An ecological study of a salt marsh ecosystem in Norfolk is conducted. Within a defined 10 m2 salt pan, ecologists record:
Which of the following statements correctly identifies the ecological levels of organization within this salt pan?
The 340340340 Spartina anglica plants represent a population; the collection of Spartina anglica, Peringia ulvae, and Carcinus maenas represents the ecosystem; and the soil salinity and pH represent the community.
Each individual Carcinus maenas represents an organism; all 1,2001,2001,200 Peringia ulvae individuals form a population; all populations of different species (including plants, snails, crabs, and microscopic decomposers) living and interacting in the salt pan form a community; and this community together with the salinity, pH, and tidal factors forms an ecosystem.
The 1,2001,2001,200 mud snails and 858585 shore crabs together form a single population of primary and secondary consumers; the cordgrass forms a separate community of producers; and the tidal inundation represents the ecosystem.
The salt pan habitat represents a population; the 340340340 cordgrass plants represent a community; and the sum of all snails, crabs, and salinity levels represents the ecosystem.
67 exam-style questions on OCR GCSE Biology 4.1 Ecosystems, covering 4.1.1 Cycling of materials in ecosystems, 4.1.2 Microorganisms in cycling materials, 4.1.3 The carbon and water cycles, 4.1.4 Factors affecting decomposition, 4.1.5 Levels of organisation in an ecosystem, 4.1.6 Abiotic and biotic factors affecting communities, 4.1.7 Interdependence and competition, 4.1.8 Trophic levels, 4.1.9 Pyramids of biomass, and 4.1.10 Efficiency of biomass transfers. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.