Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCEWritten examination
Friday 11 November 2016 Reading time: 11.45 am to 12.00 noon (15 minutes) Writing time: 12.00 noon to 2.00 pm (2 hours)
QUESTION AND ANSWER BOOK
Structure of bookSection Number of
questionsNumber of questions
to be answeredNumber of
marks
A 30 30 30B 6 6 90
Total 120
• Studentsarepermittedtobringintotheexaminationroom:pens,pencils,highlighters,erasers,sharpeners,rulersandonescientificcalculator.
• StudentsareNOTpermittedtobringintotheexaminationroom:blanksheetsofpaperand/orcorrectionfluid/tape.
Materials supplied• Questionandanswerbookof28 pages.• Answersheetformultiple-choicequestions.Instructions• Writeyourstudent numberinthespaceprovidedaboveonthispage.• Checkthatyourname andstudent numberasprintedonyouranswersheetformultiple-choice
questionsarecorrect,andsignyournameinthespaceprovidedtoverifythis.• AllwrittenresponsesmustbeinEnglish.At the end of the examination• Placetheanswersheetformultiple-choicequestionsinsidethefrontcoverofthisbook.
Students are NOT permitted to bring mobile phones and/or any other unauthorised electronic devices into the examination room.
©VICTORIANCURRICULUMANDASSESSMENTAUTHORITY2016
SUPERVISOR TO ATTACH PROCESSING LABEL HEREVictorian Certificate of Education 2016
STUDENT NUMBER
Letter
2016ENVSCEXAM 2
do
no
t w
rit
e i
n t
his
ar
ea
do
no
t w
rit
e i
n t
his
ar
ea
SECTION A – continued
Question 1Whichoneofthefollowingisclassifiedasarenewableenergysource?A. oilB. nuclearC. naturalgasD. hydro-electricity
Question 2DamscollectingwaterintheSnowyMountainsareanimportantsourceofhydro-electricityinAustralia.Thewaterthatisstoredinthesedamsisreleasedtocreateelectricity.ThisisA. 100%energyefficient.B. convertingpotentialenergyintokineticenergy.C. convertingchemicalenergyintoelectricalenergy.D. convertingelectricalenergyintomechanicalenergy.
Question 3Theownersofalargepigfarmhavebuiltasystemtocollecttheanimalwaste,processthiswasteandcollectthemethanegasproduced.Themethanegasisthenburnttogenerateheatingforthefarmbuildings.ThissystemwouldbeclassifiedasusingaA. biomassenergysource.B. fossilfuelenergysource.C. naturalgasenergysource.D. non-renewableenergysource.
Question 4ThecombustionofmethanegaswouldbeclassifiedasanexothermicreactionbecauseA. heatisbeinggivenoff.B. theprocessishighlyenergyefficient.C. theenergyisbeingconvertedfromoneformtoanother.D. wastematerialisbeingusedinanecologicallysustainablemanner.
SECTION A – Multiple-choice questions
Instructions for Section AAnswerallquestionsinpencilontheanswersheetprovidedformultiple-choicequestions.Choosetheresponsethatiscorrectorthatbest answersthequestion.Acorrectanswerscores1;anincorrectanswerscores0.Markswillnotbedeductedforincorrectanswers.Nomarkswillbegivenifmorethanoneansweriscompletedforanyquestion.
3 2016ENVSCEXAM
do
no
t w
rit
e i
n t
his
ar
ea
do
no
t w
rit
e i
n t
his
ar
ea
SECTION A – continuedTURN OVER
Question 5Acompanymakesfront-loadingwashingmachines.Thesemachinesarebothmoreenergyefficientandmoreefficientintermsofwaterusagethanthecompany’stop-loadingmachines.ThisisenvironmentallyimportantbecauseA. consumerssavemoneyonboththeirelectricityandwaterbills.B. energy-efficientwashingmachinesreducetheneedtoproduceelectricity.C. machinesthatuselessenergyandwaterareabletocleanclothesmoreeffectively.D. energy-efficientwashingmachineshaveashorterlifespanthanlessefficientwashingmachines.
