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Energy Flow and Nutrient Cycling · CAPE Biology Unit 2

71 past-paper questions on Energy Flow and Nutrient Cycling, part of Bioenergetics and Conservation, from every CAPE Biology Unit 2 paper on Quelpr.

Practise Energy Flow and Nutrient Cycling
  1. 1(a)(i)5 marks· Biology · Unit 2 Q1 1(a)(i)In the space below, construct a table to represent the data given in Figure 1.
  2. 1(a)(i)5 marks· Biology · Unit 2 Q1 1(a)(i)Illustrate the flow of energy and nutrients through ecosystems by providing labels for A-F in the flow chart in Figure 1.
  3. 1(a)(ii)4 marks· Biology · Unit 2 Q1 1(a)(ii)Explain the importance of energy flow in an ecosystem.
  4. 1(a)(ii)5 marks· Biology · Unit 2 Q1 1(a)(ii)Identify the processes labelled A-E in Figure 2.
  5. 1(a)(iii)8 marks· Biology · Unit 2 Q1 1(a)(iii)Explain why only a small percentage of the energy from sunlight that reaches terrestrial environments enters the ecosystem.
  6. 1(a)(iii)3 marks· Biology · Unit 2 Q1 1(a)(iii)Animals may also be involved in the nitrogen cycle. Extend the diagram in Figure 2 to illustrate the involvement of animals in the nitrogen cycle.
  7. 1(b)(i)4 marks· Biology · Unit 2 Q1 1(b)(i)Given the information above, construct a pyramid of energy with corresponding values for the mangrove ecosystem.
  8. 1(b)(ii)2 marks· Biology · Unit 2 Q1 1(b)(ii)Determine the productivity of the producer in the mangrove ecosystem if 1 000 000 kJ m⁻² yr⁻¹ of energy is provided by sunlight to the mangrove.
  9. 1(b)(iii)2 marks· Biology · Unit 2 Q1 1(b)(iii)State TWO reasons why all the energy available from sunlight is not used by the algae.
  10. 1(c)9 marks· Biology · Unit 2 Q1 1(c)Explain the function of EACH of the following microorganisms in maintaining tropical rainforest ecosystems as self-sustaining units. You MUST present your response in complete paragraphs. Nitrifying bacteria,…
  11. 3(b)(i)3 marks· Biology · Unit 2 Q3 3(b)(i)Define the following terms: Carnivore, Omnivore, Herbivore.
  12. 3(b)(ii)3 marks· Biology · Unit 2 Q3 3(b)(ii)Draw a food chain with the FOUR organisms listed.
  13. 3(b)(iii)2 marks· Biology · Unit 2 Q3 3(b)(iii)Identify the herbivore and carnivore from the food chain.
  14. 4(b)5 marks· Biology · Unit 2 Q4 4(b)Microorganisms are primarily responsible for most of the cycling of nitrogen in the biosphere. With reference to the main processes in the nitrogen cycle, outline FOUR key roles of microorganisms in the nitrogen cycle.
  15. 3(c)(i)1 mark· CAPE Biology Unit 2 · 2003 · Paper 1Explain why the nitrogen available to the rain forest is NOT zero units at the time of infection.
  16. 3(c)(ii)2 marks· CAPE Biology Unit 2 · 2003 · Paper 1Suggest an explanation for the shape of the graph in Figure 3.
  17. 3(c)(iii)1 mark· CAPE Biology Unit 2 · 2003 · Paper 1On the graph in Figure 3 on page 7, draw a single line to illustrate the nitrogen that would be available to a rain forest tree that is NOT infected with mycorrhizae.
  18. 5(a)10 marks· CAPE Biology Unit 2 · 2004 · Paper 2Describe the carbon cycle.
  19. 5(b)5 marks· CAPE Biology Unit 2 · 2004 · Paper 2Distinguish between a food web and a food chain. Discuss which one is the more accurate representation of feeding relationships in an ecosystem.
  20. 5(c)5 marks· CAPE Biology Unit 2 · 2004 · Paper 2"The flow of energy is fundamentally different from the flow of nutrients through ecosystems." Discuss this statement.
  21. 5(a)(i)5 marks· CAPE Biology Unit 2 · 2005 · Paper 2Explain how a pyramid of numbers is constructed and, using TWO examples, explain why there may be inconsistencies in the shapes of the pyramid.
  22. 5(a)(ii)5 marks· CAPE Biology Unit 2 · 2005 · Paper 2Explain why pyramids of standing crop biomass are more accurate in recording trophic level measurements and describe how they vary seasonally.
  23. 1(e)1 mark· CAPE Biology Unit 2 · 2006 · Paper 2Name ONE type of plant compound that requires the functionally useful element in urea.
