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Date November 2009 Marks available 1 Reference code 09N.3.SL.TZ0.20
Level Standard level Paper Paper 3 Time zone TZ0
Command term State Question number 20 Adapted from N/A

Question

Outline one example of herbivory.

[2]
a.

State the units used in a pyramid of energy.

[1]
b.

Explain the small biomass of organisms in higher trophic levels.

[2]
c.

Markscheme

named example of herbivore;

named example of plant;

e.g. aphid

rose

a.

kJ m-2 yr-1 / kilojoules per meter squared per year / example of energy per unit area per time unit (must be metric units)

b.

much loss of energy / 10/20 % retained / 80/90 % loss of energy;

respiration;

egestion;

less valuable as a food source than primary producers;

c.

Examiners report

Most candidates could state an example of a herbivore and the plant it fed on.

a.

This was often not answered well.

b.

Some candidates mentioned the energy loss from one trophic level to the next. Few explained what caused this loss.

c.

Syllabus sections

Option C: Ecology and conservation » Option C: Ecology and conservation (Core topics) » C.2 Communities and ecosystems
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