Questions
Q1. Answer the question with a cross in the box you think is correct . If you change your mind
about an answer, put a line through the box and then mark your new answer with a cross .
Taxonomy is the branch of biology concerned with classifying organisms.
Scientists use a variety of methods to classify organisms into groups.
One definition of a species is a group of organisms that has similar features and
(1)
A can mate to produce hybrid offspring
B can produce fertile offspring
C live in the same location
D have no genetic variation
(Total for question = 1 mark)
Q2. The chart shows the estimated number of different species of all organisms currently known.
(i) Which of the following is the number of species in this chart that belong to the domain Eukarya?
(1)
A 1000
B 85000
C 503000
D 1655000
(ii) Which of the following is the best definition of a species?
(1)
A a group of organisms that produce fertile offspring
B a group of organisms that occupy the same habitat
C a group of organisms that have the same adaptations
D a group of organisms that share common characteristics
Q3. Recently, scientists extracted mitochondrial DNA from a frozen Arctic mammoth.
This DNA was sequenced and compared with the mitochondrial DNA from the Asian elephant and from
the African bush elephant.
The percentage similarities in the DNA sequences are shown in the table.
Which diagram shows the correct evolutionary relationship for these three species, based on the data in
the table?
(1)
A
B
C
D
(Total for question = 1 mark)
[Link] photograph shows an adult mayfly.
Rhithrogena germanica is commonly known as the March brown mayfly.
The classification hierarchy for this mayfly is:
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Ephemeropteroidea
Heptageniidae
Rhithrogena germanica
(i) State the genus of this mayfly.
(1)
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(ii) This mayfly belongs to the phylum Arthropoda.
Which is the order for this mayfly?
(1)
A Animalia
B Ephemeropteroidea
C Heptageniidae
D Insecta
(Total for question = 2 marks)
Q5. Taxonomy defines and names groups of organisms.
The correct hierarchy of classification categories is
(1)
A domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, species
B domain, kingdom, phylum, order, class, family, genus, species
C kingdom, domain, order, phylum, class, genus, family, species
D kingdom, phylum, domain, order, class, family, genus, species
(Total for question = 1 mark)
Q6. Taxonomy is the branch of biology concerned with classifying organisms.
Scientists use a variety of methods to classify organisms into groups.
Which molecules are separated using gel electrophoresis when classifying organisms?
(1)
A DNA
B lipids
C polysaccharides
D vitamins
(Total for question = 1 mark)
Q7. Explain the difference between biodiversity within a habitat and biodiversity within a species.
(2)
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(Total for question = 2 marks)
Q8. The photograph shows a brown tree snake.
The brown tree snake is found in areas of Indonesia.
This snake eats small mammals, birds and reptiles.
In the 1940s, the brown tree snake was introduced to the Pacific Island of Guam.
The population of this snake is now over two million.
Its introduction has had major effects on bird species in Guam.
The table shows the numbers of individuals of each bird species surveyed in the areas
where this snake was present.
(i) Calculate the index of diversity for 1985 using the formula
(3)
Answer ...........................................................
(ii) Explain why using an index of diversity is a better measure of biodiversity
than counting the number of species only.
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(iii) Comment on the effects of introducing the brown tree snake to Guam.
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(Total for question = 9 marks)
Q9. Organic farming does not use artificial insecticides, herbicides or fertilisers, all of which are used in
conventional farming.
Students investigated the effect of organic farming on the species diversity of butterflies.
They compared fields used for growing crops on an organic farm and on a conventional farm.
Some conventional farms have converted to organic farming.
A further experiment was carried out to investigate the effect on species diversity of how long the farms
have used organic methods.
(i) Butterflies and plant species were sampled from a range of farms that had used organic farming
methods for different lengths of time.
The number of plant species and the number of butterfly species were recorded.
The results are shown in the table.
Explain how the number of years of organic farming affects the biodiversity of butterfly species.
(3)
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(ii) Creeping thistle is considered to be a weed.
Creeping thistle has a deep root system and takes many years to be completely removed by organic
farming methods.
The moth population and the number of creeping thistle plants were counted.
The results are shown in the table.
Explain the changes in the number of moth species.
(2)
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(Total for question = 5 marks)
Q10. There are currently only three surviving species of elephant:
Asian elephant, Elephas maximus
African bush elephant, Loxodonta africana
African forest elephant, Loxodonta cyclotis
All African elephants used to be classified as a single species.
Recent comparisons of African elephants demonstrated that they are two separate species.
The diagrams show the appearance and locations of the two African elephant species.
(i) Give one reason why scientists used to classify African elephants as a single species.
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(ii) Scientists agreed to separate the African elephants into two species based on new evidence from
DNA sequencing.
State how scientists reach agreement on new evidence.
(1)
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(Total for question = 2 marks)
Q11. (b) Fragments of DNA can be separated by gel electrophoresis to produce a DNA profile.
The diagram shows an example of a DNA profile.
(i) Explain why fragments of DNA can be separated by gel electrophoresis.
(2)
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(ii) The graph shows the relationship between the distance moved in a gel and the fragment size.
Determine the size of fragment F.
(1)
Answer ........................................................... kb
(Total for question = 3 marks)
Q12. The hawthorn fly is found in a part of North America.
The hawthorn fly has separated into two species.
One species is called the apple maggot fly and feeds on apples. The other species
is called the hawthorn fly and feeds on hawthorn fruit.
The photographs show these two species.
Explain how these two species have evolved.
(3)
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(Total for question = 3 marks)
Q13. Natural selection can lead to adaptations in organisms.
Compare and contrast allopatric and sympatric speciation.
(4)
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(Total for question = 4 marks)
Q14. The chart shows the estimated number of different species of all organisms currently known.
The chart was published in a journal.
Explain why the chart was peer reviewed before it was published.
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Q15. Before the twentieth century, tigers were once widespread across the whole of South and South
East Asia. Over the last hundred years, their geographical distribution has been reduced by over 90%.
The diagram shows the current distribution of three varieties of tiger.
Use the map to explain how the different varieties of tiger may eventually become separate species.
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(Total for question = 4 marks)
Q16.
The Mount Graham squirrel, Tamiasciurus hudsonicus grahamensis, is endemic to Graham Mountain in
Arizona, USA.
In 2011 its habitat was threatened by wildfires. Two males and two females were taken from the wild by
conservation workers from Phoenix Zoo.
(a) Place a cross in the box ( ) that correctly describes what is meant by the term endemic species.
(1)
A a species found in all countries
B a species found in all habitats
C a species found in one geographical location
D a species found in one type of habitat
(b) Suggest the problems the zoo might have in trying to develop a breeding programme with these
Mount Graham squirrels.
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(c) Squirrels bury food, such as seeds and nuts, in areas called middens.
The population size of Mount Graham squirrels in the wild is estimated by surveying the number of
middens.
The graph below shows the results of surveys carried out from 1991 to 2011.
(i) Using the information in the graph, calculate the percentage change in the number of middens from
1999 to 2006.
Show your working.
(3)
Answer ..............................................................%
(ii) Using information in the graph, suggest what happened to the population size of the Mount Graham
squirrel between 1999 and 2006.
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(d) Suggest and explain why it was decided to develop a captive breeding programme for the Mount
Graham squirrel.
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(Total for Question = 12 marks)
Mark Scheme
Q1.
Q2.
Q3.
Q4.
Q5.
Q6.
Q7.
Q8.
Q9.
Q10.
Q11.
Q12.
Q13.
Q14.
Q15.
Q16.
