Answer the following questions by reference to a named ecosystem which you have investigated - Leaving Cert Biology - Question 7 - 2017
Question 7
Answer the following questions by reference to a named ecosystem which you have investigated.
Name of ecosystem: ___________________________________________________... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Answer the following questions by reference to a named ecosystem which you have investigated - Leaving Cert Biology - Question 7 - 2017
Step 1
Give one example of a possible error in ecological surveying.
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Answer
One possibility is a non-random sampling method, which may lead to biased data. Such an error can occur if the sampling is conducted in specific areas that do not represent the entire ecosystem.
Step 2
Suggest how this error might be minimised or eliminated.
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To minimize this error, a random sampling technique should be implemented. This can be done by using a systematic approach to ensure that samples are collected from across the entire area of the ecosystem.
Step 3
As part of your study you constructed a food web. In the space below or in your answer book, draw a food web from the ecosystem you named above, containing: 1. At least three food chains, and 2. At least four trophic levels.
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Your food web should include, for example:
Grass → Grasshopper → Frog → Snake
Algae → Snail → Duck → Fox
Fruit Trees → Birds → Hawk
This will illustrate the interconnection of species within the ecosystem.
Step 4
Give an example of one such adaptive feature.
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One adaptive feature is camouflage, where an animal blends into its surrounding environment to avoid detection by predators.
Step 5
Explain how this adaptation helps the animal escape capture.
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Camouflage enhances an animal's ability to remain unnoticed in its habitat, reducing the likelihood that predators will find and capture it. This allows the animal to survive longer in the wild.
Step 6
Suggest why ecological surveying is important.
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Ecological surveying is crucial as it monitors biodiversity, detects changes or pollution in ecosystems, and provides a baseline for conservation efforts. It helps in understanding ecosystem health and making informed decisions.
Step 7
Describe how you carried out a quantitative survey of a plant species named in your food web above.
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To conduct the survey, I utilized a quadrat sampling method, which involved laying out a square frame in various locations of the ecosystem and counting the number of individuals of the specified plant species. This allowed me to estimate the plant’s coverage and frequency.
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