CourseCourseConceptConcept

CAIE IGCSE Biology 20.4 Conservation Questions

Practise conservation questions by applying sustainable-resource ideas, matching endangered-species threats to protection methods and managing fish or forests.

Syllabus
2026–2028
Course
Biology 0610

Exam points

  • Identify forests and fish stocks as renewable resources and compare replacement rates with removal rates.
  • Explain how habitat loss, hunting, overharvesting, pollution, climate change or introduced species threaten named populations.
  • Match monitoring and habitat protection to threats affecting endangered wild populations.
  • Explain captive breeding, reintroduction and seed banks as ex-situ conservation methods for rebuilding or preserving populations.
  • Use quotas, selective felling, replanting, education or protected areas to maintain forest cover and conservation compliance.
  • Explain how fish quotas, closed seasons, protected areas, larger mesh sizes, monitoring and enforcement protect breeding stocks.
  • Link conservation to biodiversity, extinction risk, ecosystem food webs, nutrient cycling and resources such as food, drugs, fuel or genes.
  • Sequence artificial insemination and in-vitro fertilisation, compare their fertilisation sites, and identify semen, eggs and embryo transfer.
  • Relate small populations to reduced genetic variation, then explain inbreeding, harmful recessive alleles, weak adaptation and disease or extinction risk.

Covered syllabus points

20.4.1—Sustainable resource as one which is20.4.2—Some resources can be conserved20.4.3—Organisms become endangered or extinct20.4.4—Endangered species can be conserved20.4.5—Forests can be conserved using20.4.6—Fish stocks can be conserved using20.4.7—Reasons for conservation programmes20.4.8—Use of artificial insemination (AI)20.4.9—Risks to a species if its population

Question 1

[Maximum number: 1]

Lignin is used to make a sustainable resource known as bioplastic.

Why is bioplastic a sustainable resource?

A

Lignin can be produced as rapidly as it is removed from the environment.

B

Lignin is found in xylem tissue.

C

Lignin is strong.

D

Lignin is waterproof.

Question 2

[Maximum number: 1]

What is an example of sustainable use of resources?

A

allowing only young fish to be caught

B

cutting down a forest and not replanting trees

C

controlling the number of fish caught with quotas

D

planting deforested areas with one species of crop plant

Question 3

[Maximum number: 1]

What are two reasons for organisms becoming endangered?

1 habitat destruction
2 monitoring
3 education
4 pollution
5 captive breeding programmes

A

1 and 4

B

1 and 5

C

2 and 3

D

3 and 4

Question 4

[Maximum number: 4]

Steppe ecosystems are large areas of grasslands found in central Asia.

Fig. 4.2 is a photograph of a wild horse. Przewalski's horse is a type of wild horse that nearly became extinct.

After a captive breeding programme, they were successfully reintroduced to the steppe ecosystem.

The captive breeding programme started with 12 wild horses.

Fig. 4.2

Fig. 4.2

Suggest ways of maintaining a population of Przewalski's horse in the wild after their reintroduction to the steppe ecosystem.

Question 5

[Maximum number: 1]

The list shows activities that happen in a forest.
1 cutting down only selected trees
2 educating people about forests
3 replanting trees
4 cutting down trees to grow crop plants

Which activities are likely to ensure the forest is used sustainably?

A

1, 2 and 3

B

1, 2 and 4

C

1, 3 and 4

D

2 and 3 only

Question 6

[Maximum number: 2]

The oceans contain fish stocks that can be managed as a sustainable resource to provide food for humans.

Fishing can be managed to promote the conservation of fish stocks.

Explain one way that fishing can be managed to conserve fish stocks.

Question 7

[Maximum number: 3]

Fig. 6.1 shows a boreal toad, Anaxyrus boreas. This toad is listed as an endangered species.

Fig. 6.1

Fig. 6.1

There are conservation programmes to reintroduce boreal toads into their natural habitat.

Describe why conservation programmes are set up for animals like the boreal toad.

Question 8

[Maximum number: 4]

Fig. 6.1 shows a boreal toad, Anaxyrus boreas. This toad is listed as an endangered species.

Fig. 6.1

Fig. 6.1

There are conservation programmes to reintroduce boreal toads into their natural habitat.

Conservation programmes for other endangered animals, such as birds, use artificial insemination as part of a captive breeding programme.

Describe how artificial insemination is carried out as part of a captive breeding programme.

Question 9

[Maximum number: 3]

Steppe ecosystems are large areas of grasslands found in central Asia.

Fig. 4.2 is a photograph of a wild horse. Przewalski's horse is a type of wild horse that nearly became extinct.

After a captive breeding programme, they were successfully reintroduced to the steppe ecosystem.

The captive breeding programme started with 12 wild horses.

Fig. 4.2

Fig. 4.2

Explain the risks to a species of a captive breeding programme that uses such a small number of individuals.

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