1.

A study of the distribution and abundance of three different seaweeds was carried out in the
intertidal region of a gently sloping rocky shore. The intertidal region is the area that will be
covered by water as the tide comes in and uncovered by water as the tide goes out.
The abundance of each seaweed was found by estimating its percentage cover at regular
intervals from the high water mark at the top of the shore to the low water mark lower down the
shore.

P e rce n ta g ee c o v e r / %

The results of this study are shown on the graph below.

60
55
50
45
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0

C hondrus

F ucus
A s c o p h y llu m
0

10

12

14

D is ta n c e fr o m h ig h w a te r m a r k / m e tr e s
(a)

(i)

Put a cross in the box next to the statement that could form part of a valid
conclusion from the data shown in the graph.
A Ascophyllum grows only in regions that are uncovered by water
for long periods of time
B Fucus grows better in regions that are never uncovered by water
C Chondrus may not be able to compete with Ascophyllum
(1)

(ii)

With reference to the graph discuss the validity of statements A, B and C.

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(3)

Al-NAjah Private School

(b)

Suggest two abiotic factors, other than the length of time the seaweeds are out of water,
that could affect the distribution of the seaweeds on this shore.
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(2)

(c)

Describe a technique that you have used to study the distribution of a named organism
within its habitat.
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(4)
(Total 10 marks)

2.

An investigation was carried out to find the distribution of plant species on sand dunes.
A transect was used which extended inland from a beach. Quadrats were used at nine positions
along the transect. The percentage cover of selected species was recorded in each quadrat as
well as the number of plant species in each quadrat. A sample of soil was taken from the area
within each quadrat and used to measure the mass of organic material present.

Al-NAjah Private School

Gary Skinner, Bioschool

The results are shown in the two tables below.

Quadrat number

Distance from top

of beach / metres

80

170

250

500

650

980

1600

1980

Number of species
found

11

18

0.4

0.3

0.3

0.9

2.8

6.4

25.1

23.4

32.8

Mass of organic
material / grams

Percentage cover
Quadrat number

Bare sand

80

30

30

Sea couch

20
70

50
5

Marram grass
Red Fescue

20

40

55

40

Sea buckthorn
Common heather

80
90

Corsica pine
(a)

100

Explain why it is necessary to use a quadrat to estimate percentage cover.

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(2)

Al-NAjah Private School

Al-NAjah Private School

(b)

Explain why a transect is more appropriate than random sampling in this study.
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(2)

(c)

Use the information in both tables to compare the data collected from quadrat 1 and
quadrat 5.
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(3)

(d)

Differences in the variety and number of plant species found in the different quadrats can
be explained by succession. Use the information in the table to suggest how the results of
the study could be explained by succession.
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Al-NAjah Private School

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(5)
(Total 12 marks)

3.

The distribution of organisms within a habitat or on a world-wide scale is influenced by both

biotic and abiotic factors.
(a)

Explain what is meant by the terms biotic and abiotic factors.

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(1)

(b)

For a particular habitat that you have studied, describe one technique which you used to
investigate how a specific abiotic factor affected the distribution of a named organism.
(The results of your investigation are not required.)
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(3)
(Total 4 marks)

Al-NAjah Private School

4.

A transect can be used to study trends in the abundance and distribution of organisms.
(a)

Describe one method you could use to estimate the abundance of an organism at intervals
along a transect line.
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(3)

(b)

State one biotic factor that could be measured at each interval.

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(1)

(c)

(i)

State one abiotic factor of soil that could determine the distribution of plants.
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(1)

(ii)

Describe how you could measure this soil factor.

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(2)
(Total 7 marks)

5.

(a)

The table below shows some data obtained from studies on seaweed on a rocky shore.
The species are listed in the order down the shore that they are normally found.
Seaweeds on the upper shore may be out of the sea, and exposed to the air for many days
at a time.

