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Science Ecology and the environment

Biodiversity and ecosystem health

Colourful meal
Different friends
© Heikki Huhtinen

Introduction

Learning objectives

  • To know that species populations fluctuate according to a range of factors.
  • To understand that biodiversity can improve the health of an ecosystem.
  • To appreciate that the fluctuation in size of one species’ population can affect other species’ populations.

Students’ outcomes

  • To give examples of factors that affect species population sizes. Should refer to density-dependent and density-independent factors.
  • To explain how biodiversity can improve an ecosystem’s health and its ability to cope with environmental change.

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