A2 Biology Unit 4 Model Answers Flashcards
Effect of low temperature
enzymes work slowly due to having less kinetic energy therefore less movement and less successful collisions between active site and substrate leading to decreased formation of ES complexes
Effect of high temperature
enzymes are denatured - hydrogen bonds break, tertiary structure unfolds, active site changes shape and less ES complexes form.
Effects of increased light in an ecosystem
rate of photosynthesis increases as light intensity increases; plants grow faster and produce more spores/seeds; animal population that feeds on producers can grow larger.
Effects of pH
enzymes working in extremes of pH above and below the optimum can denature and tertiary structure unfolds leading to less ES complexes forming.
Effects of humidity
affects transpiration rate in plants and rate of evaporation in animals.
Why is it important that samples are collected at random? (1)
To avoid bias
Random sampling
Produce a grid and select co-ordinates using a random number generator.
Place a quadrat at the intersection of each pair of co-ordinates and record the species within it.
Record a mean and the scale up to the entire area.
How do you decide the number of quadrats to use in order to collect representative data? (4)
- large number of quadrats so results are more reliable (with repeats)
- enough to be able to carry out a statistical test (e.g. SR requires minimum of 7 pairs)
- not too many for the available time
- calculate a running mean which changes little when there are enough quadrats
What are the advantages of collecting plant data as percentage cover? (2)
Can be collected rapidly (1); no need to define individual plants (1)
What are the limitations of collecting plant data as percentage cover?
There may be “overhang” where the leaves of larger plants are outside of the quadrat area
Smaller plants may be difficult to count where overshadowed by larger plants.
Mark-release-recapture estimate of population size
• Capture large sample of organisms
• Mark with non toxic paint/ not too obvious to predators/won’t wash off
• Count and release
• Allow time to disperse throughout population (eg a week)
• Recapture large sample
• Count total and how many are marked
Population equation
Mark-Release-Recapture Population
N1 x N2/NM
N1 x N2/NM
N1 = total 1st time N2 = total 2nd time NM = marked and recaptured
Assumptions of mark-release-recapture techniques
- proportion of marked to unmarked in the second samples if equal to the proportion of marked to unmarked in the whole population
- marked individuals from first sample distribute themselves evenly with enough time to do so
- population has a boundary so no emigration/immigration
- few deaths and births
- method of marking does not make it more liable to predation
- mark is not lost during the investigation
Pattern of population growth curves
- period of slow growth as small numbers reproduce slowly (lag phase)
- period of rapid growth (exponential or log phase) – population doubles per unit of time
- period where population growth remains stable with cyclic fluctuations
Effect of predator-prey relationship on population size (6)
Predators eat prey and reduce the prey population (1); predators now in greater competition for food (1); predator population is reduced as some individuals cannot compete (1); fewer prey are eaten (1); prey population increases (1); more prey for food so predator population increases (1).
Remember that a predator-prey graph is often cyclical and that there is a time-lag between the pattern showed by the prey and that of the predator.
Factors affecting birth rates
Economic conditions; cultural backgrounds; social conditions; birth control; political factors.
Factors affecting death rates
Age profile; life expectancy at birth; food supply; effective sanitation; medical care; natural disasters; war.
Stable population pyramid
birth rate and death rate in balance; no increase or decrease in population size
Increasing population pyramid
high birth rate; gives a wider base to the pyramid; fewer older people; so narrower apex
Decreasing population pyramid
lower birth rate; so narrower base; more older people; wider apex
Information required to calculate growth of a population (2)
Births and deaths (1); numbers of emigrants and immigrants (1)
Why organisms need energy (1)
Metabolism; movement (energy for muscle contraction); active transport (to change shape of carrier proteins); cell division; production of enzymes and hormones (energy needed to form lysosomes for secretion); maintenance of internal body temperatures.
