News

As part of the A-Level Biology programme students are required to carry out an investigation into the Biodiversity of a local habitat. Therefore, on a rather chilly April day, Year 12 and 13 A-level Biologists visited the Marriott’s Way Heritage Trail just outside Norwich, to collect sample data ready to analyse back in the classroom.  

In the morning, students used random sampling techniques to analyse the abundance and distribution of plants found on an open grassland habitat. This was followed in the afternoon with a survey of the River Tud, and kick sampling to assess the Biodiversity of freshwater invertebrates living in the river.  

These techniques are used by Biologists across the world to survey Ecosystems and monitor how human activities impact the flora and fauna, and come up with ways to protect and preserve them. Unfortunately, nearly a third of all monitored species are currently endangered due to human activities. 

Data gathered from the field trip will be used in class to assess the biodiversity of the habitats studied and feed into other areas of the A-Level Biology Curriculum.  

I would like to thank all students and staff involved, who made the trip successful and enjoyable. 

If you would like to read more on the importance of Biodiversity visit 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/explainers-60823267

Glossary  

Habitat: The place where an organism normally lives  

Ecosystem: all the living (biotic) and non-living (abiotic) components of a particular area 

Biodiversity: Biodiversity is the variety of all life on Earth - animals, plants, fungi and micro-organisms like bacteria. 

Conservation: the protection of plants and animals from the damaging effects of human activity.