18.3. Conservation
A subsection of Biology, 9700, through 18. Classification, biodiversity and conservation
Listing 10 of 69 questions
The Millennium Seed Bank is located in the UK. So far it has successfully stored seeds from 10% of the world’s wild plant species. Suggest the benefits to humans of conserving plant species. In the wild, seeds may be subjected to conditions that can be hostile to successful germination and growth. Suggest how the seeds should be stored in the seed bank to keep them viable for future use. Plant biodiversity varies throughout the world and is dependent on many factors, particularly climate. shows the relationship between the number of plant genera and the mean annual rainfall in seven countries. mean annual rainfall / mm number of plant genera Saudi Arabia Algeria China Australia Peru Brazil Malaysia Describe the relationship between the number of plant genera and the mean annual rainfall in these seven countries. Suggest what other climatic factors, apart from rainfall, affect plant biodiversity.
9700_s12_qp_42
THEORY
2012
Paper 4, Variant 2
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The plant Rafflesia arnoldii, which grows in the jungles of South East Asia, is noted for producing the largest flower of all plants. • The flower is reddish-brown and can grow up to one metre in diameter. • The flower gives off a smell similar to rotting flesh to attract flies, which then pollinate it. shows a flower of R. arnoldii. R. arnoldii is classified as an endangered species. Suggest why R. arnoldii has become an endangered species. Explain the meaning of the term biodiversity. Suggest reasons for maintaining plant biodiversity.
9700_s12_qp_43
THEORY
2012
Paper 4, Variant 3
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One way to measure global biodiversity is to count the number of species of organisms. Table 3.1 shows estimates for 2009 of the number of species in some taxa of animals. The numbers in brackets are the numbers that were updated in 2019 from the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) for three intensively studied taxa. Table 3.1 number of species in each taxon kingdom phylum class animals 1 438 805 arthropods 1 191 770 arachnids 102 248 crustaceans 47 000 myriapods 16 072 insects 1 024 945 other arthropod classes chordates 63 543 fish 31 269 amphibians 6515 (6722) birds 9990 (11 126) reptiles mammals 5487 (5692) molluscs 85 000 other animal phyla 98 492 List three features shared by animal species. Explain how the classification of species into a taxonomic hierarchy assists the work of conservation bodies such as the IUCN. Table 3.1 shows that the number of species of amphibians, birds and mammals has increased between 2009 and 2019. Discuss whether the increase in numbers means that these classes of chordate are being successfully conserved. With reference to Table 3.1, identify the class of animals that is most diverse then calculate the percentage of animal species that belongs to this class. Show your working and give your answer to two significant figures. answer = % An analysis in 2019 concluded that twice as many insect species have populations that are decreasing in size compared with chordate species. This analysis focused on developed countries that have large human populations. Outline two factors that may cause populations of insects to decrease in size in developed countries that have large human populations. Explain how the introduction of crops that are genetically modified to express the Bt toxin can benefit biodiversity.
9700_s21_qp_42
THEORY
2021
Paper 4, Variant 2
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The Malayan tapir, Tapirus indicus, lives in the rainforest of South East Asia. shows a Malayan tapir and her calf. On the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species, the Malayan tapir is categorised as endangered and could become extinct. One problem is the illegal trade in the Malayan tapir. Apart from illegal trading, suggest and explain reasons why the Malayan tapir has become endangered and could become extinct. The trade in Malayan tapirs is regulated by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). Suggest ways by which CITES attempts to regulate the trade in wild fauna and flora. Many endangered species, such as the Malayan tapir, are protected in zoos. Outline the role of zoos in the conservation of endangered species.
9700_s22_qp_43
THEORY
2022
Paper 4, Variant 3
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Many zoos around the world are involved in captive breeding programmes for endangered species. Outline the role of zoos in the conservation of endangered species, other than captive breeding programmes. Chester Zoo, in the United Kingdom, controls the European captive breeding programme for the eastern black rhinoceros, Diceros bicornis michaeli. shows an eastern black rhinoceros. In the captive breeding programme for the eastern black rhinoceros, 15.8% of females breed each year while in the wild 23.7% of females breed each year. Suggest reasons why fewer females breed in captivity than in the wild. Sometimes assisted reproduction is used in captive breeding programmes for the eastern black rhinoceros. outlines the process of IVF that is used in these programmes. hormone treatment mature oocytes develop oocytes collected implanted into original female C B A embryos produced Outline: • the event A that occurs in the production of the embryos • the two other possible outcomes, B and C, for the embryos that have been produced.