Flow of energy through an ecosystem (3)
Light energy converted to chemical energy during photosynthesis (1); organic molecules converted to ATP during respiration (1); ATP used by cells to perform useful work (1)
Roles of ATP (2
Energy released in smaller more manageable quantities (1); hydrolysis of ATP to ADP is a single-step reaction so releases immediate energy (1)
Adaptations of the leaf
Large surface area to absorb light (1); arrangement of leaves that avoids shadowing (1); thin so short diffusion pathway (1); transparent cuticle and epidermis to allow light through to mesophyll (1); lots of chloroplasts in upper mesophyll cells (1); numerous stomata for gas exchange (1); air spaces in lower mesophyll for rapid diffusion (1); network of xylem and phloem (1)
How NADP is reduced (2)
NADP accepts a hydrogen ion and electron (1) from photolysis/breakdown of water using light energy (1)
Describe how the light-dependent reactions produce ATP and reduced NADP
• chlorophyll absorbs light energy
• Electrons in chlorophyll are excited/energised by light energy/photons
• This increases the energy levels in the electrons
• Electrons move to an electron acceptor
• Electrons lose energy as they are passed from one electron carrier to the next along the electron transfer/transport chain (ETC)
• As electrons are passed along the ETC, ATP is formed from ADP+Pi using energy from electrons (PHOTOPHOSPHORYLATION)
• NADPH is formed when the electrons from the electron transfer chain and H+ from photolysis combine with NADP
• NADP+H+ + e- →NADPH
• The H+ and electron come from photolysis( to reduce NADP to NADPH)
• O2 is given off and the electrons (e-) replace those lost from chlorophyll
• Photolysis – the break down of water using light energy
H2O →2H+ + ½O2 +2e-
Adaptations of the chloroplast to the light-dependent reaction (4)
Thylakoid membrane provide a large surface area for the attachment of chlorophyll, enzymes and electron carriers (1); network of proteins hold chlorophyll in a position to absorb maximum amount of light (1); granal membranes have enzymes that help make ATP (1); chloroplasts have their own DNA and ribosomes to make proteins quickly (1).
Light-independent reaction
- Carbon dioxide joins with ribulose bisphosphate (RuBP) a 5 carbon compound. (This gives a unstable 6 carbon compound.)
- This quickly breaks down to 2 molecules of a 3 carbon compound glycerate 3-phosphate (GP)
- This reaction is catalysed by the enzyme ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase (RUBISCO)
- ATP from the light dependent reaction is used to provide energy for the reduction of GP into TP (Triose Phosphate)
- The reduction reaction needs H+/reducing power
- H+ are provided by reduced NADP (NADPH ) from the light dependent stage
- Two TP’s join to form hexose, whIch can combine to form starch and cellulose, 1 in every 6 TP molecules is used to make hexose
- TP regenerates RuBP and so the cycle continues, 5 in every 6 TP molecules form RuBP
- TP also forms amino acids, fatty acids, glycerol, DNA, RNA, glucose and starch
Describe how carbon in carbon dioxide becomes carbon in triose phosphate (5).
Carbon dioxide combines with RuBP (1); to make 2 x G3P (1); this is reduced to TP (1); which requires NADPH to provide the hydrogen for reduction (1); and energy from the breakdown of ATP (1)
Adaptations of the chloroplast to the light-independent reaction (3)
Fluid of stroma contains enzymes needed to carry out reduction of carbon dioxide (1); stroma fluid allows easy diffusion of products of light-dependent reaction into the stroma (1); contains DNA and ribosomes to make proteins quickly (1).
The true rate of photosynthesis is greater than simply the plant’s uptake of carbon dioxide, why? (1)
Some of the carbon dioxide produced in respiration is used in photosynthesis
How does an increase in carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere affect yield of grain? (3)
Causes in increase in rate of photosynthesis (1); therefore increases the amount of glucose (1) made, which increases growth rate (due to an increased rate of respiration and there ATP production) and yield; increase in carbon dioxide levels usually causes in increase in climate temperature, which would cause faster reaction rate (1) hence higher yield
How does the concentration of carbon dioxide in a forest change over time? (5)
- low carbon dioxide during day
- as plants are photosynthesizing and taking in carbon dioxide
- plants respire all the time but do not photosynthesise at night so carbon dioxide concentrations increase at night
- carbon dioxide levels are increased at the forest floor
- because ground level has less photosynthesizing tissue, less light and more respiring animals
Concept of limiting factors
refer to the graph showing rate of photosynthesis (y axis) plotted against carbon dioxide or light (x axis).
Don’t forget that limiting factors also apply to ecology
Limiting factors in ecology
(competition for food etc) and respiration. Limiting factors can include: carbon dioxide, oxygen, light, nitrates, ions, water, food, glucose.
Glycolysis
- Glucose is activated (PHOSPHORYLATED) by the addition of inorganic phosphorus
- Produced by the breakdown of ATP into ADP + Pi
- Glucose splits into 2 molecules of triose phosphate
- NAD co-enzyme accepts hydrogen from triose phosphate
- And becomes reduced
- Inorganic phosphorus is removed from triose phosphate to make pyruvate
- 4 molecules of ATP are produced by substrate level phosphorylation to give a net gain of 2 ATP per glucose molecule
Link Cycle
- pyruvate is oxidised to the 2C compound acetyl coA
- CO2 is released
- NAD accepts hydrogen from pyruvate and so is reduced