Topics exploited here are; Ecology and Biodiversity

Section A: Multiple Choice Questions. (10marks)

1. Classify the following items as biotic or abiotic factors using ticks.
Biotic Abiotic

Carbon ✔
dioxide

Dead leaves ✔
Sunlight ✔
Soil ✔
Fungi ✔

Biotic factors are things in an ecosystem that are, or used to be, living. Abiotic factors
are non-living. Fungi and dead leaves are biotic factors. Carbon dioxide, sunlight, and
soil are abiotic factors.

1. Ecology is the study of how all of the living and non-living factors in an
environment interact.
What are the levels of ecology, from the smallest level to largest level?
A. Population, Organism, Community, Biosphere, Ecosystem
B. Community, Biosphere, Population, Ecosystem, Organism
C. Organism, Population, Community, Ecosystem, Biosphere
D. Biosphere, Ecosystem, Community, Population, Organism
Answer C. The organism level is the smallest. The next level is population, which is a
group of organisms of the same species in a given area. The third level is community,
which includes all of the different species in a given area. The fourth level is the
ecosystem level, encompassing all of the living and nonliving factors in an
environment. Finally, the biosphere is the largest level, as it includes all the regions of
Earth that support life.
Image of an environment containing sunlight & heat, termite mounds, fungi, a
rotten log, soil, plankton, bacteria, protozoans, algae, and insects.

2. What ecological level is best represented by the image above?

A. A community
B. A population
C. An ecosystem
D. An organism
Answer C. The image represents the ecosystem level, as it contains both
biotic (living) and abiotic (nonliving) factors in a given environment. A
community consists of multiple species in a given environment. This image
shows abiotic (nonliving) factors like soil and sunlight in addition to the
biotic factors. A population consists only of a single species in a given
environment. This image shows multiple species, as well as abiotic
(nonliving) factors like soil and sunlight. An organism is an individual that
meets all the characteristics of life. This image shows multiple species of
organisms, as well as abiotic (nonliving) factors like soil and sunlight.

3. Fecundity refers to the number of offspring an organism is capable of

producing.
What do species with low fecundity have in common?
A. The offspring are self-sufficient at a young age.
B. They are generally prey animals, such as mice.
C. They often have many predators, which reduces their offspring's chance of
survival.
D. They have high parental care.
Answer D. Species with low fecundity focus more energy on fewer offspring. This
significant amount of parental care increases the chance that the offspring survive to
adulthood. This is generally not true of species with low fecundity. Most offspring of
these species are helpless and require extensive parental care. Prey animals like mice
have high fecundity. This is true of species with high fecundity. Species with low
fecundity tend to have fewer natural predators.
 4. Barnacles attach themselves to the body of a whale so that they can
migrate to new feeding grounds. The whale is not helped or harmed by
the barnacles.
What type of ecological interaction exists between the whale and the
barnacles?
A. Commensalism
B. Parasitism
C. Predation
D. Mutualism
Answer A. Commensalism is a long-term, close association between two species in
which one benefits and the other is unaffected. In this case, the barnacles benefit
since they get a free ride to new feeding grounds, but the whale is unaffected by their
presence. In parasitism, one organism (the parasite) feeds off of another (the host)
without killing it. The parasite benefits while the host is harmed. In this case, the whale
is not affected by the attached barnacle. In predation, a member of one species eats a
member of another species. In this case, neither species eats the other. In mutualism,
both species benefit. In this case, the barnacle benefits, but the whale is unaffected.

Graph showing the interaction between two species

5. Which statement describes the most likely relationship between Species

A and Species B?
A. Species A is a consumer and Species B is its producer.
B. Species A is in competition with Species B.
C. Species A has a mutualistic relationship with Species B.
D. Species A is the prey of Species B.
Answer D. This graph shows a predator-prey relationship. The prey is in higher
abundance, and as its population increases, the predator population also begins to
rise. When the prey population starts to decrease, the predator population also starts
to decline. If Species A was a consumer of Species B, it would be in lower abundance
compared to species B. If Species A and B were in competition, we would expect a
population increase in Species B when Species A decreases. Instead, we see a
population decrease when Species A's population is low. Mutualistic species would be
represented with a positive slope.