  24. 1(f)1 mark· CAPE Biology Unit 2 · 2006 · Paper 2Suggest TWO reasons why it is better to use plant or animal manure rather than chemical fertilizers alone for fertilizing crops.
  25. 5(a)(iv)1 mark· CAPE Biology Unit 2 · 2006 · Paper 2Define the term: Food chain.
  26. 5(c)(i)3 marks· CAPE Biology Unit 2 · 2006 · Paper 2Explain why the flow of energy through ecosystems is linear and NOT cyclical.
  27. 5(c)(ii)3 marks· CAPE Biology Unit 2 · 2006 · Paper 2Explain why food chains are generally limited to three or four links.
  28. 5(d)6 marks· CAPE Biology Unit 2 · 2006 · Paper 2Describe the tree ecosystem in terms of: a pyramid of biomass, a pyramid of numbers, and a pyramid of energy.
  29. 5(a)6 marks· CAPE Biology Unit 2 · 2007 · Paper 2State the sources and the differences between energy flow and nutrient flow through producers, consumers, and decomposers in an ecosystem.
  30. 5(b)4 marks· CAPE Biology Unit 2 · 2007 · Paper 2Point out the advantages of a food web over a food chain in nutrient cycling through an ecosystem.
  31. 5(c)10 marks· CAPE Biology Unit 2 · 2007 · Paper 2Apply your knowledge of the nitrogen cycle to explain in detail how deforestation/slash-and-burn interferes with EACH stage of the cycle in tropical rainforests.
  32. 4(c)4 marks· CAPE Biology Unit 2 · 2008 (Rest of Region) · Paper 2Explain the term 'ecological pyramid' and distinguish between the THREE major types of ecological pyramids.
  33. 4(d)3 marks· CAPE Biology Unit 2 · 2008 (Rest of Region) · Paper 2Discuss how energy flows through an ecosystem.
  34. 4(b)4 marks· CAPE Biology Unit 2 · 2009 · Paper 2Explain why energy is said to flow through, and not cycle, as it is transferred within an ecosystem.
  35. 1(b)(i)3 marks· CAPE Biology Unit 2 · 2010 · Paper 2Identify the processes in Figure 1 represented by the letters A, B, C, D, E and F.
  36. 1(b)(ii)2 marks· CAPE Biology Unit 2 · 2010 · Paper 2Describe TWO NATURAL ways by which nitrogen is lost from soil ecosystems.
  37. 1(b)(iii)2 marks· CAPE Biology Unit 2 · 2010 · Paper 2Describe TWO human activities which impact the nitrogen cycle.
  38. Q91 mark · multiple choice· CAPE Biology Unit 2 · 2011 · Paper 1Item 9 refers to the diagram below which shows how energy flows in an ecosystem. Sunlight \rightarrow Grass \rightarrow Grasshopper \rightarrow Lizard \rightarrow Hawk At which of the following stages is the…
  39. Q111 mark · multiple choice· CAPE Biology Unit 2 · 2011 · Paper 1Item 11 refers to an ocean food pyramid. The number in brackets represents the weight of the organism. The percentage of energy available for transfer to a person eating 0.5 kilograms of tuna is approximately
  40. Q121 mark · multiple choice· CAPE Biology Unit 2 · 2011 · Paper 1Which sequence correctly represents the action of nitrifying bacteria?
  41. Q151 mark · multiple choice· CAPE Biology Unit 2 · 2011 · Paper 1Item 15 refers to the diagram below that shows a simple food web. Which of the following organisms is INCORRECTLY identified with its trophic level?
  42. 1(b)(i)2 marks· CAPE Biology Unit 2 · 2011 · Paper 2Define the term 'biological pyramid'.
  43. 1(b)(ii)1 mark· CAPE Biology Unit 2 · 2011 · Paper 2Identify the type of biological pyramid shown in Figure 2.
  44. 1(b)(iii)2 marks· CAPE Biology Unit 2 · 2011 · Paper 2Briefly explain the significance of the numerical values given in Figure 2.
  45. 4(c)(i)5 marks· CAPE Biology Unit 2 · 2011 · Paper 2Distinguish among the following terms as they relate to the nitrogen cycle: nitrification, denitrification, and nitrogen fixation.
  46. 4(c)(ii)3 marks· CAPE Biology Unit 2 · 2011 · Paper 2A farmer experiencing difficulty growing grass is advised to plant alfalfa along with the grass and plough the legume into the soil after reaping. Suggest THREE ways in which this practice enables him to have a better…
  47. Q91 mark · multiple choice· CAPE Biology Unit 2 · 2012 · Paper 1At which of the following stages is the MOST energy lost?
