Conservation of habitatsAQA A-Level Biology: Flashcards
What these 14 flashcards ask
- Why does heathland need management?
- What is a plagioclimax?
- How does grazing conserve grassland?
- Why are cuttings removed when mowing grassland?
- What is coppicing?
- How can sand dunes be protected from trampling?
- Define sustainability.
- Why is peat extraction not sustainable?
- Give an example of a compromise between human needs and conservation.
- Why does draining a peat bog contribute to climate change?
- What does rewetting a drained bog involve?
- Why should evidence from a company with an interest be treated with caution?
- Why is a study carried out in one summer limited?
- What makes a conclusion in an evaluation answer worth credit?
Exam questions on Conservation of habitats
- A lowland heathland nature reserve is dominated by heather. If left unmanaged, birch and pine seedlings colonise the heath and it develops into woodland. The reserve is home to heathland specialists such as the nightjar and the sand lizard, which need open ground.Explain why the number of nightjars and sand lizards would fall if the heathland were left unmanaged.2 marks
- A coastal wetland in a developing country is a breeding ground for migratory wading birds and a nursery for fish. Local people want to convert part of it into shrimp ponds to provide food and income, while conservation groups want it protected.Suggest how the conflict between the local people and the conservation groups could be managed so that both are satisfied.2 marks
- A nature reserve manager compared three plots of chalk grassland after 5 years. Plot A was grazed by sheep. Plot B was cut once a year and the cuttings were removed. Plot C was left unmanaged. Plot A had 38 plant species and 4 scrub seedlings per 100 m². Plot B had 31 species and 2 scrub seedlings. Plot C had 14 species and 46 scrub seedlings.Describe the effect of the management on the number of plant species and the number of scrub seedlings.3 marks
Written by the Exaim team, led by Shaun Daswani (Head of Upper Secondary, Improve ME Institute; MSc Financial Mathematics, Imperial College London; BSc, UCL) and Jason Daswani (operational lead, Improve ME Institute; LSE).