GCSE AQA Biology Organisation of an Ecosystem: Students estimated the populatio

Question

Students estimated the population of buttercup plants growing on a lawn.

The lawn is a rectangle measuring 15 m × 10 m.

Figure 2 shows the lawn.

![Figure 2](#)

Key

☐ Buttercup plant

This is the method used.

1. Measure the length and width of the lawn.
2. Choose five locations to sample.
3. Place a 1 m × 1 m square frame at each location.
4. Record the number of buttercup plants in each square frame.

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Complete the sentences.

Choose answers from the box. [2 marks]

| 15 cm ruler | 30 m tape measure | balance | quadrat | transect |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |

The length and width of the lawn should be measured using a ____________.

The 1 m × 1 m square frame is called a ____________.

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How should the students choose the five locations to sample? [1 mark]

Tick (✓) one box.

- Choose locations at random.
- Choose locations at the corners of the lawn.
- Choose locations with lots of buttercup plants.

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The students used their results to calculate the population of buttercup plants.

Complete the sentences.

Choose answers from the box. [2 marks]

| area | mean | median | perimeter | volume |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |

Multiply the length of the lawn by the width of the lawn to give the lawn’s ____________.

Add up the total number of buttercup plants and divide by 5 to give the ______________.

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The students calculated that the population of buttercup plants on the lawn was 300.

How did the students use the results in Table 1 to calculate the population? [1 mark]

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How could the students improve the accuracy of the estimate? [1 mark]

Tick (✓) one box.

- Count and record more samples.
- Select locations in the middle of the lawn.
- Use a square frame measuring 0.5 m × 0.5 m.

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One abiotic factor that affects the number of buttercups plants on the lawn is soil pH.

Give one other abiotic factor that could affect the number of buttercup plants on the lawn.

Do not refer to soil pH in your answer.

Students estimated the population of buttercup plants growing on a lawn - AQA - GCSE Biology - Question 2 - 2023 - Paper 2

Worked Solution & Example Answer:Students estimated the population of buttercup plants growing on a lawn - AQA - GCSE Biology - Question 2 - 2023 - Paper 2

Complete the sentences.

How should the students choose the five locations to sample?

Complete the sentences.

How did the students use the results in Table 1 to calculate the population?

How could the students improve the accuracy of the estimate?

Give one other abiotic factor that could affect the number of buttercup plants on the lawn.

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