Topic 3 - Biodiversity and Conservation
Question 1
SLPaper 1The resource booklet provides information on Madagascar. Use the resource booklet and your own studies to answer the following.
Question 2
SLPaper 2Identify four reasons why the genetic diversity of a population may change over time.
Explain how changes in the concentration of stratospheric and tropospheric ozone in the atmosphere can affect global biodiversity.
Environmental value systems differ in how they view the importance of biodiversity and this could influence a community’s approach to conservation.
Discuss how these different perspectives, including your own, may influence approaches to conservation.
Question 3
SLPaper 2Outline the factors that lead to different environmental value systems in contrasting cultures.
Explain why the harvesting of a named aquatic species may be controversial.
Discuss strategies that can be used to improve the sustainability of food production systems.
Question 4
SLPaper 1The resource booklet provides information on Madagascar. Use the resource booklet and your own studies to answer the following.
Question 5
SLPaper 1The resource booklet provides information on Madagascar. Use the resource booklet and your own studies to answer the following.
Question 6
SLPaper 1Refer to the information provided in the resource booklet in your answer.
Question 7
SLPaper 1Figure8(a): Fact file on Siberian tiger (Panthera tigris altaica)
- Historically found in North and South Korea, Eastern China and Siberia but now mainly live within the Sikhote-Alin mountain range in Primorsky Krai and Khabarovsk Krai of Siberia.
- Female tigers reach sexual maturity after 4–5 years and give birth to 2–6 cubs once every two years.
- Reduction in tiger population has occurred due to:
- loss of habitat as a result of logging and mining activity.
- poaching for fur and tiger parts used in traditional Chinese medicines (up to US$50000 may be paid for a tiger).
- loss of prey.
- Local communities have supported anti-poaching and environmental education campaigns.
- In 1940s it was estimated that there were fewer than 50 individuals remaining in the wild and by 2010 this number had increased to about 500. During this period, the following conservation measures were introduced:
Figure 8(d): Siberian tiger population in Russia
Figure 8(e): Causes of tiger mortality in and near Sikhote-Alin Biosphere Reserve, 1992–2005
[Source: Russia Program, Wildlife Conservation Society.]
Question 8
SLPaper 2Outline why top carnivores are vulnerable to non-biodegradable toxins.
Explain two factors which lead to a loss of marine (ocean) biodiversity.
Evaluate one possible pollution management strategy for solid domestic waste.
Question 9
SLPaper 2Figure 1(a): Savanna food chain
[Source:Djsudermann, 2019. [Elephants in the Savannah] [image online] Available at: https://pixabay.com/photos/
elephant-trees-savannah-sky-animal-4121954/ [Accessed 29 September 2020]. Source adapted.
designerpoint, 2012. Lion-wildcat-safari-africa-515030. [image online] Available at: https://pixabay.com/photos/
lion-wildcat-safari-africa-515030/ [Accessed 3 September 2020].]
Figure 1(b): Biting flies in the savanna
Biting flies bite and drink the blood of zebras. They commonly carry diseases that can be fatal to zebras.
[Source: [Tsetse fly] 2006. [image online] Available at: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tsetse\_fly.png [Accessed 22
May 2020]. Source adapted.
Wellcome Material: Tropical Medicine, 2014. Illustration of ‘Tabinus socius’. [image online] Available at:
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Illustration_of_%27Tabinus_socius%27;_Tropical_Medicine_Wellcome_
L0025345.jpg. Second report of the Wellcome Research Laboratories at the Gordon Memorial College, Khartoum
/ Andrew Balfour. https://wellcomecollection.org/works/ez3txjfg. Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.en[Accessed 22 May 2020]. Source adapted.]
State the trophic level of the zebra.
State how you could determine gross secondary productivity of the zebra.
Explain how the second law of thermodynamics applies to this food chain.
State the type of relationship that exists between biting flies and the zebra.
Zebra stripes may reduce the ability of the biting flies to land on the zebra. Describe how natural selection may have led to the evolution of zebra stripes in response to biting flies.
Question 10
SLPaper 1Figure 3(a): Graph showing Icelandic population change over time
Figure 3(b): Age-gender pyramid for Iceland in 2014
[Source: adapted from CIA World Factbook]