  48. Q101 mark · multiple choice· CAPE Biology Unit 2 · 2012 · Paper 1Which of the following food chains would MOST likely create the pyramid of numbers represented above?
  49. Q141 mark · multiple choice· CAPE Biology Unit 2 · 2012 · Paper 1Which of the following statements describes the function of denitrifying bacteria in the nitrogen cycle?
  50. 4(b)(i)2 marks· CAPE Biology Unit 2 · 2012 · Paper 2Define the term 'food chain' in terms of energy flow.
  51. 4(b)(ii)4 marks· CAPE Biology Unit 2 · 2012 · Paper 2Explain why a food web better describes energy flow in an ecosystem than does a food chain.
  52. Q91 mark · multiple choice· CAPE Biology Unit 2 · 2013 · Paper 1Item 9 refers to the following two types of biological pyramids, labelled X and Y, which represent different parameters of a particular food chain. Which of the following correctly identifies the pyramids and the…
  53. Q111 mark · multiple choice· CAPE Biology Unit 2 · 2013 · Paper 1Item 11 refers to the following diagram which shows the nitrogen cycle. At which stage does denitrification occur?
  54. Q121 mark · multiple choice· CAPE Biology Unit 2 · 2013 · Paper 1Item 12 refers to the following diagram which is a schematic summary of the operational processes in an ecosystem. The arrow labelled X MOST likely represents
  55. 1(b)(i)a)1 mark· CAPE Biology Unit 2 · 2013 · Paper 2Identify which reservoir contains organic materials that are available as nutrients.
  56. 1(b)(i)b)1 mark· CAPE Biology Unit 2 · 2013 · Paper 2Identify which reservoir contains inorganic materials that are unavailable as nutrients.
  57. 1(b)(ii)3 marks· CAPE Biology Unit 2 · 2013 · Paper 2Name the processes represented by arrows 1, 2 and 3 in Figure 2 involved in transferring nutrients between reservoirs.
  58. 1(b)(iii)1 mark· CAPE Biology Unit 2 · 2013 · Paper 2Using an arrow and the letter M, indicate on Figure 2 where the activity of mycorrhizal fungi dissolving minerals fits into the nutrient cycling model.
  59. Q101 mark · multiple choice· CAPE Biology Unit 2 · 2014 · Paper 1Which of the following would represent the total amount of energy acquired by the producer?
  60. Q121 mark · multiple choice· CAPE Biology Unit 2 · 2014 · Paper 1Which of the following would represent a pyramid of numbers based on the above food chain?
  61. Q131 mark · multiple choice· CAPE Biology Unit 2 · 2014 · Paper 1Which of the following shows the types of bacteria that are involved in Steps 1, 2 and 3?
  62. 4(a)4 marks· CAPE Biology Unit 2 · 2014 · Paper 2Give an analysis of potential energy losses across trophic levels in a food chain.
  63. 4(b)4 marks· CAPE Biology Unit 2 · 2014 · Paper 2Comment on the importance of food web complexity in an ecosystem. In your answer, explain what is meant by a food web.
  64. Q111 mark · multiple choice· CAPE Biology Unit 2 · 2015 · Paper 1Which of the following combinations represent limitations of using pyramids of energy to describe relationships between trophic levels in ecosystems? I. A single grass plant has the same status as a tree. II. It…
  65. Q121 mark · multiple choice· CAPE Biology Unit 2 · 2015 · Paper 1Which of the following combinations correctly identifies the bacteria P, Q and R?
  66. Q131 mark · multiple choice· CAPE Biology Unit 2 · 2015 · Paper 1The arrow labelled X MOST likely represents
  67. 4(a)(i)6 marks· CAPE Biology Unit 2 · 2015 · Paper 2Explain why energy transfer between trophic levels is considered relatively inefficient, providing a brief definition of 'trophic level' and THREE reasons for this inefficiency.
  68. 4(a)(ii)5 marks· CAPE Biology Unit 2 · 2015 · Paper 2Briefly describe the THREE types of biological pyramids and comment on which type is the most useful for representing the productivity of EACH trophic level.
  69. 1(b)(i)4 marks· CAPE Biology Unit 2 · 2016 · Paper 2Name the processes labelled X and Y, and provide a brief description for each process.
  70. 1(b)(ii)3 marks· CAPE Biology Unit 2 · 2016 · Paper 2With reference to Figure 2, comment on one major human activity that has impacted global nitrogen cycling.
  71. 4(a)6 marks· CAPE Biology Unit 2 · 2018 · Paper 2“For a top carnivore to be numerous in an ecosystem, it must feed at many different levels of the food chain and not just the one beneath it.” Discuss the veracity of this statement.

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