The Living Environment • Conservation in the UK, coral reefs, Antarctica, temperate and tropical forests • Ecological relationships between organisms and their abiotic and biotic environment The Physical Environment • Atmospheric gases, water and mineral nutrients • Human exploitation and management of physical resources to provide higher material living standards Energy Resources & Environmental Pollution • Properties of pollutants to explain why some materials or forms of energy cause environmental damage • Minimising releases, treating effluents and managing the damage caused by pollutants Biological Resources and Sustainability • Factors controlling human population growth in relation to the demands placed upon the planet’s resources and life-support systems • Food production and forestry systems Research Methods • Students must understand the general principles of scientific methodology and be able to apply these to a wide range of environmental situations and techniques