Apply precise ecology terms such as population, community, habitat, niche and ecosystem to biological scenarios and data in Cambridge A Level Biology questions, with mark-scheme…
Researchers measured insect biodiversity on Acacia trees in the African savannah using the following method:
- insecticide was sprayed into each tree
- this killed the insects, which fell onto a sheet below the tree
- the dead insects were collected, identified and counted.
The researchers considered each tree to be a small, distinct ecosystem.
Discuss whether or not an individual tree can be described as a small, distinct ecosystem.
three from ref. to interactions between, biotic and abiotic (components) ;
yes tree supports, many species/community/many interactions ;
energy flow / food web, occurs on one tree ;
no idea that tree is part of larger ecosystem/interactions occur with organisms outside tree ;
part of, savannah/larger, energy flow/food web/nutrient recycling ;
3
A interactions between living and non-living or between, the community/populations of different species, and the physico-chemical environment
A idea of, discrete/self-contained/self-sustaining, group of species/community A description of three-step food chain on tree