Competences

• a)Apply key ecological concepts and methods to collect, analyse, and interpret environmental data, working with some autonomy;
• b)Design ecological investigations that explore ecosystem structure and function with scientific rigour;
• c)Illustrate in detail the ecological concepts related to relationships;
• d)Examine the concept of carrying capacity and its links to population growth and growth factors;
• e)Evaluate the evolutionary significance of relationships between organisms and their environment;
• f)Create evidence-based resources that describe the different terrestrial and marine habitat types of the Maltese islands and the Mediterranean region;
• g)Produce a range of appropriate teaching resources and assessments supporting student learning of ecological principles such as energy flow, succession, and human impacts.

Knowledge

• a)Describe ecological principles and natural selection as an observable process, including ecosystems, biodiversity, and the relationships between organisms and their environment;
• b)Distinguish between fundamental and realised niche and their role in species survival;
• c)Analyse heat budgets and temperature regulation;
• d)Explain the interactions between natality, mortality, immigration, and emigration in population dynamics;
• e)Evaluate theories of biodiversity and species interactions (example competition, mutualism, predation) across habitats;
• f)Distinguish between the different terrestrial and marine habitat types of the Maltese islands and the Mediterranean region with examples from each habitat type;
• g)Demonstrate interdependence between organisms and their environment, including the abiotic and biotic roles;
• h)Identify the different ecological techniques required for ecological investigations in the field;
• i)Differentiate assessment types used to measure understanding of ecosystem structure, function, and biodiversity.

Skills

• a)Apply methods to collect and analyse environmental data, including the use of relevant tools, techniques, and software;
• b)Design ecological research studies, employing specialised techniques for data collection and analysis;
• c)Conduct fieldwork, using ecological concepts, sampling techniques and data analysis;
• d)Evaluate ecological relationships and interactions in local ecosystems, through observational and experimental methods;
• e)Design effective lessons and assessments to enhance student understanding of ecological interactions and sustainability.