Test Topic 1 and 2 ESS [44 marks]

1a. [3 marks]

Markscheme
greater species diversity/greater population size usually lead to greater
resilience;
with more species, it is more likely others can take over the role/niche of any
lost/declining species;
more food chains/energy/biogeochemical pathways in an ecosystem provides
redundancy therefore greater stability;
a variety of species is more likely to include those resistant to environmental
change;
larger populations provide greater storages that can last over periods of lower
productivity; larger populations generally carry greater genetic diversity;
larger populations of invasive species may lead to reduced diversity/resilience;
lower populations are more prone to extinction after a disturbance (e.g.
habitat fragmentation) / or due to stochastic fluctuations;
an ecosystem may be more resilient if there are many small populations of
different species than one large population of a single dominating species;
large populations of foundation/keystone species may be crucial for resilience
of certain ecosystems (e.g. corals, kelp, beavers, elephants, pines, hemlock);
Note: Award credit to any valid arguments providing they directly relate
species diversity or population size to resilience.
Award [3] max for responses addressing only diversity or only population size.
1b. [4 marks]

Markscheme
Refer to paper 2 markbands, available under “your tests” tab > supplemental
materials.
The following guide for using the markbands suggests certain features that
may be offered in responses. The five headings coincide with the criteria given
in each of the markbands (although “ESS terminology” has been conflated
with “Understanding concepts”). This guide simply provides some possible
inclusions and should not be seen as requisite or comprehensive. It outlines
the kind of elements to look for when deciding on the appropriate markband
and the specific mark within that band.
Answers may include:
understanding concepts and terminology of genetic/species/habitat
diversity; cultural / political diversity; sustainability; ecological footprint;
yield per unit area; aquatic and terrestrial food production; commercial vs.
subsistence; multinational vs. local production; monoculture v polyculture;
organic farming; GMOs; selective breeding; impact of escapees on wild
populations; integrated agriculture; habitat loss/degradation; air/water/soil
pollution; threats to biodiversity/pollinators; pesticide/fertilizer/antibiotic
use; biological pest control; food choice; buffer zones; mineral cycles; crop
rotation, etc.;
breadth in addressing and linking technological and management
strategies of terrestrial and aquatic food production systems with
genetic/species/habitat diversity and significance of this in terms of
sustainability and ecological footprint in the context of a range of
geographical locations, social settings, levels of economic development,
traditional values, international relations, legislations, personal attitudes
and EVSs, etc.;
examples of named food production systems and strategies involved in
monoculture, polyculture and integrated agriculture, wild fisheries,
aquaculture etc.;
balanced analysis evaluating the extent to which diversity is significant in
determining the sustainability of food production systems along with
relevant limitations and counterarguments, etc.;
a conclusion that is consistent with, and supported by, analysis and
examples given e.g. “because diversity is such a significant factor in
maintaining stability of systems, it is inevitably of great significance in
maintaining both a sustainable production system and the wider
environment in which the production takes place”;
2. [3 marks]

Markscheme
i. increases food resources, (which increases carrying capacity);
ii. decreases water use, (which increases carrying capacity);
iii. no pesticides, so less water pollution/does not harm/pollute environment /
no pesticides used so fewer inputs/resources needed, (which increases
carrying capacity);
iv. vertical farming uses less land area, (so more land area is available for
housing);
v. farming on roofs and in abandoned buildings means more land area is
available (for housing/population growth);
vi. bees result in more pollination, so more primary productivity, (increasing
carbon sink);
Notes: Do not accept only ‘bees increase resources available’ without
reference to increasing food.
Do not accept ‘bees provide healthier food’.
Do not accept only ‘no pesticides used / provides goods / produces agricultural
items / pesticides cause eutrophication’.

3a. [2 marks]

Markscheme
( 360×359 ) 129240
( 70×69 ) + ( 60×59 ) + ( 90×89 ) + ( 90×89 ) + ( 40×39 ) + ( 10×9 )
= 26040
= 4. 96;
Note: Award [1] for correct answer; [1 max] if no working shown;
Accept 4.96, 5.0 or 5.
Accept any valid working.

3b. [2 marks]

Markscheme
species diversity is the function of the number of species/richness and their
relative proportions/abundance/evenness (in an area);
3c. [2 marks]

Markscheme
Species diversity increases toward the later stage...
i. because there is an increase in habitats;
ii. as new species move or are transported into the area;
iii. because primary productivity tends to increase as you move through the
stages;
iv. because nutrient cycling becomes more developed;
v. because evenness/richness increases;

3d. [1 mark]

Markscheme
Award [1] for stating appropriate method:
e.g. capture–mark–release–recapture / Lincoln index;
Note: Do not credit “full count/total census” or methods that would only give
data of relative abundance e.g. mouse droppings.

