TEST OF PRACTICAL KNOWLEDGE QUESTION Study specimens L, M and N carefully and use them to answer questions 4(a) to 4(c). (a)(i) State the habitats of specim...

(a)(i) Habitats

• L (grass): grassland, farmland or garden.
• M (grasshopper): grassland, farmland, garden or field.
• N (saprophytic fungus): moist or damp soil, decaying wood, decaying tree trunks, pastures or meadows.

(a)(ii) Modes of nutrition

• L: autotrophic, holophytic or photosynthetic nutrition.
• M: heterotrophic, holozoic nutrition.
• N: saprophytic nutrition.

(a)(iii) Adaptations to feeding

• Specimen L: It has broad green leaves containing chlorophyll for trapping sunlight during photosynthesis. Its roots absorb water and mineral salts needed for food manufacture.
• Specimen M: It possesses strong biting and chewing mouthparts, especially the mandibles and maxillae, for cutting and chewing grass and other plant materials.

(b)(i) Relationship among L, M and N

Specimen L is a producer and provides food, as well as shelter, for specimen M. Specimen M feeds on specimen L. When L and M die, specimen N decomposes their remains. The decomposition releases mineral nutrients into the soil for use by L. Thus, the specimens are linked in a food chain and nutrient cycle.

(b)(ii) Economic importance of specimen M

1. It is edible and may serve as a source of food and income.
2. It is a crop pest that destroys plants and reduces crop yield.

(b)(iii) Control of specimen M

Control it by spraying the affected crops with a suitable insecticide or pesticide.

(c) Labelled drawing of specimen M

Title: Grasshopper

A full lateral-view drawing, 8 cm to 10 cm long, carries the following labels: antenna, compound eye, head, mandible, thorax, fore wing (tegmen), hind wing, fore leg, middle leg, enlarged hind femur, hind tibia, tarsus, spiracles, segmented abdomen and ovipositor.