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9 marksEcological Systems, Biodiversity and Conservations

CAPE Biology Unit 2 · May/June 2022 · Paper 2 · Question 1(d)(ii)

Lionfish, an invasive species, were carried by ocean currents to the Caribbean Sea, spreading rapidly and threatening coral reef ecosystems. They are voracious predators with no known predators, eating any marine organism, and can increase stomach volume 30 times. They feed at all levels of the food chain, including cleaner fish and shrimp that remove parasites and disease-causing organisms from larger fish.

Explain how any THREE of the factors in (d)(i) influenced the dynamics of the coral reef ecosystem since the invasion of the lionfish.

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Other parts of this question

  1. 1(a)(i)Define the term 'limiting factor'.[2 marks]
  2. 1(a)(ii)Outline how light intensity is a limiting factor in the process of photosynthesis.[2 marks]
  3. 1(b)(i)State a suitable hypothesis for the investigation.[2 marks]
  4. 1(b)(ii)Identify ONE manipulated variable and ONE responding variable in the investigation.[2 marks]
  5. 1(b)(iii)State ONE variable that should be controlled in the investigation.[1 mark]
  6. 1(b)(iv)Explain how growing lettuce in a greenhouse using a hydroponic system can reduce the effects of ONE limiting factor of photosynthesis.[3 marks]
  7. 1(c)(i)Define the term 'species diversity'.[2 marks]
  8. 1(c)(ii)Explain how high species diversity affects the stability of an ecosystem.[3 marks]
  9. 1(d)(i)Classify EACH of the following factors as EITHER an abiotic factor or a biotic factor. Ocean currents, The lionfish as predators, The lionfish feeding on…[4 marks]

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