1.
The table below gives the number of flowering plant species for several tropical regions in the Americas, together with
2
the area of each of the regions in km .
Estimated total number
of species
Amazon Basin
7 050 000
30 000
Northern Andes
383 000
40 000
Atlantic coastal forests of Brazil
1 000 000
10 000
Central America including Mexico
2 500 000
19 000
[Data from: Andrew Henderson and Steven Churchill,
“Neotropical plant diversity”, Nature (1991), Vol. 351, pp. 21-22. © Nature]
(a) (i) Which region has the greatest number of species per unit area? (1)
(ii) Which region has the lowest number of species per unit area? (1)
(iii) Explain the range of biodiversity shown in the data above. (2)
(b) (i) Explain what is meant by the term endangered species, giving an example. (2)
(ii) List three factors which may lead to a species becoming endangered. (3)
(c) Give three ways in which efforts are made to protect endangered species, with an example for each. (3)
(d) How might natural selection lead to an increase in species diversity? (3)
Region
Surface area in km
2
2.
A.
B.
C.
D.
The main deserts of the world are found at
latitudes between the tundra and temperate forests.
lower latitudes than temperate and tropical forests.
latitudes between the temperate and tropical forests.
higher latitudes than the tundra.
3.
A.
B.
C.
D.
Major climatic factors affecting ecosystems are
temperature and precipitation.
temperature and salinity.
ocean and air currents.
Rossby waves and Hadley cells.
4.
The diagrams below represent the area inhabited by, and the ecological footprint of, two human populations. One
population is from a developed country and the other from a developing country. The diagrams are drawn to the
same scale.
= Area
= Ecological footprint
Population A
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(ii)
(f)
Population B
Which of the populations is most likely to be a developing country? Explain your answer. (1)
State four pieces of information that would be necessary to calculate the ecological footprint for any human
population. (2)
Explain two ways in which the latitude of a country might affect the size of the ecological footprint. (2)
Which of the populations, A or B, is exceeding the carrying capacity of the area? Explain your answer.(2)
(i) Suggest two ways in which the food production of the two populations might differ. (2)
Explain how these differences could influence the size of the ecological footprints of these two populations. (2)
Compare the sustainability and environmental impacts of fossil fuels and hydroelectricity as sources of energy. (4)
1
5.
A.
B.
C.
D.
A biome is
a collection of ecosystems that contain the same species.
a collection of ecosystems sharing similar climatic conditions.
an ecosystem that is undergoing change.
a collection of populations living and interacting with each other.
6.
I.
II.
III.
IV.
The main factors that determine the type of biome found are
temperature.
precipitation.
soil type.
wind direction.
A.
B.
C.
D.
I and II only
I and III only
I, II and IV only
I, II, III and IV
7.
A.
B.
C.
D.
Which combination of abiotic factors is typical of the tropical forest biome?
Low insolation and high rainfall
Wide range of temperatures and high rainfall
Narrow range of temperatures and high rainfall
High insolation and low rainfall
8.
A.
B.
C.
D.
What is a biome?
A collection of ecosystems sharing similar climatic conditions
A group of populations living and interacting with each other in a common habitat
A community of independent organisms and the physical environment they inhabit
A group of organisms that interbreed and produce fertile offspring
Net primary productivity / g m–2 yr–1
9.
The graph below shows net primary productivity (NPP) of eight major biomes.
2500
2000
1500
1000
500
0
Tropical Deciduous Tropical Coniferous Agricultural Temperate
grasslands
rainforests
forests
grasslands
forests
land
Tundra
Deserts
Biomes
[D Waugh, Geography An Integrated Approach, (Nelson Thornes Ltd., 2000) p. 304.
Reproduced by permission of Nelson Thornes Ltd.]
(a) (i) Compare, and give reasons for, the differences in net primary productivity between any two biomes named in
the graph. (4)
(ii) State two of the main factors which influence productivity. (2)
(b) Explain, with the aid of a diagram, the transfers and transformations of energy as it flows through an ecosystem.(7)
(c) Compare the structure and distribution of tropical rainforests and tundra. (4)
2
10.
