DP Environmental Systems and Societies Questionbank

Environmental value systems differ in how they view the importance of biodiversity and this could influence a community’s approach to conservation.

Discuss how these different perspectives, including your own, may influence approaches to conservation.

Explain why Madagascar has a high number of endemic species.

With reference to Figures 3(a) and 3(b) describe the trends in Iceland’s population dynamic

With reference to Figures 9(a) and 9(b), explain the impacts of beaver dams on biodiversity within Algonquin Provincial Park.

Outline two reasons why the Swakop river is considered to be ecologically important.

Define biodiversity.

With reference to Figure 2 identify three factors that could explain the high biodiversity in Ecuador.

With reference to the data in Figure 4(a), calculate the percentage of the world’s coral species found in the Coral Triangle.

Outline the factors that contribute to total biodiversity of an ecosystem.

Identify four reasons why the genetic diversity of a population may change over time.

Explain why Madagascar has a high number of endemic species.

With reference to Figures 3(a) and 3(b) describe the trends in Iceland’s population dynamic

State two possible causes of these past mass extinctions.

Outline how the process of natural selection is a mechanism for evolution.

Outline how global rates of extinction have changed over time.

Outline the ways in which natural selection has contributed to biodiversity.

Atmospheric and plate activity have affected the distribution and diversity of systems within the biosphere.

Explain the role that plate activity has in the diversity of ecosystems.

Describe the role of isolation in natural selection.

Distinguish between the mass extinctions evident in the fossil record and extinctions within historic times.

With reference to Figure 2 identify three factors that could explain the high biodiversity in Ecuador.

With reference to Figures 4(b) and 4(c), suggest how fish diversity may be influenced by the habitat diversity of the Coral Triangle.

Suggest why the St Lawrence River beluga whale population has not recovered despite being given protected status in 1983.

Outline the factors that contribute to total biodiversity of an ecosystem.

With reference to the species listed in the resource booklet, Figure 4, identify two factors that may have contributed to their status given on the IUCN Red List.

Identify four reasons why the genetic diversity of a population may change over time.

Explain how changes in the concentration of stratospheric and tropospheric ozone in the atmosphere can affect global biodiversity.

Identify one of the criteria that may have been used by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List to classify aye-aye as endangered.

To what extent could development away from traditional lifestyles lead to greater sustainability in Madagascar?

With reference to Figures 3(a) and 3(b) describe the trends in Iceland’s population dynamic

Identify two reasons why the future size of the Atlantic puffin population is difficult to predict.

To what extent might Iceland be viewed as a role model for sustainability by other countries?

Identify two ways that human activity in Algonquin Provincial Park may affect the food web.

To what extent does Algonquin Provincial Park provide a model of sustainable management of a protected area?

Identify two ways in which the current extinction differs from mass extinctions in the past.

Explain one factor that may make a species less prone to extinction.

Justify whether or not Mesquite should be cleared from the Swakop River Valley.

Evaluate the proposal to convert an area of tropical rainforest into agricultural use.

Explain two factors which lead to a loss of marine (ocean) biodiversity.

With reference to Figure 6, identify two changes in land use that have taken place in the Copperbelt Province between 1972 and 2000.

Suggest possible reasons for the changes you have identified in (c)(i).

Identify two possible reasons why species B and C were not present in the litter layer when it was resampled six months later.

Explain how predation may lead to long-term population decrease or extinction of the prey species.

Predict how the introduction of a non-native species may affect this lake ecosystem.

State two possible factors that may have led to the gorillas being endangered.

Describe two factors that may be used to determine a species’ Red List status and how each may be affected by human activity.

Identify two factors that have given the African elephant Red List status.

For a named endangered species, discuss why it is endangered and why it should be conserved.

Distinguish between the mass extinctions evident in the fossil record and extinctions within historic times.

Discuss the implications of environmental value systems in the protection of tropical biomes.

Discuss the role of humans in the destabilization of ecological systems.

