isolated patches of trees surrounded by wheat fields. Predict how bird populations in the remaining patches would change over 50 years in terms of population size, genetic diversity, and extinction risk.
6. Extend: Apply the Idea
A student gives a memorised answer about Human Impacts — Habitat Destruction, Fragmentation, Pollution and Introduced Species 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 Human Impacts — Habitat Destruction, Fragmentation, Pollution and Introduced Species?
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 Human Impacts — Habitat Destruction, Fragmentation, Pollution and Introduced Species?
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.