Year 11 Biology: Ecosystem Dynamics Practice Questions

Are you prepared for your Year 11 Biology yearly exams? We have assembled the following 10 Ecosystem Dynamics practice questions to help you prepare!

You can find the answers at the bottom of the page.

Questions

Question 1

Which of the following sampling methods can be used to determine the abundance of sessile populations?

(a) Transect mapping

(b) Quadrat sampling

(c) Capture-mark-recapture

(d) None of the above

Question 2

The following graph depicts the relationship between Lynx and Hare populations.

(a) Identify which type of relationship exists between the two species based on the graph.

(b) Explain the pattern of abundance seen in the Lynx and the Hare populations.

Question 3

Identify TWO strategies that can be implemented to restore ecosystems damaged by mining.

Question 4

Which of the following can be regarded as evidence that Australia was once part of Gondwanaland?

(a) Matching rock types found in both Australia and Antarctica.

(b) Distribution of the Glossopteris fern.

(c) Matching continental margins.

(d) All of the above.

Question 5

True or false?

Commensalism is the relationship between two organisms where one organism benefits while the other is unaffected.

Question 6

With reference to a named organism, describe a recent extinction event.

Question 7

True or false?

Food webs show how a change in abundance of one species can lead to flow-on effects to other species.

Question 8

Identify ONE way in which humans have had an impact on Australian ecosystems.

Question 9

Which of the following describes a mass extinction?

(a) When a large number of individuals of a species are killed.

(b) The sudden loss of a population of a species.

(c) The sudden loss of an entire species.

(d) A sudden decrease in biodiversity on Earth.

Question 10

Explain ONE type of evidence that scientists can use to study past ecosystems.

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Answers

Question 1

(b) Quadrat sampling

Question 2

(a) Predator-prey relationship

(b)

• The interaction between the Lynx and the Hare shows that predation affects the population of both prey and the predator.
• The Lynx (predator) population increases when the Hare (prey) population is abundant as there is more food to sustain the Lynx population.
• Therefore, this leads to a decrease in the Hare population which would ultimately decrease the Lynx population as well.
• This eventually results in an increase in the Hare population and the cycle starts again.

Question 3

Since mining is a highly destructive process, government bodies work with mining companies to implement a restoration plan once the mine has been decommissioned.

This includes:

• Planting local tree species to restore vegetation in the area.
• Creating habitats for plants and animals.
• Partnerships with local communities and organisations.
• Monitoring and controlling unwanted plants and feral animals.

Question 4

(d) All of the above

Question 5

True

Question 6

Extinction of species can occur due to biotic or abiotic factors, natural phenomena such as climate shifts or human activities such as hunting.

A recent extinction event is the Thylacine (Tasmanian tiger) which was a carnivorous marsupial closely related to the Tasmanian devil. The Thylacine was thought to be hunting sheep and so was hunted to protect farms until eventually the species was wiped out.

Question 7

True

Question 8

Answers include air pollution, plastic pollution, land clearing, hunting, introduced species and changed fire regimes.

Fire use for Aboriginal land management lead to a higher prevalence of fire tolerant plant species and expansion of grasslands. Species that eat grasses (such as kangaroo) became more common.

Question 9

(d) A sudden decrease in biodiversity on Earth.

Question 10

Examples include Aboriginal rock paintings, rock structure and formation and ice core drilling.

Ice core drilling can be used to provide evidence about past climates. As snow builds up and compacts to ice, particles such as gas, dust or pollen become trapped in bubbles. Ice cores taken from polar ice caps and glaciers can be used by scientists to study past environments through analysing the particles trapped in the ice cores.

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