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Scientists investigated the effect that the release of heated water into a river from a power station had on the biodiversity of a local fish community over 29 years - AQA - A-Level Biology - Question 5 - 2023 - Paper 3
Question 5
Scientists investigated the effect that the release of heated water into a river from a power station had on the biodiversity of a local fish community over 29 years... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Scientists investigated the effect that the release of heated water into a river from a power station had on the biodiversity of a local fish community over 29 years - AQA - A-Level Biology - Question 5 - 2023 - Paper 3
Step 1
Step 2
Describe and explain how these results for 1997 were possible.
Answer
In 1997, the study noted a high species richness of 48 different species. However, only a few species were present in very large numbers, while most species were present in very small numbers. This disparity could lead to a lower index of diversity (d) despite high richness, as the formula accounts for the distribution of individuals among species.
Step 3
Use your knowledge to suggest reasons why the journalist's conclusion could be invalid.
Answer
Several factors could challenge the journalist's conclusion:
- The study only measured data in October; results could vary at other times of the year.
- Other areas might have different fish communities, impacting species diversity and resilience.
- Environmental variables such as temperature, food availability, and presence of predators were not controlled or considered.
- Historical data before 1980 was not available, which limits the understanding of long-term trends and impacts on biodiversity related to heated water release.