Skip to content
    Biology GCSE

    Environmental change

    What Environmental change means in Biology GCSE, as defined for AQA, OCR.

    Definitions of Environmental change

    Exam boards and our study guides word this term in slightly different ways. Learn the version your board uses.

    Check what you remember

    Read the wording for your board, then hide it and explain Environmental change in your own words. Rough notes are fine. This is a self-check, with no mark or grade.

    Reference: AQA

    A change that can make conditions in an ecosystem more or less suitable, so species may spread into new areas, become restricted to smaller areas, or disappear locally.
    AQA · Impact of environmental change (biology only) (HT only) (study guide)
    A change in conditions such as temperature, availability of water or composition of atmospheric gases, which affects the distribution of species in an ecosystem.
    AQA · Impact of environmental change (biology only) (HT only) (study guide)
    Changes such as drought, failed rains, floods, storms or rising temperatures that can reduce yields and affect food production.
    AQA · Factors affecting food security (study guide)
    A change that directly shifts the geographical distribution of organisms across terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.
    OCR · Monitoring and maintaining the environment
    A pressure to which populations of genetically identical offspring are vulnerable because they lack variation.
    OCR · Inheritance
    A shift in conditions that alters which phenotypes are best suited to survive.
    AQA · Variation (study guide)

    Topics that use Environmental change

    Related terms

    Using Environmental change in the exam

    Check the command word and mark scheme for your exact question. After comparing your explanation with the reference, use the term in an answer on the linked topic. This practice does not predict an exam mark.

    Practise Biology questions

    Create a free account to answer exam-style questions on this topic and get feedback on your answers.

    Start free

    A week of Premium from your first lesson · Then the free plan continues · No card, no charge

    All Biology GCSE terms