Hedgerows and arable fields form a patchwork rural landscape in Lincolnshire. Fig. 1 shows the route used by a school fieldwork group investigating whether ...
Question 1 Report
Hedgerows and arable fields form a patchwork rural landscape in Lincolnshire. Fig. 1 shows the route used by a school fieldwork group investigating whether a newly planted hedge creates a wildlife corridor between two small woods. They recorded birds, butterflies and hedge plant species at points along the route. The farm owner receives an environmental payment for maintaining the hedge but needs access for large machinery.
(a) Identify the landscape feature linking wood A and wood B. [1]
(b) Name one group of organisms recorded by the students. [1]
(c) Describe two reasons why the group used several sample points along the hedge. [4]
(d) Explain how a hedge can act as a wildlife corridor. [6]
(e) Describe three ways in which intensive arable farming could reduce the value of this hedge for wildlife. [6]
(f) What method should the students use to make their bird counts more reliable? Explain your answer. [7]
Answer Details
(a) The feature linking the woods is a hedgerow, or hedge. [1]
(b) One recorded group was birds. Butterflies and hedge plants are also valid. [1]
(c) Several points are needed because organisms are not evenly distributed. Samples represent different sections of hedge, reduce the effect of an unusual location, and allow means and comparisons to be calculated. Any two developed reasons. [4]
(d) A hedge provides continuous cover between woods, allowing animals to move without crossing exposed fields. It offers shelter from weather and predators, plus food such as berries and nectar. Animals can disperse to new habitats, helping maintain populations and gene flow. [6]
(e) Pesticide drift can kill insects or hedge plants, fertiliser runoff can alter hedge flora, and frequent cutting removes flowers, berries and nest sites. Ploughing close to roots or removing hedge bases for machinery access also damages cover. Any three developed impacts. [6]
(f) Use timed bird counts at the same fixed points, at the same time of day and season. Repeat counts on several days, use the same trained observer where possible, avoid rain and high winds, and record species and numbers consistently. Repeats permit a mean and reduce chance variation, making results more reliable. [7]
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