Explain the causes, and the possible consequences, of the loss of a named critically endangered species.

Explain why the harvesting of a named aquatic species may be controversial.

Discuss the consequences of changing global per capita meat consumption on the conservation of ecosystems and biodiversity.

With reference to data throughout the resource booklet, to what extent would the establishment of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) benefit marine ecosystems and human societies within the Coral Triangle?

Identify four impacts on an ecosystem that may result from the introduction of an invasive species of herbivore.

Suggest why the St Lawrence River beluga whale population has not recovered despite being given protected status in 1983.

With reference to Figure 9(a), outline how the round goby both positively and negatively affects the St Lawrence River ecosystem.

With reference to information in the resource booklet, evaluate the sustainability of Canada’s management of the Large Ocean Management Area of the St Lawrence River estuary and Gulf of St Lawrence.

To what extent are strategies to promote the conservation of biodiversity successful?

With reference to the images in the resource booklet, Figure 4, justify your choice of one animal as the most suitable to promote conservation.

Environmental value systems differ in how they view the importance of biodiversity and this could influence a community’s approach to conservation.

Discuss how these different perspectives, including your own, may influence approaches to conservation.

With reference to Figure 6, evaluate the role of international zoos and wildlife parks in the conservation of aye-aye.

With reference to Figures 8(a), 8(b) and 8(c), suggest two reasons why Makira National Park was created in the area shown.

Explain how the protection of forests in Makira National Park may contribute to the conservation of the aquatic environment of MaMaBay.

Outline one disadvantage of increased tourism on wildlife conservation.

With reference to Figures 3(a) and 3(b) describe the trends in Iceland’s population dynamic

Identify one potential problem with the reintroduction of beavers in Europe.

With reference to Figure 10(b), explain the threats to the future existence of a small and sustainable population of wolves as a result of their protection in limited area.

To what extent does Algonquin Provincial Park provide a model of sustainable management of a protected area?

Explain one factor that may make a species less prone to extinction.

Evaluate the proposal to convert an area of tropical rainforest into agricultural use.

With reference to Figure 8(c), explain how the distribution of national parks and game management areas in Zambia helps to provide effective conservation.

Ecocentrics recognise that all species have an intrinsic value.

Explain the strengths and weaknesses of using intrinsic value when making decisions about development and conservation.

Explain one possible reason for the increase in gorilla population over the period shown in the graph.

Evaluate the role of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) in the conservation of species such as mountain gorillas.

State two criteria necessary for a successful conservation area.

The population of elephants is growing rapidly in countries such as Zimbabwe. This may lead to conservation issues.

Suggest two strategies for managing the population of elephants.

For a named endangered species, discuss why it is endangered and why it should be conserved.

With reference to Figure 2 identify three factors that could explain the high biodiversity in Ecuador.

Distinguish between the concept of a “charismatic” (flagship) species and a keystone species using named examples.

Discuss the implications of environmental value systems in the protection of tropical biomes.

Explain the causes, and the possible consequences, of the loss of a named critically endangered species.

Suggest two strategies that could be used to reduce the threat to coral reefs from tourism.

With reference to Figure 8(a), outline two advantages of Locally Managed Marine Areas (LMMAs) for providing effective conservation of marine systems.

Identify one way in which conservation efforts may have given rise to the decline in shark fin imports shown in Figure 8(d).

With reference to data throughout the resource booklet, to what extent would the establishment of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) benefit marine ecosystems and human societies within the Coral Triangle?

Discuss the potential for designing a protected forest area that allows for the harvesting of natural resources while at the same time conserving its biodiversity.

Suggest why the St Lawrence River beluga whale population has not recovered despite being given protected status in 1983.

With reference to information in the resource booklet, evaluate the sustainability of Canada’s management of the Large Ocean Management Area of the St Lawrence River estuary and Gulf of St Lawrence.

To what extent are strategies to promote the conservation of biodiversity successful?