6. Tapeworms live inside the digestive tracts of host organisms and feed on the
nutrients of the food they eat.
What type of ecological interaction does the tapeworm have with its
host?
A. Predation
 B. Mutualism
C. Parasitism
D. Commensalism
Answer C. Parasitism is a long-term, close association between two species in which
one benefits and the other is harmed. In this case, the tapeworm is the species that
benefits and its host is the one that is harmed. In predation, a member of one species
eats a member of another species. In this case, the tapeworm does not eat its host,
although it does steal its nutrients. In mutualism, both species benefit. In this case, the
tapeworm benefits but its host is harmed. In commensalism, one species benefits and
the other is unaffected. In this case, the tapeworm benefits but its host is harmed.

7. Rabbits and deer eat lettuce leaves from a garden.

What ecological interaction describes the relationship between the
rabbits and the deer?
A. Competition
B. Predation
C. Mutualism
D. Commensalism
Answer A. When organisms of two species use the same limited resource and have a
negative impact on each other, this is known as competition. In this case, both the
rabbits and the deer are negatively affected because they are competing for the same
food source.
In predation, one organism benefits by eating another. In this case, both the rabbits
and the deer are negatively affected because they are competing for the same
resource.
In mutualism, both species benefit. In this case, both the rabbits and the deer are
negatively affected because they are competing for the same resource.
In commensalism, one species benefits and the other is unaffected. In this case, both
the rabbits and the deer are negatively affected because they are competing for the
same resource.
8. A devastating fire destroyed a great deal of wooded forest. Many organisms
were killed or displaced, but existing plants began to immediately shed seeds
that recolonize park. This is an example of which of the following?
A. Secondary succession
B. Climax community
C. Primary succession
D. Desertification
Answer A. secondary succession occurs when a previously occupied area
is recolonized after a disturbance kills most, or all, of its community. A
climax community forms when a community reaches a steady state. The
early seedling in the forest are far from this stage. Primary succession
occurs when new land is formed or bare rock is exposed, providing a
habitat that can be colonized for the first time. Desertification is when a
fertile land becomes desert, usually through drought or deforestation.
9. What would be the most likely effect if several species of carnivores are
removed from an ecosystem?
A. A decrease in community stability
 B. An increase in plant life
C. A decrease in the number of natural disasters
D. An increase in species diversity
Answer A. Removing species can shift the dynamics of an ecosystem
drastically. Removing the carnivores would most likely increase the number
of herbivores that feed on plants, decreasing the amount of plants life. The
removal of the carnivores is unlikely to affect the occurrence of natural
disasters. Removing the carnivores would reduce the species diversity in
the ecosystem.
10. Burmese pythons are native to southeast Asia, but have become
popular pets over the last few decades. Over time, escaped and released
pythons have made their way into Everglades National Park, where they
have displaced many native species.
Which of the following terms best describes the Burmese
pythons in Everglades National Park?

Choose 1 answer:
Choose 1 answer:

(Choice A, Incorrect)

INCORRECT
Indicator species
An indicator species is one that is sensitive to environmental factors. Their
presence or absence can be used to indicate the quality of its ecosystem.


(Choice B, Incorrect)

INCORRECT
Keystone species
Keystone species have a disproportionately large effect on community
structure relative to their biomass or abundance.


(Choice C, Incorrect)

INCORRECT
Pioneer species
A pioneer species settles disturbed, vegetation-free, or soil-free environments.


(Choice D, Checked, Correct)

CORRECT (SELECTED)
Invasive species
Burmese pythons in the Everglades National Park are invasive. They are non-
native species that have outcompeted native organisms for resources, and
displaced them from the community.
 11. An important species of the Chesapeake Bay community is the
Virginia oyster, which helps form large reefs that provide small fish and
marine invertebrates with shelter.
Which of the following best describes the role of the Virginia
oyster in the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem?

Choose 1 answer:
Choose 1 answer:

(Choice A, Incorrect)

INCORRECT
A pioneer species
A pioneer species colonizes disturbed, vegetation-free, or soil-free
environments.


