1

AQA Biology Unit 4.7: Ecology - Higher

a d f i
Define the following terms. Plants may have to compete with other plants. Red squirrels are the native squirrel species in Link the type of adaptation to the correct example.
community:  Explain why plants may grow less well on forest European woodlands. Grey squirrels were introduced Animal actions, such as
floor than in a meadow. to the UK in the late 19th century. Grey squirrels feed structural migration or bird calls.
 adaptation
more often at ground level than red squirrels and Physical features, such as
stable community:   are able to digest acorns, which the reds can’t. Grey the shape or colour of the
behavioural
  squirrels carry a deadly pox virus which does not adaptation organism.

ecosystem:  affect them.

 functional The process of developing a
adaptation trait that helps with survival,
  Explain why grey squirrels are now the dominant like temperature regulation.
population:   species of squirrel across much of England and Wales.
 j
 Explain why most desert animals have a large
interdependence:   surface area to volume ratio and large, thin ears.
  
biotic factor:   
  
abiotic factor:  
  
  
 
  k
b Explain how animals that live in cold climates are
Give three ways that animals and plants are
interdependent.   adapted to survive.
  
1. 
  
2. 
 
3.  e
List the factors that can affect a community under 
g
the correct headings below. In 2010, an oil spill off the coast of Mexico polluted
c 1100 miles of coastline. Explain how this will have
When young male lions reach maturity, the older
abiotic biotic affected the marine plants that live on the floor of l
males kick them out of the pride. Explain which A student uses a 1m2 quadrat to take 10 random
factors cause them to do this.   the ocean. readings of dandelions in the school field. The results
  
 are shown below.
  

   1 2 3 1 2 3 1 5 3 3
    What is the range of their data?
  

  
h
   Organisms that live in extreme environments are What is the mode of their data?
  called . 
Give three examples of extreme environments.
What is the median of their data?
1.  
2. 
What is the mean of their data?
3.  

visit twinkl.com
 2
AQA Biology Unit 4.7: Ecology - Higher

a c e
The illustration shows an ocean food chain. Label Label each of the arrows in the illustration of
each organism with their position in the chain and the carbon cycle with the process that the arrow
what type of diet they eat (if any). represents.




 The numbers of predators and prey fall and rise in

 cycles. Use the graph to explain why.

 
 

 f i
Explain the role of decomposers in the recycling of How have humans affected the use of land?
 
 materials through an ecosystem.
 

 
Name a predator from the food chain. 
  
Name an organism from the food chain that is prey. 
 
 

Explain the role of producers in food chains. 
g
  Explain the importance of the water cycle to
living organisms. Include the following keywords: j
  Explain why global warming is occurring.
condensation, transpiration, precipitation, 
  evaporation, respiration. 
 

b 
Define biodiversity. 
 

 d 
Label the illustrations with the method being used 

Why is it important to maintain a good level of to determine the abundance and distribution of 
biodiversity? organisms. 
 

 
h
What programmes are scientists putting into place to How does pollution occur…
maintain biodiversity? in water? k
 What are the biological consequences of global
 warming?
 

The abundance is… in the air? 
 
 
 
The distribution is… on land? 


 
 

visit twinkl.com
AQA Biology Unit 4.7: Ecology - Higher Answers 1

a d f i
Define the following terms. Plants may have to compete with other plants. Red squirrels are the native squirrel species in Link the type of adaptation to the correct example.
Explain why plants may grow less well on forest European woodlands. Grey squirrels were introduced Animal actions, such as
community: All the populations of different
floor than in a meadow. to the UK in the late 19th century. Grey squirrels feed structural migration or bird calls.
organisms that live together in a habitat. adaptation
more often at ground level than red squirrels and Physical features, such as
stable community: Where all the species and The plants will receive less light because the tree are able to digest acorns, which the reds can’t. Grey behavioural the shape or colour of the
canopy will block most of it from reaching the floor. squirrels carry a deadly pox virus which does not adaptation organism.
environmental factors are in balance so that
population sizes remain stable. Light is needed to provide energy for photosynthesis; affect them. functional The process of developing a
reduction of light will reduce photosynthesis and adaptation trait that helps with survival,
ecosystem: A community and its habitat. therefore the glucose needed for growth. Explain why grey squirrels are now the dominant like temperature regulation.

The plants will have to compete for space from the species of squirrel across much of England and Wales.
population: All the members of a single species that
bigger trees and plants. The plant may not have j
live in a habitat. Explain why most desert animals have a large
enough space to grow, or enough space for a big surface area to volume ratio and large, thin ears.
interdependence: A network of relationships between root system to get water and nutrients. This means
different organisms in a community. growth would be reduced. To increase energy transfer through their skin to the
The bigger trees would be better at getting water and surroundings to help them cool down.
biotic factor: A living thing that affects the
mineral ions because they have large root systems.
ecosystem. Grey squirrels out-compete the red squirrels for food
Water is needed for photosynthesis - the plants will
abiotic factor: A non-living part of the environment get less water which will reduce photosynthesis and because they eat more often on the ground, so are
that affects living organisms. therefore the glucose required for growth. able to eat food that has fallen from the trees. They
are also able to eat acorns as a food supply so they
Mineral ions are needed to produce larger molecules have more food available. This means that they are k
b Explain how animals that live in cold climates are
Give three ways that animals and plants are more likely to survive and reproduce than the red
for growth, if the plant gets less of these, its growth adapted to survive.
interdependent. squirrel.
will be reduced.
Any 3 of the following: They have a small surface area to volume ratio
The grey squirrels brought the pox virus to the
and small ears to reduce energy transfer to the
• Plants produce food by photosynthesis. habitats when they were introduced. The red
surroundings.
squirrels are not immune so the disease will have
• Animals eat plants. They have thick layers of fat and fur for insulation.
spread through the population and resulted in the
• Animals eat other animals. loss of many red squirrels.

