DP Biology (first assessment 2025)

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Question 19N.2.SL.TZ0.c

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Date November 2019 Marks available [Maximum mark: 4] Reference code 19N.2.SL.TZ0.c
Level SL Paper 2 Time zone TZ0
Command term Discuss Question number c Adapted from N/A
c.
[Maximum mark: 4]
19N.2.SL.TZ0.c

A pyramid of energy represents the amount of energy taken in by each trophic level per unit time and per unit area. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the use of pyramids of energy as models of energy flow in an ecosystem.

[4]

Markscheme

Advantages:
a. can show the energy loss/transfer between trophic levels ✔

b. permits a ‹quantitative› comparison between ecosystems ✔

c. shows change over time ✔

Disadvantages:
d. are difficult to produce accurately ✔

e. require destructive methods to obtain the data ✔

f. do not show all the interactions/food chains/feeding relationships «between different members of the community» ✔

g. cannot represent organisms that feed at different trophic levels ✔

Award [3 max] if only one side of the argument is given.

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