The table below shows plant cover measured along a transect from a woodland path into the woodland. Fig. 1 shows a student placing a quadrat beside the tape...
Question 1 Report
The table below shows plant cover measured along a transect from a woodland path into the woodland. Fig. 1 shows a student placing a quadrat beside the tape. The path is used by walkers and dogs. Trampling compacts the soil and can damage plant shoots. Each percentage is the mean cover from five quadrats of the same size.
| Distance from path / m | Mean plant cover / % |
|---|---|
| 0 | 12 |
| 2 | 35 |
| 5 | 68 |
| 10 | 74 |
(a) Describe the pattern in plant cover shown in Table 1. [2]
(b) Give one reason for using five quadrats at each distance. [1]
(c) What effect does trampling have on competition between plants near the path? [1]
The table below shows the percentage of snowshoe hares with brown or white fur at two times of year. Fig. 1 shows a hare in winter. In this region, foxes hunt hares by sight. Snow cover normally lasts from November to March, but recent warm years have shortened the period of snow cover.
| Month | Hares with white fur / % | Ground covered by snow / % |
|---|---|---|
| January | 96 | 92 |
| April | 38 | 21 |
| July | 2 | 0 |
(a) Describe the relationship between white fur and snow cover in Table 1. [2]
(b) Explain how white fur is an adaptation in January. [2]
(c) What may happen to a white hare on brown ground? [1]
Answer Details
Labelled answer diagram:
Woodland transect
- (a) Mean plant cover increases with distance from the path, rising from 12% at 0 m to 74% at 10 m. [2]
- (b) Using five quadrats allows a mean to be calculated and reduces the effect of anomalous results. [1]
- (c) Trampling damages plants, so they are less able to compete for resources such as light, space or water. [1]
Snowshoe hares
- (a) The percentage of hares with white fur and the percentage of ground covered by snow follow the same pattern: both are highest in January and decrease towards July. [2]
- (b) In January, white fur camouflages a hare against snow. Foxes are less likely to see and catch it, increasing its chance of survival. [2]
- (c) A white hare on brown ground is more visible to predators and is more likely to be eaten. [1]
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