Question 19M.3.SL.TZ2.14
| Date | May 2019 | Marks available | [Maximum mark: 4] | Reference code | 19M.3.SL.TZ2.14 |
| Level | SL | Paper | 3 | Time zone | TZ2 |
| Command term | Explain, State | Question number | 14 | Adapted from | N/A |
The photograph shows small, isolated Eucalyptus forest fragments in New South Wales, Australia, as part of a long-term experiment on habitat fragmentation.
[Source: Margules, C. (1992). The Wog Wog Habitat Fragmentation Experiment. Environmental Conservation, 19(4),
316–325 © Foundation for Environmental Conservation 1992, published by Cambridge University Press]
State two abiotic factors that are increased in the fragmented forest with respect to the centre of the core forest.
1.
2.
[2]
a. light «penetration» ✔
b. temperature ✔
c. wind ✔
d. fires ✔
Allow any two but mark only the first two if more are given in a list.
This question was based on a photograph showing small, isolated Eucalyptus forest fragments in New South Wales. Most candidates could state the abiotic effects that increased in a fragmented forest.
Explain the likely effects on biodiversity if a forest becomes fragmented.
[2]
a. reduction in diversity in fragmented forest as a whole ✔
b. greater diversity towards the edge ✔
c. new species appear/immigration of new/alien/invasive species ✔
d. local species decrease/emigrate
OR
unable to move between fragments ✔
e. faster species turnover than core forest ✔
Most candidates could state the abiotic effects that increased in a fragmented forest and were able to explain one effect of fragmentation on biodiversity. Few candidates gave an explanation in terms of the edge effect.
