Biology 9700 · AS & A Level · Conservation

Conservation — practice question

A method for assessing global biodiversity is to count how many species of organisms there are. Table 3.1 gives 2009 estimates of species numbers in some animal taxa. The figures in brackets are the values revised in 2019 from the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) for three taxa that have been studied intensively.
(a(i))[3]

List three characteristics that animal species share.

(a(ii))[3]

Explain how placing species into a taxonomic hierarchy helps conservation organisations such as the IUCN to do their work.

(a(iii))[2]

Table 3.1 indicates that amphibian, bird and mammal species numbers rose from 2009 to 2019. Discuss whether this rise in numbers shows that these chordate classes are being conserved successfully.

(a(iv))[2]

Using Table 3.1, identify the animal class with the greatest diversity, then work out the percentage of animal species that are in this class. Show your working and give the answer to two significant figures.

(b(i))[2]

Outline two factors that may reduce the size of insect populations in developed countries with large human populations.

(b(ii))[2]

Explain how growing crops genetically modified to produce the Bt toxin can support biodiversity.

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