Some scientists suggested that seaweeds on the upper shore retain water better than seaweeds on
the lower shore.
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Cell wall
thickness /
m
Upper Shore

Lower Shore
(near sea)

(i)

Water loss on
drying out for
fixed time / %

Recovery of normal
metabolism after drying out
and then rewetting / %

Pelvetia
canaliculata

1.2

85

95

Fucus
spiralis

1.47

70

49

Fucus
vesiculosus

0.69

80

20

Fucus
serratus

0.42

83

Laminaria
digitata

0.28

88

Explain why these data do not support the hypothesis that seaweed species
growing high on the shore will retain water better than seaweed species growing
lower on the shore.
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(2)

(ii)

Suggest an explanation, supported by the data, that could account for this
distribution of seaweeds.
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(3)

The upper shore experiences a wider range of temperatures since it spends time exposed to the air, and
it can reach much higher temperatures than seawater.
Al-NAjah Private School

Another study was carried out to investigate the effects of temperature on the activity of rocky
shore snails. The temperature at which 50% became inactive was measured for 5 species of snail
and the data are given below. The rate of water loss on exposure to the air was also measured
Littorina
littorea

Littorina
saxatilis

Calliostoma

Littorina
obtusata

Littorina
neritoides

Temperature
of inactivity /
C

46.0

45.0

34.5

44.0

46.3

Water loss /
% body mass
per day

5.35

5.6

10.1

8.35

3.7

(b)

Suggest one species that you would expect to find more frequently on the upper shore,
and one species that you would expect to be limited to the lower shore, giving a reason
for each of your answers.
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(4)

(c)

Suggest two biotic factors that might affect the distribution of organisms in the rocky
shore studied above.
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(2)
(Total 11 marks)

6.

A study of plant species near a sandy shore was carried out.

Al-NAjah Private School

The table below shows some of the data collected. Sites were sampled at a range of distances
inland from a reference point on the beach
Site number

Distance from reference point / m

20

80

250

500

650

1800

Dead organic matter in soil / %

0.4

0.5

0.9

2.8

6.4

23.4

Number of plant species found

16

Each site represents a stage in the succession from bare sand to a climax community.
(a)

(i)

Describe the changes in the percentage of dead organic matter and number of plant
species as the distance from the reference point increases.
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(2)

(ii)

Suggest how changes in the percentage of dead organic matter in the soil could
account for the changes in the number of plant species.
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(4)

Al-NAjah Private School

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(b)

Explain what is meant by a climax community.

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(2)

(c)

Another way to study plant succession is to measure changes in the percentage cover of
plant species. Describe how you could measure percentage cover of a plant species in a
site you have studied.
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(2)
(Total 10 marks)

7.

(a)

Describe a technique for determining the abundance of a named organism in a habitat that
you have studied.
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(4)

Al-NAjah Private School

11

(b)
Mussels are animals found on rocky seashores. They are enclosed in two hard shells that
can be clamped together very tightly. Adult mussels attach themselves firmly to the rocks and do
not move around.

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12

A study was carried out to investigate the distribution of mussels on a rocky shore that
has a freshwater stream running across it into the sea. The sea level rises and falls twice
every day, between low water level A and high water level B. The sketch map below
shows the shore between the low water level and the high water level, the freshwater
stream and the six sites where the adult mussels were sampled.

The numbers of mussels found at each of the sites are shown in the table below.
Site
Number of mussels

(i)

15

22

20

Describe how the freshwater stream affects the distribution of the mussels.
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(2)

Al-NAjah Private School

13

(ii)

Suggest two possible reasons for this distribution.

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(2)

(c)

Mussels are preyed upon by marine snails called dog whelks. A dog whelk crawls on to a
mussel and takes one or two days to make a hole in the shell before it can eat the mussel
inside.
The numbers of dog whelks found at each of the sites are shown in the table below.
Site
Number of dog whelks

Suggest how the abiotic and biotic factors referred to in this question determine the
distribution of the dog whelks on this seashore.
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(3)
(Total 11 marks)

Al-NAjah Private School

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