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IB DIPLOMA PROGRAMME M02/460/S(2)

PROGRAMME DU DIPLÔME DU BI
PROGRAMA DEL DIPLOMA DEL BI

ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS Name

STANDARD LEVEL
PAPER 2
Number
Thursday 9 May 2002 (afternoon)

1 hour

INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES

! Write your name and candidate number in the boxes above.

! Do not open this examination paper until instructed to do so.
! Section A: answer Section A in the spaces provided.
! Section B: answer one question from Section B. Write your answers in a continuation
answer booklet, and indicate the number of booklets used in the box below. Write
your name and candidate number on the front cover of the continuation answer
booklets, and attach them to this question paper using the tag provided.
! At the end of the examination, indicate the number of the Section B question answered in the
box below.

QUESTIONS ANSWERED EXAMINER TEAM LEADER IBCA

1
SECTION A /20 /20 /20
2

SECTION B /20 /20 /20

.........
NUMBER OF CONTINUATION TOTAL TOTAL TOTAL
BOOKLETS USED ......... /40 /40 /40

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 –2– M02/460/S(2)

SECTION A

Both questions must be attempted by all candidates in the spaces provided.

1. The table below gives data for the number of pheasants (a bird the size of a chicken) on a small island off
the northwest coast of the USA in the years following its introduction. The island is too far from the
coast for birds to reach it without assistance. Pheasants eat seeds and insects.
Year Number of
pheasants recorded
1937 spring 8
1937 autumn (fall) 40
1938 spring 30
1938 autumn (fall) 100
1939 spring 81
1939 autumn (fall) 426
1940 spring 282
1940 autumn (fall) 844
1941 spring 705
1941 autumn (fall) 1540
1942 spring 1325
1942 autumn (fall) 1898
[Source: D Lack, The Natural Regulation of Animal Numbers , Oxford University Press, 1954]

(a) The percentage increase between spring and autumn (fall) in 1937 was 400 % and in 1939 it
was 426 %. Calculate the percentage increase between spring and autumn (fall) in 1941.
Show your working. [3]

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(b) Is there evidence that the population was approaching its carrying capacity by 1942? Explain
your answer. [2]

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(This question continues on the following page)

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(Question 1 continued)

The data is plotted on the graph below.

2000
Number of pheasants recorded

1500

1000

500

0
1937 autumn (fall)

1938 autumn (fall)

1939 autumn (fall)

1940 autumn (fall)

1942 autumn (fall)

1941 autumn (fall)
1937 spring

1938 spring

1939 spring

1940 spring

1941 spring

1942 spring

Year

(c) Describe and explain the shape of the curve. [5]

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2. The diagram below shows the energy flow in a river ecosystem in temperate latitudes. All energy
values are kJ m −2 yr−1 .

Incident light Herbivorous Young

Diatoms and plants 400 95
(3 × 10 6 ) fish
zooplankton 17
NPP 230
GPP Older
4 4
(2.8 × 10 ) (1.8 × 10 ) 615 fish
Midge
larvae 2780
4
Leeches 60 45

Detritus and Snails

decomposers
Mussels
0 00 X
10
2 000
700

0
65
60
420
0
350
Total heat of
respiration

[Source: Cadogan A & Best G, Environment and Ecology, Blackie & Son Ltd., 1992]

(a) Construct a complete food chain diagram of four trophic levels taken from this food web. [2]

(b) This ecosystem is in steady state equilibrium. What is meant by this statement? [1]

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(This question continues on the following page)

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(Question 2 continued)

(c) Given that the system is in steady state equilibrium, calculate the value of X. [3]

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(d) Calculate the sustainable yield of older fish. [2]

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(e) Suggest a negative feedback mechanism within this ecosystem that may regulate the older
fish population. [2]

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SECTION B

Answer one question. Write your answers in a continuation answer booklet. Write your name and candidate
number on the front cover of the continuation answer booklet, and attach it to this question paper using the tag
provided.

Each essay question is marked out of a total of 20 marks of which 3 are for the expression and development of
ideas as follows:
0 No expression of relevant ideas.
1 Expression and development of relevant ideas is limited.
2 Ideas are relevant, satisfactorily expressed and reasonably well developed.
3 Ideas are relevant, very well expressed and well developed.

3. (a) Explain, with the aid of a diagram, the flows and the main storages in the hydrological cycle. [6]

(b) Describe and explain how the oceans and their currents play a role in the:

(i) planetary transfer of energy;

(ii) regulation of climate;
(iii) distribution of global productivity. [11]

Expression of ideas [3]

4. Gilbert White in 1778 noted that every year eight pairs of swifts (an insect-eating bird that often
nests in old buildings) nested in his village of Selborne in southern England. Recently it was found
that a similar number of pairs were still nesting in the village over two hundred years later.

(a) Explain, using named examples, why the numbers of some organisms remain constant. [9]

(b) Suggest what the effects might be on the number of swifts if the amount of insecticide used
in the village was greatly increased. [4]

(c) State what other information would be needed to more accurately predict future changes in
the number of nesting swifts. [4]

Expression of ideas [3]

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5. (a) With the aid of labelled diagrams, describe and explain the movement of the plates of the
earth’s crust. [12]

(b) Explain, with examples, how this plate activity has influenced evolution and biodiversity. [5]

Expression of ideas [3]

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