rEsr coDE o2l200lo

FORM TP 2004196

MAY/JUNE

CARIBBEAN EXAMINATIONS COUNCIL

ADVANCED PROFICIENCY EXAMINATION

EhTVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

UhIIT

l:

ECOLOGY, PEOPLE AhtD NATURAL RESOURCE USE

PAPER 01

hour 30 minutes

READ THE FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY

l.

DO NOT open this examination Paper until instructed to do so.

2.

This paper consists of TWELVE questions, FOUR from each Module.

3.

AnswerALLquestions.

4.

Write your answers in the spaces or on the lines provided in this answer
booklet.

5.

The use of a non-programmable calculator is allowed.

Copyright @ 2003 Caribbean Examinations Council.

All rights reserved.

02l2mlo/cAPE 2004

2OO4

-2MODIJLE

AnswerALL questions.
Figure I reprcsents a food web from a typical mangrove ecosystem.
Plranhes

Snrppers

fkrs

t
Trdpotca

\t-/
t./
\

\l

7t
Inscct larvee

az

Flgure 1. A foodweb fiom e mangnDve Gcosystem

With reference to Figurel, answer the following:

(a)

Identify a secondary consumer.

[l

(b)

State THREE possible impacts on the ecosystem

if

mark I

the population of warer beetles died

out.

[3 marksl

o2rxnlucAPE 2m4

GO ON TO THE NEXT PAGE

-3(c)

State the importance of'the green algae in the mangrove ecosystem.

[2 marks]
(d)

(i)

Which of the organism(s) has the LEAST biomass?

ll
(ii)

rnark I

Why do the organism(s) identified in (d) (i) have the least biomass?

[2 marksl

Total9 marks

2.

(a)

Explain the importance of 'natural selection' in the survival of a species of organism.

[3 marksl

GO ON TO THE NEXT PAGE

02r20010/CAPE 20M

-4(b)

When facing a new selective pressure such as a different climatic condition or competition
from a new species invading the ecosystem, the resident species has three alternatives. Outline
TWO of these alternatives stating clearly the conditions under which EACH is likely to occur.

[6 marks]

Total9 marks
3.

Figure 2 shows the survival curve for a plant species. The curve shows the population density
for different values of soil pH.

.Bc
EE

-E .l(

:;
EE
==
-E
.=9

Figure 2. Survival curve for a plant species

GO ON TO THE NEXT PAGE

o2r200totc{PB 2004

-5(a)

From Figure 2, identify the pH ranges of the soil in EACH of the following:

(i)
(ii)

(iii)

Zone of physiological stress

Tnne of intolcrance

Optimal range

[3 marksl
(b)

Some factors affecting the survival of a species are termed

rcasons for this.

'limiting factors'. State TWO

[2 marks]

(c)

State ONE effect on a population when an abiotic factor shifts from its optimum value to
beyond the limit of tolerance.

mark I

Totel6 marks

02lzoolo/cAPE 2004

GO ON TO THE NEXT PAGE

-64.

(a)

The species diversity is calculated for three f,relds in Guyana and the results are presented
in Table I below.

TABLE

I: SPECIES

Field

(i)

DIVERSITY

Species Diversity

Field A

2.ro

Field B

2.Ol

Field C

3.r2

What is meant by the term 'species diversity'?

[1 mark I

(ii)

Rank the Fields in terms of the stability of theirecosystem starting with the MOST
stable.

ll mark I
(iii)

State TWO reasons to support your ranking.

[2 marks]

(b)

State ONE feature that is common to an agricultural farm and a natural ecosystem.

[2 marksl

Total6 marks

GO ON TO THE NEXT PAGE

02l200lrycAPE 2004

-7

MODULE

AnswerALL questions.

5.

Table 2 below shows the population size of Jamaica

in l99l and

1999.

TABLE 2: POPULATION OFJAMAICA (199r and 1999)

(a)

Year

Population

r99r

23r4

1999

2 590 400

500

Calculate the average annual growth rate of the population.

[3 marksJ

(b)

Calculate the doubling time of the population.

[2 marksl

ozrzwtotcAPE

CO ON TO THE NEXT
2004

PAGE

-8(c)

Predict the size of the population in 2038. State your assumption in arriving at your answer.

[3 marks]

Total
(a)

marks

Briefly describe how the world population has grown since 1800 to the present.

[2 marksl

(b)

Outline THREE reasons for the growth in world population from l80O to the presenr.

[6 marks]

Total

mr2oorucAPE

marks

GO ON TO THE NEXT PAGE

2004

-97.

Table 3 below shows the doubling time and per capita GNP for three countries.

TABLE 3: PER CAPITA GNPAND DOUBLING TIME

Doubling Time (years)

Per Capita GNP (US $)

Haiti

33

310

Jamaica

40

1600

St. Kitts and Nevis

69

s870

Country

(a)

(i)

Define the term 'per capita GNP'.

[1 mark ]

(ii)

What is the significance of the per capita GNP of countries?

ll
(b)

mark I

Using the data presented in Table 3, state the relationship between the rate of population growth
and per capita GNP.

[2 marksl
(c)

Explain the relationship identified in (b) above.

[4 marksl

Total8 marks

GO ON TO THE NEXT PAGE

o2rz@totcAPE 2004

,lot.

'Man is not dependent on ecological pnocesses to the same extent as other organisms'.
Do you agree with this statement? Justify your point of view with the aid of an appropriate example.

[6 marks]

Total6 marlcs
MODIJLE 3

AnswerALL questions.
9.

Figure 3 shows the yield for a renewable resource as a function of the harvesting effort.

xo0

e,

2,O 30 40 50 fi

70 t0 90 lm

110

HarvcsftA efiort /&ys

Figure 3. Yield for e renewable resource

02l2oolrycAPE

2filr

GO ON TO TIJE NEXT PAGE

lt
(a)

Explain the concept of Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY) in relation to the harvesting of
the natural resource.

[3 marks]

(b)

From Figure 3, identify the MSY and the corresponding harvesting effort.

[2 marksl

(c)

Explain the impact on the resource if harvesting occurs at point 'A' in Figure 3.

[3 marks]

Total

ozrz00rotcAPB200/.

t marks

CO ON TO THE NEXT

PAGE

-t210.

'Genetic resources are of importance to the Caribbean region'.

(a)

What is meant by 'genetic resources'?

[l

(b)

mark]

State, giving ONE reason, whether genetic resources are

(i)

renewable or non-renewable resources

[3 marks]

(ii)

consumptiveornon-consumptiveresources.

[3 marks]

Total T marks

GO ON TO THE NEXT PAGE

021200I0/CAPE 2004

_13_

11. (a)

Outline TWO environmental impacts of mining in a named Caribbean country.

[4 marksl
(b)

State FOUR ways in which an Environmental ImpactAssessment can mitigate the impacts
referred to in ll(a) above.

[4 marksJ

Total E marks

02l2oolorcAPE 2m4

CO ON TO THE NEXT

PAGE

-14-

12.

State THREE ways in which EACH of the following affects the exploitation of a named natural
rpsource in the Caribbean.

(a)

Location

[4 marks]

(b)

Technology

[3 marksl

Total7 marks

END OF TEST

o2naarctcAPE 2m4