A conservation volunteer surveyed organisms growing on a damp stone wall beside a stream. Fig. 1 shows three of the organisms photographed during the survey...
Question 1 Report
A conservation volunteer surveyed organisms growing on a damp stone wall beside a stream. Fig. 1 shows three of the organisms photographed during the survey. The volunteer wants to record the variety of plants and fungi accurately, because the wall may be repaired next year. The structures shown help to place the organisms in different groups.
(a) Name the group of each organism labelled X, Y and Z. [3]
(b) Describe three features that distinguish the organism labelled X from the organism labelled Y. [3]
(c) Explain how the organism labelled Z obtains its food. [3]
(d) Describe how a student could collect a fair sample of the organisms on different parts of the wall. [3]
Answer Details
(a) X is a fern, Y is a moss, and Z is a fungus. [3]
(b) Fern X has larger divided leaves called fronds, vascular tissue, and roots. Moss Y lacks vascular tissue and has rhizoids rather than roots. Fern spores occur in clusters on fronds, whereas moss spores are formed in capsules on stalks. Any three valid comparisons earn credit. [3]
(c) Fungus Z secretes enzymes onto organic material. Digestion happens outside the fungal cells, and the hyphae absorb the resulting soluble products. [3]
(d) Place quadrats at randomly selected positions on each part of the wall. Use quadrats with the same area throughout. Count each organism or estimate its percentage cover, and repeat at several positions to obtain a fairer sample. [3]
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