Syllabus component – ESS REVISION CHECKLIST 2024 - 2025

Topic 1— Foundations of environmental systems and societies

Topic 2—Ecosystems and ecology
Topic 3—Biodiversity and conservation
Topic 4—Water and aquatic food production systems and societies
Topic 5—Soil systems and terrestrial food production systems and societies
Topic 6—Atmospheric systems and societies
Topic 7—Climate change and energy production
Topic 8—Human systems and resource use

Fully Partially Not

Topic 1: Foundations of environmental systems and societies Completed Completed Completed

1.1 Environmental value
systems
1.2 Systems and models
1.3 Energy and equilibria
Any two historical influences on the development of the modern
environmental movement - James Lovelock’s development of the
Gaia hypothesis; Minamata disaster; Rachel Carson’s book Silent
Spring (1962); Bhopal disaster of 1984; any two recent events; any
two historic events
Wide spectrum of EVSs – Ecocentric - Deep Ecologists,
Technocentric - Cornucopians, Anthropocentric - Environmental
Managers viewpoints in different context
Systems – Types - storages and flows;
Transfer and transformation in the ecosystem - diagram
Gaia Hypothesis
Construct a system diagram or a model
Model - evaluation
Steady-state equilibrium
Negative feedback loops with one example Snowshoe hare – Lynx
Loop diagram

1.4 Sustainability
1.5 Humans and pollution
2.1 Species and populations
2.2 Communities and
ecosystems
2.3 Flows of energy and matter
Positive feedback loops with one example Global
warming/Eutrophication
Loop diagram
Resilience - Tropical rainforest & Grassland or Prairies & Wheat
farming in Prairies
Tipping points – example Eutrophication/Extinction
Sustainability; Value of ecosystem services to a society
EIA – evaluate – Case study Three Gorges Dam China
Ecological footprint (EF);
Relationship between EFs and sustainability
Pollution - non-point or point source, persistent or biodegradable;
Evaluate the uses of DDT; Case study – Peregrine Falcon/ Sea Gull
Detecting & Monitoring Pollution
Pollution Management strategies - model
Fully Partially Not
Topic 2: Ecosystems and ecology Completed Completed Completed
Species; Population; Habitat; Niche;
Population interactions—such as predation, herbivory, parasitism,
mutualism, disease, and competition; with examples (any 4)
Co evolution, Resource partitioning with examples
S and J population curves - diagram
Community; Ecosystem;
System diagrams representing photosynthesis and respiration
Transfer and transformation of energy as it flows through an
ecosystem - diagram
Food chain; Food web diagram - construct models
Ecological pyramids; diagram - construct models
Biomagnification in detail – Case study – DDT Peregrine Falcon/ Sea
Gull
Net primary productivity (NPP),
Gross primary productivity (GPP)

2.4 Biomes, zonation and
succession
2.5 Investigating ecosystems
3.1 An introduction to
biodiversity
3.2 Origins of biodiversity
3.3 Threats to biodiversity
Human impacts on Energy flow; Carbon cycle; Nitrogen cycle –
systems diagram
Biomes – any one contrast – Tropical rainforest and Tropical
grassland; Arctic Tundra vs Desert - with named examples
roles of r and K selected species
Succession - stages – Case study Mount Krakatoa –
diagram/model/graphs
Climax community – features;
Zonation in detail – Case study Mount Kinabalu – diagram
Link between ecosystem stability, succession, diversity and human
activity
Measuring abiotic components – evaluate - with equipment names
Sampling strategies
Measuring biotic components – Quadrat, Transect, Simpson
diversity index; Lincoln Index; Pitfall, Pooter, Classification key
diagram – Pitfall
Calculate, Interpret data, graphs
Fully Partially Not
Topic 3: Biodiversity and conservation Completed Completed Completed
Biodiversity; Species diversity; Habitat diversity with examples
Evolution, Natural selection in detail – with examples
Speciation – examples; Galapagos Finches
Plate activity – formation – named examples
Convergent/Divergent
Threats to biodiversity from human activity – in detail – with
examples; Bluefin Tuna/ Asiatic Cheetah/ Madagascar
“Red List of Threatened Species” in several categories
Factors that make species prone to extinction – named examples
Case studies of three different species: one that has become extinct
due to human activity, another that is critically endangered, and a

3.4 Conservation of biodiversity
4.1 Introduction to water
systems
4.2 Access to fresh water
4.3 Aquatic food production
systems
third species whose conservation status has been improved by
intervention;
Dodo/Passenger Pigeon – Rafflesia/Polar Bear – Bengal Tiger/Bald
Eagle/ Giant Panda
International, governmental and non-governmental organizations
(NGOs);
Designing protected areas include size, shape,
edge effects, corridors, and proximity to potential human influence.
diagram
Alternative approaches – CITES; captive breeding and
reintroduction programmes, and zoos;
Success of a given protected area – Case study – Yellowstone
National Park/ Yosemite National Park
Species based conservation – Case study – Bengal Tiger/ Giant
Panda
Fully Partially Not
Topic 4: Water and aquatic food production systems and societies Completed Completed Completed
Hydrological cycle; diagram – systems diagram/flow chart
Human impacts on water cycle – in detail – Case study
Aral Sea
Ocean circulatory system
Sustainable water use – Unsustainable water use examples
Water scarcity –Water degradation with examples; Water budget
Case study - how shared freshwater resources have given rise to
international conflict; Sea of Galilee
Freshwater resources can be sustainably manage by desalination,
artificial recharge of aquifers and rainwater harvesting schemes
Aquaculture – benefits;
Case study that demonstrates the impact of aquaculture; Norway
Salmon Farming

