The table below shows leaf morphological data for three plant species in a tropical forest ecosystem:
| Species | Leaf dry mass (g) | Leaf surface area (cm2\text{cm}^2cm2) | Leaf dry mass : leaf surface area ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brazil Nut Tree | 4.5 | 225 | 1:50 |
| Hart's Tongue Fern | 0.8 | 320 | |
| Epiphytic Orchid | 1.2 | 12 | 1:10 |
Calculate the leaf dry mass : leaf surface area ratio for the Hart's Tongue Fern. Give your answer in the form 1:N1:N1:N.
Hart's Tongue Ferns are understory plants that grow on the shaded forest floor. Explain how their leaf dry mass : leaf surface area ratio makes them adapted to survive in low-light environments.
111 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.