The organism in the environment

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Question 16
Medium

Three students were asked to estimate the population size of a wildflower species in a meadow by using a quadrat. The diagram shows where each student placed their quadrats in the meadow: Three different 10 by 10 sampling grids labeled Student X, Student Y, and Student Z, representing where quadrats were placed in the field. Student X's grid has a single shaded square in the center. Student Y's grid has 12 shaded squares arranged in a single vertical column along the leftmost edge. Student Z's grid has 12 shaded squares randomly and widely dispersed across the entire grid.

a.

Which student would obtain the most reliable estimate? Give reasons for your answer.

[3]
b.

State what is meant by the term community.

[1]
c.

Five other students investigated the distribution of a seaweed species (bladderwrack) along a rocky shore. They placed a small quadrat (10 cm by 10 cm, divided into 100 squares of 1 cm by 1 cm) at the high tide line (0 m) and then at 2-metre intervals along a straight transect line down to the low tide line. The percentage cover was recorded based on how many of the 100 squares contained the seaweed. The table shows the results obtained: \begin{array}{|c|c|c|c|c|c|} \hline Student\textbf{Student}Student & 0 m\mathbf{0\text{ m}}0 m & 2 m\mathbf{2\text{ m}}2 m & 4 m\mathbf{4\text{ m}}4 m & 6 m\mathbf{6\text{ m}}6 m & 8 m\mathbf{8\text{ m}}8 m \ \hline P\text{P}P & 5 & 22 & 45 & 70 & 92 \ \hline Q\text{Q}Q & 8 & 18 & 52 & 68 & 95 \ \hline R\text{R}R & 6 & 25 & 48 & 75 & 90 \ \hline S\text{S}S & 4 & 21 & 8 & 72 & 88 \ \hline T\text{T}T & 7 & 24 & 51 & 70 & 95 \ \hline average\textbf{average}average & 6 & 22 & 49 & 71 & 92 \ \hline \end{array} One of the averages has been calculated by ignoring an anomalous result. Which student obtained the anomalous result?

[3]
d.

The diagram below shows the quadrat used by one of the students at 2 m: A 10 by 10 grid representing a quadrat. The bottom two rows (20 squares) are completely shaded with seaweed, and the leftmost square in the third row is also shaded, making a total of 21 shaded squares. Which student obtained the results shown in this quadrat?

[2]

The organism in the environment Questions

  1. IGCSE
  2. /Biology
  3. /The organism in the environment