I.
II.
III.
A.
B.
C.
D.
Which statement(s) correctly describe the relative productivity of different biomes?
The productivity of biomes always decreases with increasing distance from the equator.
The productivity of biomes is directly proportional to the amount of solar energy they receive.
The productivity of biomes is related to the prevailing climatic conditions at their latitude.
I, II and III
I and II only
II and III only
III only
11.
Examine the photograph below of an ecosystem which has high temperatures all through the year.
[Hjvannes, Cloud Forest Santa Lucia, Nanegal, Ecuador,
licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 3.0 License.]
(a) State the type of ecosystem shown above. (1)
(b) From the photograph, describe the structure of the ecosystem and explain the conditions that support it. (4)
(c) Outline the global distribution of this type of ecosystem. (2)
Which biome is usually found adjacent to ice-caps?
Tundra
Grassland
Tropical rain forest
Temperate forest
13.
A.
B.
C.
D.
A collection of ecosystems sharing similar climatic conditions is a
niche.
community.
habitat.
biome.
14.
The graphs below represent the average monthly precipitation and temperature in two biomes.
30
20
50
40
20
J F MAM J J A S ON D
Month
40
30
20
10
(Freezing) 0
–10
20
10
–20
10
0
–30
0
Precipitation / cm
30
Temperature / °C
40
Precipitation / cm
Temperature / °C
12.
A.
B.
C.
D.
J F M AM J J A S O N D
Month
3
Which of the following correctly identifies biomes X and Y?
A.
B.
C.
D.
X
Temperate forest
Tropical rainforest
Tropical rainforest
Temperate forest
Y
Tundra
Tundra
Desert
Desert
15.
(a)
The following graph shows the increase in total area of two types of protected habitats in a region of
Africa between 1910 and 1990.
500
Key:
grassland
Total area protected / km 2
400
rainforest
300
200
100
1910
1930
190
1970
1990
Year
[Adapted from J Sayer, C Harcourt and N Collin , The Conservation Atlas of Tropical Forests, Africa ©
1992 Gale, a part of Cengage Learning, Inc. Reproduced by permission. www.cengage.com/permissions]
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)
(b)
Suggest two reasons why there might be a greater area of grassland protected than rainforest (2)
Calculate the percentage increase in protected area for each of the two habitats over the last twenty years shown on
the graph. (2)
Suggest a possible reason for the difference between these percentage increases of protected area for the two
habitats. (1)
Explain the significance of the increase in protected rainforest to global biodiversity. (2)
The diagram below represents the plan of a proposed nature reserve:
Key:
Transitionzone:
- Human settlements of
limitedsize.
Bufferzone:
- Scientific research.
- Eco-tourism.
- Sustainable exploitation
by local residents.
Corezone:
- No human activity.
Explain the benefits of each of these three zones for the purposes of conservation. (4)
Transition zone
Buffer zone
Core zone
4
16.
(a)
(b)
(c)
“… because of human activities, habitats are disappearing faster than they can be studied, and simple stock-taking of
threatened habitats is now an urgent task. It isn’t rational to use a treasure-chest for firewood until you’ve checked
inside for treasure, yet this is what is happening to the Earth’s largely uncatalogued biological treasure-houses.
Foremost among these are the tropical rainforests.” (Silvertown 1990)
Outline the relative importance of tropical rainforests in contributing to global biodiversity, and explain why they have
developed such high rates of biodiversity. (4)
With reference to a named area of biological significance you have studied, explain how it has been or is being
degraded by “human activities”. (8)
Silvertown describes biodiversity as “treasure”. Discuss the ways in which biodiversity can be seen as a valuable
resource to people. (5)
17.
The data table below shows the nitrogen content of a temperate forest and a tropical forest.
