Option C Review Questions [38

marks]

Chthamalus and Balanus are two species of barnacles that live attached to rocks
between the low and high tide level of the sea. The distribution of each species is
influenced by the presence of their own species and different species.

1a. Distinguish between a fundamental niche and realized niche. [1 mark]

Markscheme
realized is actual niche, fundamental is potential niche
1b. Suggest reasons that Chthamalus cannot live higher up the shore. [2 marks]

Markscheme
a. must spend some of their time under water / prevent dehydration
b. need water for food/nutrients
c. need water for reproduction
d. more accessible to their predators
e. there are no rocks for them to live on
OR
there is no suitable habitat for them

1c. Describe how the distribution of Chthamalus and Balanus is affected [3 marks]
when both are present.

Markscheme
a. Chthamalus and Balanus / both have a reduced distribution
b. they are in competition for part of the habitat on the rock
c. Balanus occupies some of the habitat of the fundamental niche of
Chthalamus
OR
where the fundamental niche overlaps Balanus prevails/survives
d. the distribution of Balanus is unchanged in areas colonized by Chthalamus
e. Balanus is in competition with other species closer to low water
 The climograph shows the distribution of biomes according to the temperature
and rainfall of land areas on Earth.

2a. Identify the ecosystem with the appropriate numeral from the [2 marks]
climograph.

Markscheme

Award [2] if all three are correct, [1 max] if one or two are correct and [0] if
none correct.

2b. Referring to the climograph, explain reasons that the nutrient store in [3 marks]
the litter layer of the taiga is greater than in the tropical rainforest.
 Markscheme
a. litter is dead plant material on the ground
b. conditions in tropical rainforests are ideal to decompose plant material
OR
conditions in taiga do not favour decomposition of litter
c. decomposition returns nutrients to soil
OR
nutrients in taiga remain in the litter and not in the soil
d. tropical rainforests have more saprotrophs/decomposers
OR
taiga have fewer saprotrophs/decomposers
Numbers alone do not constitute an explanation.

The number of plants in two fields of approximately the same size was counted.

3a. Compare and contrast the richness and the evenness of the two fields. [2 marks]

Markscheme
a. same richness as they have the same number of species/total of individuals
b. field 1 has more evenness as more even distribution of numbers among the
species. Allow vice versa.
3b. A calculation of Simpson’s reciprocal index was undertaken on each field [2 marks]
with the following results.

Evaluate these results.

Markscheme
a. the higher the number the more diverse/biodiverse is the field
OR
N (N −1)
D= ∑ n(n−1)
b. field 1 shows greater diversity/biodiversity (as it has a higher value)

In 1997 in South Africa, a decision was made to decrease the use of mosquito-
killing pesticides due to their negative effect on the environment. Mosquitoes are
known to be responsible for the spread of malaria. In 2001 the decision was
reversed and the use of pesticides was increased. The graph shows the estimated
numbers of people with malaria in each year.

4a. Outline the trend in the number of people with malaria during the period [1 mark]
when the use of pesticides was decreased in South Africa.
 Markscheme
the number of people with malaria increased

4b. One pesticide used in killing mosquitoes was DDT. Considering its [4 marks]
harmful effects,
discuss whether the decision to reintroduce it was justified.

Markscheme
a. choice has to be made between damage to environment or increase in
malaria
b. DT may lead to biomagnification/bioaccumulation in food chains
OR
taken up by species in lower trophic levels becoming more concentrated at
higher trophic levels
c. causes harm to consumers at end of food chain
OR
example «eg: thin egg shells of falcons»
d. DDT is shown to be effective in reducing malaria
e. possible partial solution to be selective in areas sprayed with DDT
f. may kill insects that are not pests

5a. Primary plant succession has been observed in sand dunes adjacent to [3 marks]
the northern end of Lake Michigan, one of the Great Lakes in North
America. The youngest sand dunes have beach grass (Ammophila breviligulata)
and prairie bunch grass (Schizachyrium scoparium ). The oldest dunes have
coniferous trees (Pinus strobus and Pinus resinosa).
Predict the differences in the soil characteristics between the youngest and oldest
sand dunes.
 Markscheme
«In the older sand dunes you would expect» (Accept inverse answers related
to younger sand dunes)
More complex deeper soil
Buildup of organic matter
Better water retention
Higher nutrient content
Support larger diversity of soil organisms
Soil is less likely to be blown away
OR
Soil is more stable
A different pH

5b. Outline how the type of stable ecosystem that will develop in an area [3 marks]
can be predicted based on climate.

Markscheme
Climate is defined by temperature and rainfall
Absence of rainfall/water/humidity leads to desert
Moderate amount of rainfall leads to grassland
High levels of rainfall leads to forest
Temperature determines type of grassland/forest
 The images show three predator–prey relationships.

Biomagnification of two groups of organic pollutants was investigated in three

predator–prey relationships. BDEs and PCBs are broadly used in industry. The
biomagnification factor is a ratio of the amount of pollutant in predator tissue
compared to the amount of pollutant in prey tissue.

6a. Outline how biomagnification occurs. [2 marks]

Markscheme
Toxin at lowest concentrations in organisms at lowest trophic level
Toxin concentration builds/is magnified in organisms at each successively
higher trophic level
Toxins often fat-soluble
OR
can accumulate in body tissues
Toxin/chemical is not metabolized/excreted
6b. (i) Identify the predator with the least biomagnification of pollutants. [2 marks]
(ii) Suggest a reason for the species identified in (b)(i) having the lowest
biomagnification factor.

Markscheme
(i) Fox
(ii) Unlike the other two predators, it is a mammal
OR
has other sources of food
OR
different biochemistry/metabolism

6c. Deduce two conclusions about PCBs that are supported by the data. [2 marks]

Markscheme
PCBs biomagnify in all three predator–prey relationships
PCBs biomagnify most in rodent–buzzard/least in rodent–fox relationship
Greatest range of PCB biomagnification occurs in rodent–buzzard
Biomagnification in birds is higher than in mammals

7. Explain how alien species can affect community structure in an [4 marks]

ecosystem.
 Markscheme
Species introduced into habitat/ecosystem
Disrupt food chains
Reduce the number of organism that occupy similar niches
They can overconsume prey species
Reduce availability of prey species for other consumers
They can overconsume a native predator
Leading to loss of control on numbers of prey species
Their impact will reduce the biodiversity
Can lead to extinction of some species
May have no natural predators/control

Increasing carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere leads to acidification of

the ocean. This in turn reduces the amount of dissolved calcium carbonate. A
study was undertaken to investigate the effect of increasing the concentration of
atmospheric carbon dioxide on the calcification rate of marine organisms.
Calcification is the uptake of calcium into the bodies and shells of marine
organisms. The study was undertaken inside Biosphere-2, a large-scale closed
mesocosm. The graph shows the results of the data collection.

8a. State the relationship between atmospheric carbon dioxide and [1 mark]
calcification rates.
 Markscheme
Negative correlation (Do not accept “negative” alone)
OR
inverse relationship
Decrease in calcification as atmospheric CO 2/pCO2 rises

8b. Distinguish between the exchange of matter and energy with the [1 mark]
surroundings in a closed mesocosm.

Markscheme
Matter does not exchange/enter/leave but energy exchanges/enters/leaves

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