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6 marksEnergy Flow and Nutrient Cycling

CAPE Biology Unit 2 · 2006 · Paper 2 · Question 5(d)

In a forest, a large tree supports 500 caterpillars and 200 snails. Five sparrows feed on the caterpillars, and one large hawk feeds on the sparrows.

Describe the tree ecosystem in terms of: a pyramid of biomass, a pyramid of numbers, and a pyramid of energy.

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Other parts of this question

  1. 5(a)(i)Define the term: Ecosystem.[1 mark]
  2. 5(a)(ii)Define the term: Habitat.[1 mark]
  3. 5(a)(iii)Define the term: Ecological niche.[1 mark]
  4. 5(a)(iv)Define the term: Food chain.[1 mark]
  5. 5(b)Discuss how the components in an ecosystem function to achieve and maintain ecological balance.[4 marks]
  6. 5(c)(i)Explain why the flow of energy through ecosystems is linear and NOT cyclical.[3 marks]
  7. 5(c)(ii)Explain why food chains are generally limited to three or four links.[3 marks]

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