9700_s23_qp_42
THEORY
2023
Paper 4, Variant 2
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List three reasons why it is important to conserve endangered plant species. 1. 2. 3. The tree Vatica guangxiensis is an endangered species. Only three wild populations exist, all in south-western China. Conservation of this species began in the 1980s. Conservation methods included attempts to preserve the habitat of the wild populations and the establishment of a fourth population in the Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden. In 2002, the genetic diversity of each of the four populations was assessed. This was done by testing samples of DNA from a number of individuals. • Twenty different regions of DNA were investigated, using electrophoresis. • For each population, the percentage of samples that showed differences in the DNA structure, shown by different bands on the DNA ‘fingerprint’, was calculated. • This figure was recorded as the percentage of polymorphic bands. The greater the percentage of polymorphic bands, the greater the genetic diversity in the population. Table 4.1 shows the results. Table 4.1 population number of individual plants sampled percentage of polymorphic bands wild population A 38.53 wild population B 31.60 wild population C 27.27 population in the botanic garden 30.74 With reference to Table 4.1, compare the genetic diversity of the population of V. guangxiensis in the botanic garden with the genetic diversity of the three wild populations. Suggest explanations for the relatively low percentage of polymorphic bands recorded in wild population C. Explain why high genetic diversity is important for a species. The Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden is located only tens of kilometres from the habitats of the wild populations of V. guangxiensis. Suggest how this may help with the long-term conservation of this species. Seed banks also have an important role in the conservation of endangered plant species. Explain why storing seeds may be a more successful method of conservation than maintaining a population of growing plants. Suggest why a sample of each type of seed stored in a seed bank is germinated every few years.
9700_w14_qp_41
THEORY
2014
Paper 4, Variant 1
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List three reasons why it is important to conserve endangered plant species. 1. 2. 3. The tree Vatica guangxiensis is an endangered species. Only three wild populations exist, all in south-western China. Conservation of this species began in the 1980s. Conservation methods included attempts to preserve the habitat of the wild populations and the establishment of a fourth population in the Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden. In 2002, the genetic diversity of each of the four populations was assessed. This was done by testing samples of DNA from a number of individuals. • Twenty different regions of DNA were investigated, using electrophoresis. • For each population, the percentage of samples that showed differences in the DNA structure, shown by different bands on the DNA ‘fingerprint’, was calculated. • This figure was recorded as the percentage of polymorphic bands. The greater the percentage of polymorphic bands, the greater the genetic diversity in the population. Table 4.1 shows the results. Table 4.1 population number of individual plants sampled percentage of polymorphic bands wild population A 38.53 wild population B 31.60 wild population C 27.27 population in the botanic garden 30.74 With reference to Table 4.1, compare the genetic diversity of the population of V. guangxiensis in the botanic garden with the genetic diversity of the three wild populations. Suggest explanations for the relatively low percentage of polymorphic bands recorded in wild population C. Explain why high genetic diversity is important for a species. The Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden is located only tens of kilometres from the habitats of the wild populations of V. guangxiensis. Suggest how this may help with the long-term conservation of this species. Seed banks also have an important role in the conservation of endangered plant species. Explain why storing seeds may be a more successful method of conservation than maintaining a population of growing plants. Suggest why a sample of each type of seed stored in a seed bank is germinated every few years.
9700_w14_qp_42
THEORY
2014
Paper 4, Variant 2
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Explain the meaning of the term biodiversity. The Javan gibbon, Hylobates moloch, is an endangered species. shows a female Javan gibbon with an infant. Javan gibbons live in fragmented patches of undisturbed forest in western Java, Indonesia. Habitat loss has reduced the population of wild gibbons to around 4500 individuals. Suggest why the separation of their habitat into small fragments, rather than a single large area, poses a threat to the long-term survival of this species. Several zoos in Java keep Javan gibbons, but few of these are involved in breeding programmes. Suggest how, other than through captive breeding programmes, zoos in Java could contribute to the conservation of the Javan gibbon.
9700_w15_qp_41
THEORY
2015
Paper 4, Variant 1
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Explain the meaning of the term biodiversity. The Javan gibbon, Hylobates moloch, is an endangered species. shows a female Javan gibbon with an infant. Javan gibbons live in fragmented patches of undisturbed forest in western Java, Indonesia. Habitat loss has reduced the population of wild gibbons to around 4500 individuals. Suggest why the separation of their habitat into small fragments, rather than a single large area, poses a threat to the long-term survival of this species. Several zoos in Java keep Javan gibbons, but few of these are involved in breeding programmes. Suggest how, other than through captive breeding programmes, zoos in Java could contribute to the conservation of the Javan gibbon.
9700_w15_qp_42
THEORY
2015
Paper 4, Variant 2
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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. Table 5.1 shows summary statistics for some of the trees sampled in this study. The leaf canopy area is a measure of the size of the tree and the extent of its leaf cover. Table 5.2 shows the diversity and abundance of some different taxonomic groups of insects in the study. Table 5.1 tree species number of trees sampled total leaf canopy area sampled / m2 number of insect species on the single tree with the smallest diversity on the single tree with the largest diversity mean for all trees sampled Acacia mellifera 6.28 Acacia nilotica 23.72 Acacia tortilis 4.00 Table 5.2 taxon number of species total number of individuals Coleoptera 113 2 197 Diptera 58 1 029 Formicidae 14 7 467 Hemiptera 121 11 875 Complete Table 5.1 by calculating the mean number of insect species for Acacia tortilis. Select, from Tables 5.1 and 5.2, a name to fit the following taxonomic groups: a genus a species Comment on the effects of sample size on the quality and accuracy of the data in Table 5.1. This study was carried out in Mkomazi Game Reserve in Tanzania. Suggest how research into insect diversity on Acacia trees is relevant to the conservation of bigger animals in the reserve, such as elephants.
9700_w16_qp_43
THEORY
2016
Paper 4, Variant 3
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Questions Discovered
69