Habitats and ecosystemsIB MYP Biology: Mind map

Exam questions on Habitats and ecosystems

1. In the dunes of the Sahara Desert, a group of about forty fennec foxes lives alongside desert plants, beetles, lizards and other animals. Daytime temperatures reach over 40 °C, the sand is dry, and rain is rare. Fennec foxes have very large ears and pale fur, and they hunt mainly at night.
   Explain how the fennec fox's large ears help it to survive in the desert.2 marks
2. Scientists studying the Antarctic coast describe a range of organisms: an icefish whose blood contains a natural antifreeze, an emperor penguin that huddles with others through the winter, and a lichen that grows on bare rock.
   The icefish has natural antifreeze in its blood. State the type of adaptation this is and explain how it helps the icefish to survive.2 marks
3. A student investigates whether woodlice prefer damp or dry conditions. She uses a choice chamber with a damp side and a dry side, separated by a mesh floor. She places ten woodlice in the centre, covers the chamber with a lid and counts how many are on the damp side after ten minutes. She repeats this four times with the same ten woodlice, and finds 8, 7, 9 and 8 woodlice on the damp side.
   Identify the independent variable, the dependent variable and one control variable in this investigation.3 marks