3e. [2 marks]

Markscheme
i. the number of trials carried out;
ii. type of traps/bait used for catching mice;
iii. type of marking used to identify captured mice (may increase predation);
iv. time for mice to reintegrate after first capture;
v. how easily mice become trap happy/trap shy (might skew results);
vi. size of samples trapped;
Notes: Allow error carried forward (ECF) if method for 2di is wrong.
Both positive and negative impacts on accuracy would be acceptable although
candidate does not need to specify which for full credit.
4. [4 marks]

Markscheme
DDT…
i. is a very effective/affordable insecticide;
ii. can help in the management of insect borne diseases/malaria/zika;
iii. can help in the control of agricultural pests, improving harvests;
iv. is a persistent (organic) pollutant / causes soil degradation/aquatic pollution;
v. has negative effects on human health;
vi. bioaccumulates in the bodies of organisms;
vii. biomagnifies in food chains;
viii. causes impact on non-target species/death of birds of prey/top carnivores;
ix. reduces biodiversity;

5a. [1 mark]

Markscheme
beef;

5b. [1 mark]

Markscheme
fruit/vegetables;

5c. [2 marks]

Markscheme
generally, the foods with the higher level of recommended consumption have
a lower environmental impact;
foods at the “top” (pictorially, rather than both apices) of both pyramids tend
to be from higher trophic levels/produce a higher ecological footprint (EF) /
foods at “bottom” of both pyramids tend to be from lower trophic
levels/primary producers/produce a lower EF;
pyramids appear opposite to one another / have an inverse
relationship/negative correlation;
5d. [2 marks]

Markscheme
Ecological footprint will be greater because…
higher trophic levels/more energy loss…;
…greater land area required (to produce same quantity of food);
more dependence on fossil fuels/mechanisation/food miles (+ release of
GHG/CO2);
release of methane from cattle increases global greenhouse gas
concentration;
higher water consumption when farming animals;
overgrazing leading to loss of arable land;
Award [1 max] if INCREASE in ecological footprint/land area required is not
mentioned.
Credit may be given for any valid impact on EF due to production of food high
on environmental impact (beef/pork/poultry/fish/cheese/olive oil).

6. [3 marks]

Markscheme
the slow initial growth rate is due to low numbers reproducing;
…and/or unfamiliarity with resources / threats of the newly colonized habitat;
growth rates/numbers increase more rapidly due to abundance/accessibility of
resources/greater numbers reproducing;
…leading to positive feedback/exponential growth;
growth rate subsequently decrease/numbers increase more slowly due to
limiting/density dependent environmental factors/environmental resistance;
…e.g. limited food/greater predation/competition/nesting sites, etc.;
growth rate eventually becomes zero / population stabilizes / fluctuates
around carrying capacity;
due to reaching the carrying capacity of the environment;
…kept stable by density dependent factors / negative feedback / predator–
prey cycles;
Note: These marking points may be achieved through an appropriately
annotated diagram.
7a. [1 mark]

Markscheme
chest/underbelly colour (green v. grey/blue);
head colour;
neck/throat marking (red v. grey/blue);
beak colour;
foot colour;
Note: Do not accept only ‘colour is different'.

7b. [1 mark]

Markscheme
competition / inter-specific competition;
competition for nesting sites/food (where their distributions/habitats overlap ie
altitudes 600–800 m);
resource partitioning;

7c. [3 marks]

Markscheme
both species nest in holes in trees;
both species eat fruit and nuts;
the imperial amazon feeds only in dense forest, whereas the red-necked
amazon feeds in forests and plantations/red-necked amazon also eats in
banana and citrus plantations;
the red-necked amazon lives between 0 and 800 m, whereas the imperial
amazon lives between 600 and 1300 m/at higher elevations / both live
between600 and 800 m;
Note: Must be evidence of comparison in the response: at least one compare
and one contrast statement for full marks.

7d. [1 mark]

Markscheme
( 1250−160 ) ( 1250−170 )
160
× 100 = 681(%)/ 170
× 100 = 635(%);
Note: Accept between 635 and 681. Accept values with decimals.
 7e. [2 marks]

Markscheme
Red necked amazon (RNA) more social so protection in numbers from
predators, reducing mortality rates/increasing survival rates / imperial amazon
(IA) lives singly so at greater risk of predation;
RNA more social so greater breeding success/greater choice of potential mates
/ IA has reduced mating success due to solitary behaviour/may not breed
again after the loss of a mate during the hurricane / IA may die if it loses its
partner;
RNA eat fruit from banana and citrus orchards/wider variety of food sources,
so less competition for food / IA has a more limited food source so has greater
competition for food;
RNA less specialized/can adapt to a number of different habitats so less
affected by hurricane damage to the forest;
IA being outcompeted for nesting sites by the RNA;
time taken for rainforest to recover after hurricane means delay in recovery of
IA / humans replant orchards so food source for RNA recovers more quickly;
initial population of RNA was higher in 1980;

8. [4 marks]

Markscheme
transfer:
advection/precipitation/snowmelt runoff/surface run
off/infiltration/percolation/groundwater flow/plant uptake;
transformation:
evaporation/condensation/sublimation/snowmelt/transpiration;
Note: Only credit those flows identified in diagram.

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