• Animals pollinate plants. e g

List the factors that can affect a community under In 2010, an oil spill off the coast of Mexico polluted l
the correct headings below. A student uses a 1m2 quadrat to take 10 random
• Plants use animal waste for nutrients. 1100 miles of coastline. Explain how this will have
readings of dandelions in the school field. The results
affected the marine plants that live on the floor of
• Animals use plant and animal materials for abiotic biotic are shown below.
the ocean.
building nests or shelters. light intensity availability of food The sunlight cannot pass through the oil on the 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 5 3 3
• Plants use animals for seed dispersal. temperature new predators arriving surface of the water. The sunlight won’t reach the
moisture levels new pathogens plants so they won’t be able to photosynthesise. This What is the range of their data?
soil pH one species outcompeting means they won’t be able to grow. 1-5 dandelions per m2
c
When young male lions reach maturity, the older another
soil mineral content
males kick them out of the pride. Explain which What is the mode of their data?
wind intensity and h
factors cause them to do this. Organisms that live in extreme environments are 3 dandelions per m2
direction
called extremophiles.
If the males remain in the pride they will compete carbon dioxide levels for What is the median of their data?
Give three examples of extreme environments.
for food, territory and mates with the older lions. plant 3 dandelions per m2
1. high temperature
The older males will be more likely to survive and oxygen levels 2. high pressure What is the mean of their data?
reproduce without this competition. (for aquatic animals)
3. high salt concentration 2.6 dandelions per m2

visit twinkl.com
AQA Biology Unit 4.7: Ecology - Higher Answers 2

a c e
The illustration shows an ocean food chain. Label Label each of the arrows in the illustration of
each organism with their position in the chain and the carbon cycle with the process that the arrow
what type of diet they eat (if any). represents.

tertiary consumer
carnivore

secondary consumer The numbers of predators and prey fall and rise in
carnivore cycles. Use the graph to explain why.

primary consumer When there is plenty of food available, the prey

herbivore animals are able to grow and reproduce successfully,
so their numbers rise.
f i
Explain the role of decomposers in the recycling of How have humans affected the use of land?
producer This means there is plenty of food available for
materials through an ecosystem. Reduced the amount of land available to other
the predators, so they can grow and reproduce
Decomposers break down dead bodies and waste organisms by building, quarrying, farming and
successfully, and their numbers increase shortly
Name a predator from the food chain. materials. They release mineral ions as waste putting waste into landfill.
afterwards.
Either the shark or seal. products back into the soil and carbon dioxide back Destroyed peat bogs which reduces biodiversity in
into the air. These can then be used by producers in those areas.
Name an organism from the food chain that is prey. The large number of predators around to eat the
the food chain. Large scale deforestation to provide land for cattle
Either the seal or crab. prey cause the prey numbers to fall.
and rice fields, and growing crops for biofuels,
Explain the role of producers in food chains. reduces biodiversity.
The reduced number of prey means there is less food g
Explain the importance of the water cycle to
Producers use energy from sunlight to make glucose for the predators, so their numbers begin to fall too. living organisms. Include the following keywords: j
during photosynthesis. The glucose is used to Explain why global warming is occurring.
condensation, transpiration, precipitation, Deforestation reduces the rate at which carbon
synthesise molecules that add to the biomass of the A reduced number of predators, and lots of food evaporation, respiration. dioxide is removed from the atmosphere by
organism. available because there are fewer animals around, Water vapour is lost from organisms to the photosynthesis. Burning the trees also releases
means the prey are able to grow and reproduce so atmosphere via transpiration and respiration. Other
b carbon dioxide via combustion.
Define biodiversity. their numbers rise again. water drains into the oceans and evaporates. The land that has been cleared is often used for rice
The variety of all the different species of organisms
The warm water vapour in the atmosphere condenses fields or cattle, both of these release methane into
within an ecosystem. d
Label the illustrations with the method being used as it cools and forms clouds of water droplets. As the atmosphere.
Why is it important to maintain a good level of to determine the abundance and distribution of these get heavier, they fall onto the land as rain, When peat is burnt as a fuel or used in gardens,
biodiversity? organisms. hail or snow. This is called precipitation. The water carbon dioxide is released.
It reduces the dependence of one species on another cycle therefore provides fresh water for plants and When fossil fuels are burnt in power stations,
for food, shelter and the maintenance of the physical animals on land. factories or vehicles, carbon dioxide is released into
environment. the atmosphere.
h
What programmes are scientists putting into place to How does pollution occur…
k
maintain biodiversity? in water? What are the biological consequences of global
quadrat transect warming?
From sewage, fertiliser or toxic chemicals that are
1. Breeding programmes for endangered species. Loss of habitat by flooding reduces biodiversity.
The abundance is… washed or dumped into water.
2. Protection and regeneration of rare habitats in the air? Climate changes will affect the distribution of
the number of species in an area. organisms and may cause the migration patterns of
3. Reintroduction of field margins and hedgerows. From smoke and acidic gases (sulphur dioxide and
animals to change.
4. Reduction of deforestation and carbon dioxide The distribution is… nitrogen oxides) which cause acid rain.
Climate changes may mean some organisms are no
emissions. how the number of species changes from one area on land?
longer able to survive and will become extinct. This
5. Recycling resources. to another. From landfill and toxic chemicals from farming. reduces biodiversity.

visit twinkl.com