Biodiversity EXAM QS

Describe how the structure of llama haemoglobin is likely to be different from that of camel haemoglobin with reference to the four levels of protein structure. [6 marks]
Click the card to flip 👆
1 / 27
Terms in this set (27)
Describe how the structure of llama haemoglobin is likely to be different from that of camel haemoglobin with reference to the four levels of protein structure. [6 marks]
difference in primary structure as one amino acid is changed,
amino acid change could cause change to secondary structure,
initial coiling or folding of polypeptide chain (alpha helix and beta pleated sheet),
amino acid change could cause change to tertiary structure,
further coiling of secondary structure and ionic bonding and disulphide bonds,
amino acid change has not changed quaternary structure as alpha and beta subunits still able to form haemoglobin in both camel and llama
Explain how the structure of phospholipids allows them to form the bilayer of a plasma membrane. [4 marks]
hydrophilic head and hydrophobic tails,
hydrophobic tails repelled by water,
hydrophilic head forms H bonds with water,
medium outside plasma membrane is aqueous so tails face inwards towards each other
Using your knowledge of the formation of structural polysaccharides, describe the formation of the chitin molecule from its monomer and predict its structure. [4 marks]
in chitin glycosidic bonds formed by condensation,
molecules of water released,
alternate monomers are flipped,
because of the position of the H on carbon 1
Give three other environmental factors that might affect the distribution of the buttercup plants [3 marks]
soil pH,
herbivores,
competition with other species
When fertiliser goes into the river, the concentration of oxygen dissolved in the water decreases.
Explain why the concentration of oxygen decreases [5 marks]
fertiliser causes growth of algae,
algae blocks light,
low light causes plants to die,
bacteria break down dead plants,
aerobic respiration by microbes uses oxygen
Apart from fertiliser, give one other form of pollution that might go into the river as it flows through the city. [1 mark]
sewage or toxic waste
Explain why rain forests are being burnt to provide land for crops in many parts of the world. [2 marks]
increased human population,
increased standard of living
Explain the effects that large-scale burning of forests may have on the Earth's atmosphere in the short and in the long term. [4 marks]
increased release of carbon dioxide into atmosphere when trees are burned,
reduced rate of carbon dioxide removal from atmosphere,
increased carbon dioxide absorbs more of energy radiated by Earth,
global rise in temperature
State two levels at which biodiversity may be considered. [2 marks]
the range of species,
at the level of genetics
Explain the benefits to agriculture of maintaining plant biodiversity [3 marks]
source of useful genes used for genetic engineering,
used for selective breeding with cultivated varieties, variety might be useful in a changing climate
Outline a valid investigation that could determine the effect of varying the moisture content of the soil on the growth of N. thermarum. [4]grow N thermarum in a range of soil water content, leave for 24 hours, measure height of individual plants, calculate mean from the resultsName the international agreement that exists to restrict the sale of rare species [1]Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES)Name the agreement that encourages fair sharing of benefits from the legal use of endangered species. [1]Rio Convention on BiodiversityExplain the importance of sampling in measuring the biodiversity of a habitat [2 marks]it's difficult to count every individual, a sample provides an estimate and a representative of the whole areaOutline the significance of a low value of Simpson's Index of Diversity. [2 marks]habitat dominated by few species, ecosystem is less likely to cope with changeExplain why it is sometimes necessary to conserve a plant species outside its natural habitat (ex situ) [3]natural habitat destroyed by human activity, population in natural habitat is very low making wild sexual reproduction difficult, ex situ can maintain the gene poolOutline the advantages of using a seed bank, as opposed to adult plants, in order to conserve an endangered plant species [4]most plant produce an excess of seeds, so can be collected from wild without damaging wild plant, seeds take up little space, able to store large numbers of seedsSuggest why it is important to ensure that, for each species, the seeds in a seed bank have been collected from several different sites in the wild. [3]maintain gene pool, reduced chance of future environmental change affecting whole population, reduces chances of inbreedingState two of the aims of the CITES agreement. [2]regulate trade in selected species, ensure trade doesn't put wild populations at riskWhat could be done to try to ensure the success of a release programme? [3]species healthy and quarantined before release, adequate natural food supply, protect reserve and prevent poachingDescribe three characteristics of continuous variation [3]no defined categories, range of values, quantitativeSuggest what is meant by critically endangered [1]species likely to become extinctExplain why the white-backed vultures in the captive breeding programme were collected from several different areas and housed in three separate centres [3]maintains gene pool, reduces risk of inbreeding, less likely all are contaminated with painkillerState 2 aims of the Rio Convention on Biological Diversity convention [2]sustainable use of organisms and habitats. international cooperation on biodiversity issuesScientists planned to sample an ecosystem with 3 different sized areas (conifer trees 800m, marshy area 2400m, grazed area 3200). Suggest sampling strategy should use and comment on number of samples they should collect (3)stratified and random sampling, number of samples taken in each area proportional to area's size, 8 samples in conifer tree area, 24 marshy area, 32 in grazed areaSuggest 2 reasons why this species is critically endangered in the wild (2)species is poached, species habitat is being destroyed by human activity like climate change and deforestationWhich option best describes the conservation at the Millennium Seed Bank (holds 2 billion seeds) A in-situ conservation of species biodiversity B in-situ conservation of habitat biodiversity C ex-situ conservation of species biodiversity D ex-situ conservation of habitat biodiversityC