Edexcel A-Level Biology A2 5.20 Climate Change Effects on Plants and Animals Questions

Explain how changing temperature and weather alter species distributions, pest life cycles, reproductive success and population trends using marked evidence.

Syllabus
First assessment 2019
Course
Biology YBI11
Level
A2

Exam points

  • explain how climate change shifts species distributions through temperature, moisture and food availability
  • explain how warmer conditions alter pest life cycles and crop damage
  • interpret temperature effects on reproductive success and population trends in organisms

Edexcel A-Level Biology A2 5.20 Climate Change Effects on Plants and Animals Questions question 1

[Maximum number: 1]

The photograph shows a young locust eating the leaves of a plant.

Figure for Question Edexcel A-Level Biology A2 5.20 Climate Change Effects on Plants and Animals Questions question 1 — Edexcel A-Level Biology A2

Locusts can breed in large numbers and destroy crops, such as sorghum, in East Africa. A scientist observed that some varieties of sorghum were more likely to be eaten by young locusts. The scientist collected the seeds of two varieties of sorghum (A and B) and grew them in trays. Locust eggs were collected and hatched into young locusts. Twenty young locusts were placed in a cage containing 100 g of fresh sorghum leaves of variety A. The cage was kept at 30∘C30^{\circ} \mathrm{C}. After 24 hours, the leaves were removed and the mass of leaves eaten was calculated. This method was repeated with fresh sorghum leaves of variety B. The method was repeated six times for these two varieties of sorghum leaves. The results: Mass of leaves eaten of variety A 17.317.217.517.016.716.9 Mass of leaves eaten of variety B 17.817.917.717.617.817.4

Some scientists predict that climate change will increase the destruction of crops in East Africa. Suggest one reason why some scientists think this.

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