YEAR 11 ATAR BIOLOGY SEMESTER 1 REVISION
Working Scientifically
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What is a hypothesis?
Write a hypothesis that you could use to investigate the relationship between plant
growth and salinity levels.
What are variables?
Give examples of variables which may affect the height to which a plant grows.
What is a control group?
What is meant by reliability?
What type of graph is most suitable for plotting the following data:
a
Types of cattle at the Royal Show
b
Amount of each type of recyclable material in a household bin
c
Volume of water transpired by a plant on a windy day
Biodiversity and Classification
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What are the 3 types of biodiversity?
Using what system are organisms classified?
What criteria are used to separate these organisms into groups?
Define a species.
Outline binomial nomenclature.
Make a dichotomous key for the following arthropods.
Complete the following table which shows the characteristics of some types of animals.
Classification
Arthropoda
Characteristics
Examples
Spiny skinned
Starfish
Monkey, cat, dog
Annelida
Muscular foot
Aves
Stinging cells
8
Examine the dichotomous key below and answer the questions that follow.
1a
1b
2a
2b
3a
3b
4a
4b
5a
5b
6a
6b
7a
7b
8a
8b
9a
9b
a
b
Spikes present
Spikes absent
Spikes round in cross-section
Spikes oval in cross-section
Under surface of coarse texture
Under surface of smooth texture
Mouth with small finger-like projections.
Mouth lacking finger-like projections.
Blue-green colouration
Red-brown colouration
Eyes bulge outwards
Eyes partially covered by folds of skin
Arms of similar length
Arms of unequal length
Central body raised
Central body is flattened.
Colouration occurs in blotches
Coloration is uniform
2
Order Pendale
Order Tryndale
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4
8
Order Hermandale
5
Order Makarida
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Order Parasida
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Order Charisida
Order Splignale
Order Flottlida
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Order Gradilida
Order Opoloodida
List two features shared by Hermandale and Makarida.
List two features that could NOT be used to distinguish Splignale from
Flottlida.
Ecology
From the food web below:
1
Write out a food chain with 4 links.
2
Define and give examples of a
a
producer
b
consumer
c
herbivore
d
omnivore
e
carnivore
f
top carnivore.
3
Explain what would happen to the food web if feral cats were eradicated.
Feral Cats
Native Cats
Kingfisher
Rabbit
Marsupial Mouse
Gecko
Native Grass
Wheat
Beetle
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What is a pyramid of numbers?
Draw a pyramid of numbers for this food chain:
Eucalyptus tree → koala → dingo
Explain the shape of the pyramid.
Explain the shape of pyramids of biomass.
Which processes return carbon dioxide to the atmosphere?
Why is the carbon cycle skewed?
Name the 3 types of bacteria involved in the nitrogen cycle and what they do.
Conservation and human impact on the environment
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Discuss in detail the following environmental issues and human impacts:
a. Ozone depletion
b. Habitat destruction, fragmentation or degradation
c. Biomagnification
d. Salinity
e. Enhanced greenhouse effect
f. Eutrophication
g. Introduction of invasive species
h. Unsustainable use of natural resources
i. Fire
What is meant by conservation?
What are the benefits of conserving species?
Outline the difference between genetic, environmental and managerial conservation
strategies.
Discuss in detail the following conservation strategies:
a. Seed and gene banks
b. Captive breeding programs
c. Biological control
d. Reafforestation
e. National parks
f. Protected zones
g. Licences
h. Open seasons
What is meant by the term “keystone species”. Give an example.
Populations
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Define a population.
Define a community.
Give examples of relationships that exist between organisms.
What is meant by the term carrying capacity?
What formula is used to calculate a population’s growth?
Draw a graph of population growth which is density dependent.
List 3 factors that are density dependent.
List 3 factors that are density independent.
List different field methods to study populations.
What is meant by the term “ecological succession”.
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Explain the difference between “pioneer species” and “climax community”.
Discuss the ecological niche of an organism and the competitive exclusion principle.
The graph below shows a population of marsupial mice released in an experimental
fenced region. The area was originally stocked with 10 marsupial mice (solid line). A
number of foxes were introduced after 2 years (dotted line). Analyse the graph in as
much detail as possible.
300
Population
(No.)
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5
Years
Ecological techniques
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Why is sampling used in ecological studies?
Which sampling technique would be used to determine the percentage cover of algae on
a limestone reef?
Which sampling technique would be used to determine the density of a plankton
population?
Which sampling technique would be used to determine the change in community
composition from low to high water mark on a rocky shore?
Name and describe the ecological techniques depicted below: