Teacher Resource 6 – Farms as ecosystems
Case study number
1.
1
Is this an example of intensive or extensive farming?
Extensive farming
2.
What interventions has the farmer put in place to maximise production and ensure maximum
biomass is passed on to the consumer of the crop?
No interventions to increase biomass beyond normal growth
3.
At what trophic level are humans consuming this product in the food chain?
Human is secondary consumer
4.
Can the farmer put any measures in place to reduce the impact of the production of this
product on the environment?
Sheep grazing maintains moorland, excretion and egestion by sheep maintains soil
fertility. Environmental impact is limited due to small number of sheep. Farmer could sell
meat locally to reduce food miles.
Version 1
Photosynthesis, food production and populations
1
© OCR 2016
Case study number
1.
2
Is this an example of intensive or extensive farming?
Intensive farming.
2.
What interventions has the farmer put in place to maximise production and ensure
maximum biomass is passed on to the consumer of the crop?
Chickens kept in warm shed, movement is limited, high energy feed, probable use of
antibiotics to reduce illness – all will mean fast increase in biomass.
3.
At what trophic level are humans consuming this product in the food chain?
Humans are secondary consumer in food chain.
4.
Can the farmer put any measures in place to reduce the impact of the production of this
product on the environment?
To reduce impact – safe removal of chicken waste, reduce antibiotic waste, consider free
range (not always economically viable) – but would reduce heating and feed costs.
Improve conditions for animal welfare reasons. Sell meat locally to reduce food miles.
Version 1
Photosynthesis, food production and populations
2
© OCR 2016
Case study number
1.
3
Is this an example of intensive or extensive farming?
Intensive farming – large field, monoculture.
2.
What interventions has the farmer put in place to maximise production and ensure
maximum biomass is passed on to the consumer of the crop?
Biomass production maximised by use of artificial fertilisers and pesticides, mechanical
harvesting, large field with not hedgerows/trees, selection of high yield variety, possible
artificial irrigation.
3.
At what trophic level are humans consuming this product in the food chain?
Human may be primary consumer or secondary consumer – if grain used for animal
feed.
4.
Can the farmer put any measures in place to reduce the impact of the production of this
product on the environment?
Careful and targeted use of fertilisers and pesticides, consider biological control of pests,
grow a grain type that tolerates drought.
Version 1
Photosynthesis, food production and populations
3
© OCR 2016
Case study number
1.
4
Is this an example of intensive or extensive farming?
Intensive farming – still a monoculture in a large field. However, hedgerows provide an
increase in habitats which in turn, increases biodiversity.
2.
What interventions has the farmer put in place to maximise production and ensure
maximum biomass is passed on to the consumer of the crop?
Probable use of fertilisers and pesticides as well as irrigation to increase yield.
3.
At what trophic level are humans consuming this product in the food chain?
Human maybe primary consumer or secondary consumer if crop is grown for animal
feed.
4.
Can the farmer put any measures in place to reduce the impact of the production of this
product on the environment?
Targeted use of pesticides, fertilisers and irrigation. Maintain hedgerows, consider
organic.
Version 1
Photosynthesis, food production and populations
4
© OCR 2016
Case study number
1.
5
Is this an example of intensive or extensive farming?
Extensive farming – free range chickens.
2.
What interventions has the farmer put in place to maximise production and ensure
maximum biomass is passed on to the consumer of the crop?
Few interventions. Will select chickens that lay large number of eggs or grow quickly if
being slaughtered for meat. Chicken waste will maintain soil fertility. No use of
pesticides, high energy feed or antibiotics.
3.
At what trophic level are humans consuming this product in the food chain?
Humans are the secondary consumer.
4.
Can the farmer put any measures in place to reduce the impact of the production of this
product on the environment?
Farmer could sell meat locally to reduce food miles.
Version 1
Photosynthesis, food production and populations
5
© OCR 2016
Case study number
1.
6
Is this an example of intensive or extensive farming?
Extensive – small scale vegetable production, possibly organic.
2.
What interventions has the farmer put in place to maximise production and ensure
maximum biomass is passed on to the consumer of the crop?
Use of natural fertilisers such as animal waste, crop rotation to maintain soil fertility.
Irrigation.
3.
At what trophic level are humans consuming this product in the food chain?
Humans are the primary consumer.
4.
Can the farmer put any measures in place to reduce the impact of the production of this
product on the environment?
Impact could be reduced by targeted irrigation when needed, use of biological pest
control to reduce losses due to pests, keep food miles to a minimum, select drought
resistant varieties.
Version 1
Photosynthesis, food production and populations
6
© OCR 2016