(Choice B, Checked, Correct)

CORRECT (SELECTED)
A foundation species
A foundation species plays a role in creating and defining a community. This is
often done by affecting physical aspects of the environment, as the Virginia
oysters have done by creating reefs.


(Choice C, Incorrect)

INCORRECT
An invasive species
An invasive species is one that is non-native to an ecosystem. They may
outcompete native organisms for resources.


(Choice D, Incorrect)

INCORRECT
A dominant species
A dominant species is one that is generally the most abundant species, or
comprises the greatest biomass in an ecosystem.

12. Following the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens, the surrounding
area was devoid of life. After some time, small lichens began to grow
along the remaining soil.
Which of the following best describes this species of lichen?

Choose 1 answer:
Choose 1 answer:

(Choice A, Incorrect)
 INCORRECT
Indicator species
An indicator species is one that is sensitive to environmental factors. Their
presence or absence can be used to indicate the quality of its ecosystem.


(Choice B, Checked, Correct)

CORRECT (SELECTED)
Pioneer species
A pioneer species colonizes disturbed, vegetation-free, or soil-free
environments, such as the environment found after the explosion at Mount St.
Helens.
They are generally hardy plant species with few soil requirements. They
transform the soil so that less hardy species can grow and eventually replace
the pioneer species.


(Choice C, Incorrect)

INCORRECT
Climax species
Climax species only exist when an ecosystem is mature, not during early
succession.


(Choice D, Incorrect)

INCORRECT
Keystone species
Keystone species have a disproportionately large effect on community
structure relative to their biomass or abundance.
13.
Section B: Structural type questions (15marks)
1. What is meant by the term biomass? [1 mark]
Mass of living material or mass of living tissue
2. The diagram below shows a simple food chain and pyramid of
biomass for that food chain.
The energy of the biomass is also shown for each level.
Plants Insects Birds
 a. Calculate the percentage of energy of the plants that is passed onto the
insects.
Show your working clearly. [2 marks]
(2500 / 25000) x 100 [1mark]
Percentage = …………… 10 % [1mark]
b. Suggest why all of the energy in the insects is not passed on to the birds.
[3marks]
Any three from
 Energy lost via faeces / not digested / waste / excreted [1]
 Energy loss via respiration [1]
 Energy loss from movement / muscle contraction [1]
 Energy lost as heat [1]
 Some parts of insects not eaten [1]
[1x3=3marks]
NB: A common mistake is that students say energy is used for respiration.
You will not
get a mark for saying that as it is technically incorrect. Say energy lost
through
respiration, as respiration produces heat which is given to the surroundings.
3. Deforestation is the removal or clearance of trees in forest areas so that the
land or materials can be used by people.
Deforestation can lead to increases in the amount of carbon dioxide in the
atmosphere and to a reduction in biodiversity.
a. Explain how deforestation leads to each of these environmental issues.
(2marks)
(i) Increase in carbon dioxide
Any two from:
 Burning of wood [1 mark]
 Activity of microbes or respiration by microbes [1mark]
 Less photosynthesis by the trees or plants [1mark]
[1x2=2marks]
(ii) Reduction in biodiversity(2marks)
Any two from:
 Destruction of habitat [1 mark]
 (so) animals don’t have food or shelter [1 mark]
 Plants / animals killed or made extinct [1 mark]
[1x2=2marks]
b. Suggest what the benefits of deforestation are to humans.
Any two from:
 Land for farming animals [1 mark]
 Land for growing crops/food [1 mark]
 Land for growing plants for making biofuel [1 mark]
 Raw materials or wood for building, making furniture, (or a named
use of the raw materials) [1 mark]
[2marks]
c. Levels of carbon dioxide and methane in the atmosphere are
increasing and contribute to ‘global warming’. Global warming
may lead to a rise in sea levels in the future.
(i) Give two other possible effects of global warming on the
Earth.
Any three from
 Big changes in the Earth’s climate
 Reduce biodiversity
 Changes in migration patterns, e.g. in birds
 Changes in the distribution of species.
 Changes in flowering times for plants
 Changes in reproduction cycle of species