Question 1
1
The St. Lawrence river in Canada has been identified as an area with very high biodiversity.
structured0 marks
Question 1(c)
1(c)
The St. Lawrence river runs through very busy industrial areas. It has many ports for cargo ships, a good fishing trade and many whale-watching boat trips for tourists. Decades of whale hunting has caused a large decrease in whale population sizes. Since whale hunting was banned, whale populations have not recovered. Seven of the thirteen whale species in the St. Lawrence river have been rated as endangered species. Suggest two reasons why the populations of whales have not recovered since the ban on whale hunting.
Mediumstructured2 marks
Answer
two from: 1 (water) pollution from, industry / boats ; 2 accidents involving / damaged by, boats / fishing gear ; 3 lack of/competition for, food/krill/prey ; 4 noise / vibration, disturbs whale, communication / behaviour / mating ; 5 illegal, whaling / hunting ; 6 reproduction rate is slow / one offspring at a time / long gestation ;
Question 1(d)
1(d)
Fat samples from under the skin of individual whales of several different species were taken. These were analysed and the concentrations of the toxins DDT and PCBs were measured. Suggest why whales were found to have accumulated very high concentrations of DDT and PCBs in their fatty tissues.
Mediumstructured2 marks
Answer
two from: toxins (PCBs / DDT) are 1 present in, water / river / sea ; 2 ingested / absorbed by, producers / phytoplankton / algae ; 3 bioaccumulation or toxins, pass up / accumulate up, food chain ; 4 persistent / long-lasting / not broken down (in environment/whale) ; 5 fat / lipid, soluble ;
Question 1
1
The Sumatran orangutan, Pongo abelii, is found only on the island of Sumatra, Indonesia. Fig. 1.1 shows a Sumatran orangutan.
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Question 1(a)
1(a)
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is the world's largest global environmental organisation. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species \({ }^{\text {™ }}\) evaluates the conservation status of plant and animal species. The Sumatran orangutan is categorised as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List. The Sumatran orangutan spends most of its time in trees and is very sensitive to habitat destruction. Table 1.1 shows the area of natural forest of Sumatra and the numbers of orangutans in 1985 and 2016.
structured0 marks
Question 1(a)(iii)
1(a)(iii)
Use your answer from (a)(ii) to estimate the number of years after 2016 that it will take for the Sumatran orangutan to become extinct in the wild, if conservation work is unsuccessful. years
Mediumstructured0 marks
Answer
12.78 / 12.8 / 13 (years) ;
Question 1(b)
1(b)
Suggest two reasons for the decrease in numbers of Sumatran orangutans, other than habitat loss.
Easystructured2 marks
Answer
any two from: 1 hunting / poaching, for, bushmeat / (traditional) medicine / crop protection ; 2 hunting / (live) capture, for pets / trade ; 3 disease ; 4 breeding problems due to, individuals isolated / mates inaccessible / inbreeding in small populations ;
Question 1(c)
1(c)
Outline the role zoos can take in the protection of the Sumatran orangutan.
Easystructured3 marks
Answer
any three from: 1 breeding (programmes) ; 2 release / reintroduction (to, wild / Sumatra/ reserves) ; 3 educate / raise public awareness ; 4 research, diet / breeding / behaviour / genetic diversity ; 5 raise money for, reserves / protecting wild population ; 6 AVP ; e.g. cooperate with governments
Question 1
1
The flatback turtle, Natator depressus, is an endangered species that nests on northern Australian beaches. Fig. 1.1 shows a flatback turtle. Each female lays approximately 50 eggs per nest, which is a smaller number than all other species of marine turtle. The eggs are buried in the sand and when the hatchlings emerge each has a mass of approximately 43 g . Unlike most marine turtles, flatback turtles spend most of their time in coastal waters. This is where they feed and mate. Fig. 1.2 shows the numbers of female flatback turtles nesting on a beach in northern Australia between 1993 and 2002. number of female turtles nesting
structured7 marks
Question 1(b)
1(b)
Suggest ways in which the flatback turtle could be protected.
Mediumstructured5 marks
Answer
1 avoid disturbance to, nest sites/nesting females ; R ref. to mating 2 protect, nest sites/young, from predators ; 3 avoid sea pollution ; 4 example of pollution ; e.g. do not throw rubbish into sea / avoid discharge from boats/light pollution (beaches) 5 take care when fishing (with nets) ; 6 stop hunting of adults ; A trading ban on turtle products 7 captive breeding programmes/AW ; 8 conservation areas/zoos ; 9 education/ecotourism ;
Question 1
1
The Great Lakes, in North America, lie between the USA and Canada. A survey of birds of the Lake Ontario area has shown the relative abundance of birds between 1995 and 2005. Table 1.1 shows the feeding habits and the relative change in numbers of some of the birds in the survey.
structured0 marks
Question 1(b)
1(b)
An ecosystem that has a wide range of species has a high biodiversity. Explain the benefits of maintaining biodiversity.
Mediumstructured4 marks
Answer
1 cultural / aesthetic / leisure, reasons ; 2 moral / ethical, reasons ; e.g. right to exist / prevent extinction 3 resource material ; e.g. wood for building / fibres for clothes / food for humans 4 ecotourism ; 5 economic benefits ; 6 ref. resource / species, may have use in future / AW ; e.g. medical use 7 maintains, food webs / food chains ; A description 8 nutrient cycling / protection against erosion ; 9 climate stability ; 10 maintains, large gene pool / genetic variation ;
Question 1
1
structured8 marks
Question 1(a)
1(a)
A 50-year study of marine animal biodiversity in the coastal waters of Canada was carried out. The percentage decrease in the number of marine animal species between 1950 and 2000 is shown in Fig. 1.1. percentage decrease in the number of marine animal species between 1950 and 2000 Suggest explanations for the decrease in the number of marine animal species between 1950 and 2000.
