Farlingaye High School

A2 BIOLOGY TEST
Sections 4.1.1, 4.1.5 and 4.1.7
Populations and Ecosystems
Name.
Date.

You have 60 minutes to complete this test.

There are 8 questions try to attempt them all.
You can use a calculator. Remember to show all your workings.
Remember to check all your answers carefully afterwards.

Mark: . / 59

Grade:

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Target Grade:.

Comments:

Q1.(a)

What information is required in order to calculate the growth rate of a population?

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(2)

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(b)

The diagram shows an age population pyramid for humans in a country.

Percentage in Age Group

This country is at an early stage of demographic transition. Describe the evidence
for this.
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(2)
(Total 4 marks)

Q2.

(a)

Explain what is meant by the ecological term community

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(1)

(b)

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Scientists investigated the distribution of three species of fish in a lake. They

recorded
the range of depths where each species was found. The table shows their results.

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Species of fish
White bass

Range of depths /m
0 to 8.4

Walleye

6.8 to 10.0

Sauger

7.2 to 14.6

(i)

Use information from the table to give the range of depths at which all three
species of fish may be found living together.
Answer ............................................................ m
(1)

(ii)

Suggest and explain one advantage to the fish of occupying different depths in
the lake.
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(2)

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(c)

The graph shows the relationship between the depth and the temperature of the
water
in the lake.

A student concluded that the temperature of the water in the lake determined the
depth
at which the species of fish were found. Use the table and the graph to evaluate this
conclusion.
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(3)
(Total 7 marks)

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Q3.

The diagram shows some of the components of a pond ecosystem.

(a)

(i)

What is an ecosystem?
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(1)

(ii)

List the letters that represent those components that are part of the pond
community.
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(1)

(b)

New Zealand pygmy weed has been introduced into many garden ponds and has
spread to some natural ponds. Here, it competes with naturally occurring plants.
Suggest how the introduction of pygmy weed may lead to a reduction in the diversity
of the community in a natural pond.
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(3)
(Total 5 marks)

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Q4.

(a)
Some students used the mark-release-recapture technique to estimate the
size of a population of woodlice. They collected 77 woodlice and marked them
before releasing them back into the same area. Later they collected 96 woodlice, 11
of which were marked.
(i)

Give two conditions necessary for results from mark-release-recapture

investigations to be valid.
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(2)

(ii)

Calculate the number of woodlice in the area under investigation. Show your
working.

Answer ......................................................
(2)

(c)

Explain how you would use a quadrat to estimate the number of dandelion plants in
a field measuring 100 m by 150 m.
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(3)

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(d)

Two similar species of birds (species A and species B) feed on slightly different
sized insects and have slightly different temperature preferences. The diagram
represents the response of each species to these factors.

(i)

Which of the numbered boxes describes conditions which represent

the niche of species A;

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the niche of species B;

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insects too small for species B and temperature too warm for species A; .............
insects too large for species A and temperature too cool for species B? .............
(2)

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(ii)

These two species are thought to have evolved as a result of sympatric

speciation. Suggest how this might have occurred.
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(4)
(Total 13 marks)

Q5.

The diagram shows organisms in a food web.

(a)

(i)

Name all the secondary consumers in this food web.

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(1)

(ii)

Use the diagram to explain the likely effect of a sudden decrease in the
stickleback population on the population of mayfly larvae.
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(2)

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(b)

A pyramid of energy for this food web is shown below. The bars are drawn to the
same scale.

(i)

Use the pyramid of energy to calculate the percentage efficiency of energy

transfer between producers and primary consumers. Show your working.

efficiency = .......................................... %
(2)

(ii)

The average efficiency of energy transfer between producers and primary

consumers in pyramids of energy is around 10 %.
Suggest why the efficiency of energy transfer from producers to primary
consumers
in this food web is higher than 10 %.
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(2)

(c)

Energy from the sun may ultimately end up in dead plant matter. Describe how.
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(2)
(Total 9 marks)

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Q6.

(a)

Energy is transferred through an ecosystem.

Describe how and explain why the efficiency of energy transfer is different at
different stages in the transfer.
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(6)

(c)

Explain how the intensive rearing of domestic livestock increases net productivity.
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(4)
(Total 10 marks)

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Q7.Algae are photosynthesising organisms. Some algae grow on rocky shores. A scientist
investigated succession involving different species of algae. He placed concrete blocks on
a rocky shore. At regular intervals over 2 years, he recorded the percentage cover of algal
species on the blocks. His results are shown in the graph.

(a)

Name the pioneer species.

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(1)

(b)

(i)

The scientist used percentage cover rather than frequency to record the
abundance of algae present. Suggest why.
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(1)

(ii)

Some scientists reviewing this investigation were concerned about the validity
of the results because of the use of concrete blocks.
Suggest one reason why these scientists were concerned about using
concrete blocks for the growth of algae.
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(1)

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(c)

Use the results of this investigation to describe and explain the process of
succession.
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(Extra space)..................................................................................................
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(4)
(Total 7 marks)

Q8.

The diagram shows the dominant plants in communities formed during a succession
from
bare soil to pine forest.

(a)

Name the pioneer species shown in the diagram.

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(1)

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(b)

The species that are present change during succession. Explain why.
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(c)

The pine trees in the forest have leaves all year. Explain how this results in a low
species diversity of plants in the forest.
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(1)
(Total 4 marks)

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