CIE A Level Biology
CIE A Level Biology Topic 18: Classification, Biodiversity and Conservation Exam Questions
Free CIE A Level Biology exam questions for Topic 18: Classification, Biodiversity and Conservation, with a mark scheme for every pack. Covers three domains and four kingdoms, classification of viruses, biodiversity, sampling methods, Simpson's index, correlation, conservation and the threats to species.
Topic 18: Classification, Biodiversity and Conservation exam questions
1 question pack of real past exam questions, each with its mark scheme. Do not stop after a few: answer as many as you can without notes, then mark every answer with the mark scheme. The more questions you do, the more quickly you will spot how examiners ask about each idea.
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About CIE A Level Biology Topic 18: Classification, Biodiversity and Conservation
This topic in the Cambridge 9700 syllabus covers how organisms are classified, how biodiversity is measured and why it needs protecting. You need to know the taxonomic hierarchy, the three domains (Archaea, Bacteria and Eukarya), the features of the eukaryotic kingdoms and how viruses are classified by their nucleic acid. Biodiversity is studied at the level of ecosystems, species and genetic variation, using quadrats, transects and mark-release-recapture, Simpson's index of diversity and correlation tests such as Spearman's rank and Pearson's. Conservation covers threats to biodiversity and methods including protected areas, zoos, botanic gardens, seed banks, assisted reproduction and international agreements such as CITES.
What you need to know
- Classification Taxonomic ranks: domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, species. The three domains are Archaea, Bacteria and Eukarya; Eukarya contains the kingdoms Protoctista, Fungi, Plantae and Animalia.
- Viruses Viruses are not in any domain. They are classified by their nucleic acid: DNA or RNA, single or double stranded.
- Biodiversity Biodiversity includes the variety of ecosystems, species diversity (species richness and evenness) and genetic diversity within species.
- Sampling Use random quadrats for even areas and line or belt transects where conditions change. Estimate animal populations with mark-release-recapture: N = (n1 x n2) / m2.
- Statistics Simpson's index D = 1 - sum of (n/N)^2, where values near 1 mean high diversity. Use Spearman's rank or Pearson's correlation to test for a relationship between two variables.
- Conservation Threats include habitat loss, overexploitation, pollution, climate change and invasive species. Methods include national parks, marine reserves, zoos, botanic gardens, frozen zoos, seed banks, IVF and embryo transfer, culling, and CITES agreements.
Common mistakes in Topic 18: Classification, Biodiversity and Conservation
- Placing viruses in the Bacteria domain; viruses are non-cellular and are not classified in any domain.
- Thinking species richness alone measures biodiversity; evenness of numbers matters too.
- Using a correlation to claim one variable causes the other; correlation does not show causation.
- Forgetting the assumptions of mark-release-recapture, such as no migration and marks not affecting survival.
- Saying a Simpson's index of 0 means high diversity; values close to 1 indicate high diversity with this formula.
Try three Topic 18: Classification, Biodiversity and Conservation exam-style questions
1. A sample contained three species with 10, 6 and 4 individuals. Calculate Simpson's index of diversity using D = 1 - sum of (n/N)^2. (3 marks)
Show the mark scheme answer
N = 20; (0.5^2 + 0.3^2 + 0.2^2) = 0.25 + 0.09 + 0.04 = 0.38; D = 1 - 0.38 = 0.62.
2. State the three domains and one feature that distinguishes Archaea from Bacteria. (3 marks)
Show the mark scheme answer
Archaea, Bacteria and Eukarya; Archaea have no peptidoglycan in their cell walls (or have membrane lipids with ether bonds).
3. Explain how seed banks help to conserve plant species. (3 marks)
Show the mark scheme answer
Seeds are dried and stored at low temperature so they remain viable for long periods; preserves genetic diversity; seeds can be used to reintroduce species to the wild if populations decline.
Topic 18: Classification, Biodiversity and Conservation FAQs
What does Cambridge International A Level Biology Topic 18 Classification, biodiversity and conservation cover?
It covers the taxonomic hierarchy, three domains, kingdoms and viruses, measuring biodiversity with sampling and statistics, and methods of conservation.
Which paper is Classification, biodiversity and conservation examined in?
It is A Level content, assessed mainly in Paper 4 (A Level structured questions). Paper 5 (planning, analysis and evaluation) can also use contexts from this topic.
Which statistical tests do I need for this topic?
You need Simpson's index of diversity, Spearman's rank correlation and Pearson's correlation coefficient, and you must know when each is appropriate.