Mediumstructured3 marks
Answer
1 pollution ; 2 environment / habitat, change qualified ; e.g. increase in water temperature / change in water pH 3 overfishing ; 4 loss of food / more competition for food ; 5 direct human interference qualified ; e.g. pleasure boats
Question 1(c)
1(c)
Discuss the benefits of maintaining the biodiversity of a marine ecosystem, such as that in the coastal waters of Canada.
Mediumstructured3 marks
Answer
any three from 1 tourism / leisure ; 2 economic benefits ; 3 food for humans ; 4 ref. resource / species, may have use in future / AW ; 5 maintains, food webs / food chains ; A description 6 nutrient cycling ; 7 maintains, (large) gene pool / genetic variation ;
Question 1
1
The polar bear, Ursus maritimus, lives in the Arctic regions of the USA, Canada, Norway and Russia. Polar bears move across the Arctic ice sheet to hunt prey such as seals. Fig. 1.1 shows a polar bear. The area over which the Arctic ice sheet extends varies throughout the year. Fig. 1.2 shows the variation in the extent of the Arctic ice sheet for the months of July to November for the years 1979 and 2009.
structured8 marks
Question 1(b)
1(b)
In 2008 the government of the USA classified U. maritimus as an endangered species because it is under threat of extinction. Suggest what has caused U. maritimus to have become endangered.
Easystructured3 marks
Answer
1. reduction in extent of ice sheet ; 2. reduction in number of, seals / prey / food or increased competition for food ; 3. idea of increased distance to travel to find food ; 4. loss / destruction, of breeding sites ; 5. result of named human activity ; e.g. mining / drilling / killing / building / pollution 6. disease ;
Question 1
1
The natterjack toad, Bufo calamita, is an endangered amphibian species in the UK. It comes out of hibernation in April and breeds in pools by sand dunes along parts of the UK coast. A young natterjack toad will take about 10 weeks to develop from a fertilised egg. A natterjack toad feeds at night, by running at its prey, mainly insects and worms, on the sand dunes. Fig. 1.1 shows a natterjack toad.
structured0 marks
Question 1(a)
1(a)
Suggest what may have caused the natterjack toad to become an endangered species in the UK.
Mediumstructured3 marks
Answer
1. pools drying up ; 2. pools, affected by the sea / more salty ; 3. disease / parasite, (causing high death rate) ; 4. changes to sand dunes ; e.g. by humans or natural causes 5. increase in predators ; 6. decrease in food ; 7. named pollution ; e.g. acid rain affecting pH of pools 8. named human activity ; e.g. taking toads / road kill / food for humans 9. increased competition ;
Question 1(d)
1(d)
Each year the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) publishes a list of endangered species called the Red List. The Red List has a very high proportion of vertebrates compared to invertebrates. Suggest one reason why the Red List has many more vertebrates than invertebrates. Question 2 starts on page 6
Mediumstructured1 marks
Answer
people more interested in vertebrates or vertebrates, larger / more visible ;
Question 1
1
The Ethiopian wolf, Canis simensis, is a member of the Canidae family of carnivores. Fig. 1.1 shows an Ethiopian wolf.
structured0 marks
Question 1(c)
1(c)
The Ethiopian wolf is classified as an endangered species by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN). It publishes an annual list of endangered species called the Red List. Complete Table 1.1 to summarise four of the main reasons, with further explanation, as to why the Ethiopian wolf has become an endangered species.
Mediumstructured4 marks
Answer
1. agriculture / buildings / AW ; 2. idea of wolves dying ; 3. hunting / trapping / AW ; 4. hybridisation / infertility / change in (wolf) gene pool / loss of wolf alleles / AW ;
Question 1
1
The Bengal Tiger, Panthera tigris tigris, is an endangered mammalian species of Southern Asia. It lives mostly in a forest habitat. Fig.1.1 shows a Bengal Tiger.
structured8 marks
Question 1(b)
1(b)
Suggest methods to conserve the Bengal Tiger.
Mediumstructured4 marks
Answer
1. stop killing ; 2. education ; 3. stop trade in tiger parts ; 4. zoos / national parks ; 5. captive breeding / AW ; 6. release back into wild ; 7. replant forests / AW ; 8. protect remaining forest / stop deforestation ; 9. AVP ; e.g. incentives to indigenous people / ban use in circuses or as pets
Question 1
1
Corals are simple marine animals and usually exist in colonies of thousands of individuals. Fig. 1.1 shows a coral colony. Corals absorb calcium carbonate from the sea to build their skeletons, which help to form large coral reefs. Coral reefs provide a home for about 25 % of known fish species and have the highest biodiversity of any marine ecosystem.
structured8 marks
Question 1(c)
1(c)
Coral reefs are at risk of damage due to human activities. All the coral reefs in three regions were classified as being at low, medium or high risk of damage. Table 1.1 shows the areas of coral reef at risk of damage in these three regions.
structured4 marks
Question 1(c)(ii)
1(c)(ii)
Suggest how human activities could damage coral reefs.
Mediumstructured3 marks
Answer
1. named marine pollutant ; e.g. oil / sewage 2. example of climate change ; e.g. sea level rising / change in sea temperature / decrease in oxygen concentration of sea 3. (increasing carbon dioxide) decrease in pH of sea ; 4. intensive fishing ; 5. tourism qualified ; 6. removal of parts of reef ; 7. reclaiming land ;