1 Reed warblers are small birds that migrate over long distances between western Africa and
northern Europe.
Fig. 5.1 shows a reed warbler, Acrocephalus scirpaceus.
Fig. 5.1
(a) State three characteristic features of birds that are visible in Fig. 5.1.
1 Wings
2 Beak
3 Feather [3]
A study was carried out in Sweden into the effects of natural selection on wing length in
reed warblers.
The wings of young reed warblers reach their maximum length a few days after leaving the
nest.
At this age the wing length in millimetres of each bird was recorded. Each bird was
identified by putting a small ring around one of its legs.
When the birds were caught in net traps as adults, the information on the rings was used to
identify specific birds and their ages.
PhysicsAndMathsTutor.com
The length of time between ringing and trapping was recorded for each bird that was
identified before it was released.
The mean age at trapping was calculated for birds with each wing length.
The results are shown in Table 5.1.
Table 5.1
wing length at ringing / number of birds mean age at trapping /
mm trapped days
63 or less 24 253
64 72 256
65
5 1 297
66
6 1 346
67
7 1 349
68
8 1 270
69 66 237
70 or more 23 199
total = 771
(b) (i) Explain why wing length is an example of continuous variation.
Quantitive features;
Range between two extremes;
Not in distinct groups;
[2]
(ii) Suggest a feature of reed warblers, other than wing length, that shows
continuous variation.
Body mass [1]
PhysicsAndMathsTutor.com
(c) The researchers concluded that reed warblers with a wing length of 66-67 mm had the
best chance of survival.
(i) Describe the evidence from Table 5.1 that supports this conclusion.
Largest number of most birds are trapped;
Oldest mean age for birds trapped;
[4]
(ii) The researchers also suggested that more evidence was needed to make this
conclusion.
Suggest what other evidence would show that birds with wings 66-67 mm in length
have the best chance of survival.
Number of young birds of each wing length;
Wing length of birds that died;
Length of life after trapping
Results for birds in West Africa;
Effects of migration;
Effect on trapping on behaviour;
Other locations, in Sweden/ anywhere in Europe;
[3]
PhysicsAndMathsTutor.com
(d) Scientists have discovered that genes are responsible for wing length in reed warblers.
The most common length of wing has been 66-67 mm for many generations of these
birds.
Explain how natural selection may be responsible for maintaining the mean wing length
of reed warblers at 66-67 mm.
Birds with wing length 66-67, survive/live longer; breed reproduce have
offspring;
Pass on their alleles for wing length;
Birds with smaller and larger wings, die;
Do not reproduce as successfully.
[4]
[Total: 17]
PhysicsAndMathsTutor.com
2 The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) collects data on food supplies worldwide.
The FAO classifies the causes of severe food shortages as either by natural disasters or as
the result of human action.
Natural disasters are divided into those that occur suddenly and those that take a long time
to develop. Human actions are divided into those that are caused by economic factors and
those that are caused by wars and other conflicts.
Fig. 6.1 shows the changes in the number of severe food shortages between 1981 and
2007.
70
total
60
50
number natural
40
of severe disasters
food
shortages 30 result of
human
20 action
10
0
1981 1983 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007
year
Fig. 6.1
PhysicsAndMathsTutor.com
Fig. 6.2 shows the causes of severe food shortages in the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s.
1980s 1990s 2000s
% 2 %
27 %
natural
disasters
73 %
86 % 80 %
2%
11 %
result of 27 %
human
action 73 %
8%
98 89 %
key sudden onset slow onset
economic factors war and conflict
Fig. 6.2
(a)
a) State two types of natural disaster that occur suddenly and may lead to severe
food shortages.
1. Flood
2. Tsunami [2]
(ii) State one type of natural disaster that may take several years to develop.
Drought [1]
PhysicsAndMathsTutor.com
(b) Use the information in Fig. 6.1 and Fig. 6.2 to describe the changes in food shortages
between 1981 and 2007.
Overall increaase;
Natural disasters, fluctuates/ described/ irregular;
Human indcued, increase:
Sudden onset increase;
Economic factors increase;
[5]
(c) Explain how the increase in the human population may contribute to severe food
shortages.
1 land needed for, building / urbanisation / AW ;
2 (so) not enough land to grow crops ;
3 increase in food production damages land ;
4 salination ;
5 desertification / erosion ;
6 overgrazing ;
7 not enough water ;
[3]
PhysicsAndMathsTutor.com
The quality and quantity of food available worldwide has been improved by artificial
selection (selective breeding) and genetic engineering.
(d) Use a named example to outline how artificial selection is used to improve the quantity
or quality of food.
1 suitable named crop plant or domesticated animal ;
2 suitable feature to improve ;
3 select individuals for breeding ;
4 select offspring that show improvement ;
[4]
(e) Define the term genetic engineering.
transfer of, a gene / an allele, from one species to another ;
[1]
[Total: 16]
PhysicsAndMathsTutor.com
3 Fig. 4.1 is a photograph of a root of radish covered in many root hairs.
Fig. 4.1
(a) Using the term water potential, explain how water is absorbed into root hairs from the
soil.
osmosis ;
water, diffuses / moves, down water potential gradient ; A high to low water
potential
[3]
PhysicsAndMathsTutor.com
A potometer is a piece of apparatus that is used to measure water uptake by plants.
Most of the water taken up by plants replaces water lost in transpiration.
A student used a potometer to investigate the effect of wind speed on the rate of water
uptake by a leafy shoot. As the shoot absorbs water the air bubble moves upwards.
The student’s apparatus is shown in Fig. 4.2.
capillary tube
coloured water
air bubble
beaker of water
Fig. 4.2
PhysicsAndMathsTutor.com
The student used a fan with five different settings and measured the wind speed. The
results are shown in Table 4.1.
Table 4.1
wind speed / distance travelled rate of water
metres per by the air bubble time / minutes uptake / mm per
second / mm minute
0 4 10 0.4
2 12 5 2.4
4 20 5 4.0
6 35 5 7.0
8 40 2 …………
(b) Calculate the rate of water uptake at the highest wind speed and write your answer in
the table.
[1]
(c) Describe the effect of increasing wind speed on the rate of water uptake. You may
use figures from Table 4.1 to support your answer.
(rate of water) uptake increases
positive correlation / exponential / not linear
[2]
(d) State two environmental factors, other than wind speed, that the student should
keep constant during the investigation.
temperature and
1. humidity
2. [2]
PhysicsAndMathsTutor.com
(e) Some of the water absorbed by the plants is not lost in transpiration.
State two other ways in which water is used.
1. photosynthesis
2. turgidity support [2]
(f) Water moves through the xylem to the tops of very tall trees, such as giant redwoods of
North America. The movement of water in the xylem is caused by transpiration.
Explain how transpiration is responsible for the movement of water in the xylem.
loss of water (vapour) through stomata (in leaves) ;
evaporation, from surfaces of (mesophyll) cells / into air spaces (in leaf) ;
loss of water from leaf (cells) lowers water potential ;
water moves into leaf (from xylem) ;
(this) pulls on / creates tension (in water column in xylem) ;
[4]
(g) Plants that live in hot, dry environments show adaptations for survival.
State three structural adaptations of these plants.
1.
no leaves ;
2. curled / rolled, leaves ;
hairs on the, leaves / stems ;
3. [3]
[Total: 17]
PhysicsAndMathsTutor.com