Table 1
–2
Nitrogen / gm
Component
Temperate forest
Tropical forest
Leaves
12.4
52.6
Wood*
18.5
41.2
Roots
18.4
28.2
Surface litter
40.9
3.9
Soil**
730.9
85.3
Total
821.1
211.2
* living wood only
** does not include roots
[Source: Adapted from E P Odum, Fundamentals of Ecology, (1971), Saunders College Publishing, page 375]
(ii)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(a) (i) Calculate the total nitrogen content in biomass (excluding surface litter) for temperate and tropical forests. (1)
Calculate the percentage of total nitrogen present in biomass (excluding surface litter) for temperate and tropical
forests. Give your answer to the nearest 0.1%. (1)
Determine which of the two biomes contains a proportionally larger amount of nitrogen in its soil. Support your
answer with appropriate calculations. (2)
Suggest a possible explanation for the difference in nitrogen content in surface litter between the two biomes. (2)
Using table 1, list the following ecosystem components, in terms of their importance as nitrogen storages, in
ascending order: biomass, surface litter, soil. (1)
Temperate forest:
Tropical forest:
(e)
(f)
(g)
1. ............................................................
2. ............................................................
3. ............................................................
1. ............................................................
2. ............................................................
3. ............................................................
least important
↓
most important
least important
↓
most important
In terms of the impact on nitrogen storage, deduce which ecosystem would suffer more from clear-cut forestry
practices (complete removal of all tree cover). Explain your answer. (2)
Using the data in table 1, and your knowledge of biotic and abiotic conditions in tropical and temperate forests,
explain which of the two biomes would be a better choice for growing crops. (2)
Outline the impact of agriculture on biodiversity. (3)
Table 2: Population and economic data for Malaysia
Year
Population / millions
GNP per capita US$
1980
13.10
1815
1985
15.21
2100
1992
17.98
3062
1993
18.41
3312
1994
18.85
3655
1995
19.28
4310
1996
19.72
4795
1997
20.49
4563
Gross National Product (GNP) per capita is the value of a country’s final output of goods and services in a year, divided
by its population. It gives an indication of a country’s economic strength.
5
Graph 1: Changes in forested land in Malaysia (1960–1997)
10000
100
90
9000
Area of forested
land / ha
80
area of forested land
8000
70
Proportion of land
forested / %
7000
60
6000
proportion of land forested
5000
1960
1965
1970
1975
50
1980
1985
1990
40
1997
Year
[Source: Adapted from A Kidd, Managing Ecosystems, (1999), Hodder and Stoughton, page 41, and The World Bank,
http://www.worldbank.org/data/gdf/PDF/mys.pdf]
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)
18.
(h) (i) Using the data above, state the relationship between population and forested area in Malaysia. (1)
Using the data above, suggest a reason for the decrease in the area of forested land. (1)
Explain how the reduction of forested area contributes to global warming. (2)
Outline the effect of increased mean global temperature on biomes. (2)
Figure 1 and Figure 2 below are cartoons which each express an environmental message.
Figure 1
[Source: Cummings, Winnipeg Free Press, CartoonArts International]
(a)
Suggest what message the cartoonist is trying to depict about attitudes to environmental problems in Figure 1. (2)
6
Figure 2
[Source: DeAngelis, Rome, Italy, CartoonArts International]
(b)
(b)
(c)
(b)
(c)
Figure 2 is a cartoon which suggests that a conflict exists between resource use and the needs of indigenous people.
Explain why such a conflict might exist in tropical rainforests. (3)
19. (a) Discuss how gross productivity, net productivity and diversity will change over time as a habitat goes through
succession. Illustrate your answer with a named case study. (5)
Explain the present distribution of desert and tundra and discuss the factors controlling their relative productivity. (6)
Outline the components of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and justify your personal viewpoint on the
value of EIAs in the environmental decision making process.
Refer to a specific EIA in your answer. (7)
20. (a) Outline the process of photosynthesis and explain how different limiting factors will determine productivity in
two contrasting biomes. (4)
Suggest why agreement has not yet been reached on the role of human activity in global warming. Justify what
measures you think a named country should adopt in response to the threat of climate change. (8)
Identify two landmarks in the development of the modern environmental movement, and justify why each one is
significant. (6)
7