4.4 Water pollution
5.1 Introduction to soil systems
5.2 Terrestrial food production
systems and food choices
5.3 Soil degradation and
conservation
Case study - the controversial harvesting of a named species -
Bluefin Tuna
Case study – compare two aquatic food production systems;
Norway Salmon Farming vs Rice Fish farming in Thailand
Maximum sustainable yield (MSY)
Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and DO;
Biotic index;
Eutrophication – in detail process – Case study Lake Erie/ Misissipi
River - Gulf of Mexico
diagram – systems approach/ flow chart
Pollution management strategies with respect to water pollution
Evaluation
Fully Partially Not
Topic 5: Soil systems and terrestrial food production systems and Completed Completed Completed
societies
Transfers, transformations, inputs, outputs, flows and storages
within soil systems; diagram – systems approach/ flow chart
Soil texture triangle;
Structure and properties of sand, clay and loam soils;
Farming systems – Subsistence, commercial, intensive, extensive
with examples
Possible examples for contrasting terrestrial food production
systems - Case study - Charolais beef production in France vs
Nomadic Cattle grazing of the Himba in Namibia
Food production systems – MEDCs and LEDCs – Case study - Rice
Production in Borneo vs Intensive rice production in California
Links that exist between socio-cultural systems and food production
systems – examples;
Strategies to increase sustainability in terrestrial food production
systems - examples
Relationship between soil ecosystem succession and soil fertility;
Influences of human activities on soil fertility and soil erosion;
 Soil degradation factors – with examples – Case study
Desertification in Australia
Soil conservation measures – with examples
Soil management strategies of a given commercial farming system
and of a given subsistence farming system - Case study –
Commercial Farming in East Anglia UK
Fully Partially Not
Topic 6: Atmospheric systems and societies Completed Completed Completed

6.1 Introduction to the Atmosphere is a dynamic system;

atmosphere Human activities impact atmospheric composition;
diagram – systems approach/ flow chart
Structure of atmosphere; composition
Role of the albedo effect from clouds in regulating global average
temperature;
Role of the greenhouse effect in regulating temperature
6.2 Stratospheric ozone Stratospheric ozone;
Ozone depleting substances;
Effects of Ozone depletion on living things and humans;
Effects of increased ultraviolet radiation on biological productivity;
Depletion of ozone has global implications to ocean productivity
and oxygen production
Pollution management may be achieved by reducing the
manufacture and release of ozone-depleting substances;
Role of national and international organizations in reducing the
emissions of ozone-depleting substances - Montreal Protocol
6.3 Photochemical smog Tropospheric ozone is an example of a secondary pollutant –
formation; Effects on living systems;
Smog – formation – Case study – Photochemical Smog Mexico
Thermal inversions; diagram
Pollution management strategies for reducing photochemical smog.
6.4 Acid deposition Wet and dry deposition;

7.1 Energy choices and security
7.2 Climate change—causes
and impacts
7.3 Climate change—mitigation
and adaptation
Possible effects of acid deposition on soil, water and living
organisms – with examples
Impacts of acid deposition may be limited to certain areas –
examples - Case study – Scandinavian and German forests damaged
by British coal plants/ Black Forest of Germany
Pollution management strategies for acid deposition
Fully Partially Not
Topic 7: Climate change and energy production Completed Completed Completed
Range of different energy sources - solar, biomass, hydropower,
wind, wave, tidal, geothermal, nuclear power - advantages and
disadvantages;
Use case studies to highlight the energy choices of different
countries; France/ Iceland/ Saudi Arabia
Factors that affect the choice of energy sources adopted by
different societies named examples
Human activities are increasing levels of greenhouse gases – in
detail
Potential impacts of climate change – in detail – Case study –
Kiribati/Bangladesh
Ocean Acidification – Great Barrier Reef Australia
Negative and positive feedback mechanisms are associated with
climate change – loop diagram
Global climate models are complex and there is a degree of
uncertainty
Mitigation strategies to reduce GHGs;
Mitigation strategies for carbon dioxide removal (CDR techniques)
Adaptation strategies can be used to reduce adverse effects
Flood barriers
International efforts and conferences to address mitigation and
adaptation strategies for climate change
Impact of climate change on biomes

8.1 Human population
dynamics
8.2 Resource use in society
8.3 Solid domestic waste
8.4 Human population carrying
capacity
Fully Partially Not
Topic 8: Human systems and resource use Completed Completed Completed
Demographic tools - crude birth rate (CBR), crude death rate (CDR),
total fertility rate (TFR), doubling time (DT) and natural increase rate
(NIR).
Age–gender pyramids and demographic transition models (DTM) -
for LEDCs and MEDCs;
National and international development policies – in detail - Case
study – Anti natalist policy of China
Renewable natural capital can be utilized sustainably or
unsustainably;
Natural capital provides goods (such as tangible products) and
services
Concept of a natural capital is dynamic – intrinsic value
Waste disposal options include landfills, incineration, recycling and
Composting – evaluation – with examples
Pollution management strategies for SDW by considering recycling,
incineration, composting and landfills.
Case study of efficient SDW - Germany
Carrying capacity; Carrying capacities and local populations -
Malthusian model;
Population vs Resources – Case study - Easter Island
Ecological footprint (EF) – evaluation – in detail;
EF Model - evaluation
Compare and contrast the EF differences in the LEDCs and MEDCs -
Case study - EF of two different countries – Canada vs Peru