Environmental Influences Worksheet

Ecologists study organisms and the area they live in. Their interest is how environmental changes affect organisms and their lives. Building sites for example have a huge effect on the plants and animals of the area. Every time a new construction site is to be developed, ecologists must study how this will affect organisms in the area.

If rare organisms are found in an area, then the development may not go ahead or it will be delayed until:

the organisms can be moved to another area
the development can be redesigned to allow the organisms to continue living there

This is called sustainable development. It means that it allows things to continue to exist in the future.

In this activity, you will explore how environmental influences impact the community of organisms living there.

What type of scientists study organisms and the areas they live in?

What is the issue with new building sites?

They may not be big enough for purpose.

They may affect organisms that live in the land.

They may be very expensive.

Suggest a possible effect building sites may have for organisms that live in that land.

It will destroy the land they live.

It will provide more space for them.

It will kill them.

Suggest another possible effect building sites may have for organisms that live in that land.

It will destroy any small plants.

It will destroy their food.

It will change the weather.

Complete this statement.

Before a new building site is designed, it is necessary _____________________________ .

to go ahead and build it anyway

to find a piece of land with no organisms living on it

to study how it will affect organisms that live in the land

Complete this statement.

If rare organisms are found in the area where a new construction site is about to be developed, building ___________________________________.

goes ahead anyway

is not allowed to go ahead

Suggest a possible solution when rare organisms are found where a new building site is about to be developed.

building goes ahead anyway

construction is delayed

Why does construction sometimes need to be delayed when rare organisms are found in a possible building site?

Tick two answers.

There is not always a delay.

The rare organisms are moved.

The construction stops.

The building is redesigned to allow organisms to continue living there.

What does sustainable development do?

It is about building anywhere in the country to ensure housing for people.

It allows things to continue to exist in the future.

It is about moving organisms to other places they can live in.

Try to estimate how many new homes are built in the UK each year.

5,000

100,000

180,000

ANSWERS

Question 1

What type of scientists study organisms and the areas they live in?

CORRECT ANSWER

ecologists
ecologist

EDDIE SAYS

Ecologists study organisms and the area they live in.

ANSWERS

Question 2

What is the issue with new building sites?

CORRECT ANSWER

They may affect organisms that live in the land.

EDDIE SAYS

New building sites may affect organisms that live in the area.

ANSWERS

Question 3

Suggest a possible effect building sites may have for organisms that live in that land.

CORRECT ANSWER

It will destroy the land they live.

EDDIE SAYS

New building sites may destroy the land that organisms live in. It is like someone destroying your home to build a new one for them.

ANSWERS

Question 4

Suggest another possible effect building sites may have for organisms that live in that land.

CORRECT ANSWER

It will destroy their food.

EDDIE SAYS

New building sites may also destroy the food of organisms that live there.

ANSWERS

Question 5

Complete this statement.

Before a new building site is designed, it is necessary _____________________________ .

CORRECT ANSWER

to study how it will affect organisms that live in the land

EDDIE SAYS

Plants and animals are everywhere. When building a new site, it is essential to take into account how it will affect the organisms that live there.

ANSWERS

Question 6

Complete this statement.

If rare organisms are found in the area where a new construction site is about to be developed, building ___________________________________.

CORRECT ANSWER

is not allowed to go ahead

EDDIE SAYS

Building is not allowed to go ahead.

ANSWERS

Question 7

Suggest a possible solution when rare organisms are found where a new building site is about to be developed.

CORRECT ANSWER

construction is delayed

EDDIE SAYS

Construction can be delayed.

ANSWERS

Question 8

Why does construction sometimes need to be delayed when rare organisms are found in a possible building site?

Tick two answers.

CORRECT ANSWER

The rare organisms are moved.
The building is redesigned to allow organisms to continue living there.

EDDIE SAYS

Construction is sometimes delayed so that the rare organisms can be moved or so that the building is redesigned to allow organisms to continue living there.