Question 6Washingmachinesareapproximately30%moreenergyefficientthantheywere25yearsago.Twenty-fiveyearsago,theaveragewashingmachineused650kWhperyear.Whatistheapproximateenergysavingperyear,inkilowatthours,ofanewwashingmachine?A. 163B. 195C. 216D. 455
Question 7Whatarethetwomaingasesthatcontributetothenaturalgreenhouseeffect?A. methaneandozoneB. carbondioxideandmethaneC. carbondioxideandwatervapourD. sulfurdioxideandcarbondioxide
Question 8Whatarethetwomaingasesproducedbyhumanactivitythatenhancethegreenhouseeffect?A. carbondioxideandozoneB. methaneandcarbondioxideC. carbondioxideandwatervapourD. carbondioxideandsulfurdioxide
2016ENVSCEXAM 4
do
no
t w
rit
e i
n t
his
ar
ea
do
no
t w
rit
e i
n t
his
ar
ea
SECTION A – continued
Use the following information to answer Questions 9 and 10.ThegraphbelowshowstheconcentrationofcarbondioxideinthelowerEarthatmospherefrom1940to1990.
370
360
350
340
330
320concentration of
carbon dioxide (CO2)in ppm
310
300
290
280
2701940 1950 1960
year1970 1980 1990
Change in atmospheric concentration of CO2 (1940–1990)
Question 9Thepercentageincreaseintheconcentrationofcarbondioxideintheloweratmospherebetween1940and1990isclosesttoA. 17%B. 20%C. 60%D. 120%
Question 10AmajorconsequenceofthisincreaseinconcentrationofcarbondioxideisA. anincreasedamountofultravioletenergyreachingEarth’ssurface.B. adecreasedamountofvisiblelightenergyreachingEarth’ssurfacefromthesun.C. anincreasedamountofre-radiatedvisiblelightenergybeingabsorbedintheloweratmosphere.D. anincreasedamountofre-radiatedinfra-redenergybeingabsorbedintheloweratmosphere.
Question 11TheaveragetemperatureofEarth’ssurfaceislargelydeterminedbytheA. balancebetweenincomingandoutgoinginfra-redenergy.B. excessofincominginfra-redenergyoveroutgoingvisiblelightenergy.C. balancebetweenincomingultravioletenergyandoutgoinginfra-redenergy.D. balancebetweenincomingvisiblelightenergyandoutgoinginfra-redenergy.
5 2016ENVSCEXAM
do
no
t w
rit
e i
n t
his
ar
ea
do
no
t w
rit
e i
n t
his
ar
ea
SECTION A – continuedTURN OVER
Question 12Australia’s2011StateoftheEnvironmentreportdeclares,‘Researchintothehealtheffectsofparticlesandozone,alongwithpollutantssuchassulfurdioxide,indicatesthatthereisnothresholdlevelbelowwhichtheyhavenohealtheffect’.ThisstatementmeansthatA. thereisasafeminimumlevelforthesepollutants.B. evenlowconcentrationsofthesepollutantscanaffectpeople’shealth.C. highconcentrationsofthesepollutantsarehazardous.D. somepeoplecantoleratelargeexposuretothesepollutants.
Question 13EmissionofmercuryanditscompoundsintoAustraliancreeks,riversandlakesin2001was127kgandin2004itwas92kg.Thepercentagechangeinemissionsfrom2001to2004wasA. –38%B. –28%C. 38%D. 62%
Question 14WhichofthefollowingisasignificantsourceofairbornemercurypollutioninAustralia?A. aluminiumsmeltingB. hydro-electricpowerstationsC. naturalrockoresinthegroundD. sedimentatthebottomoflakesandtheocean
Question 15ThemainreasonthatscientistsmonitoremissionsofmercuryanditscompoundsisthatthesesubstancesareA. toxic.B. acute.C. chemicals.D. valuable.
Question 16Mercurybioaccumulatesthroughaquaticfoodchains.Whichoneofthefollowingrepresentsevidenceofmercurybioaccumulation?A. extensivepoisoningoffishinanecosystemB. thetotalmassoffishinanecosystemincreasingasthemercuryemissionsincreaseC. thetotalmassofmercuryinfishinalakebeinglessthanthemassofmercuryintheplantsinthelakeD. predatoryfishcontaining5mgofmercuryperkilogramofbodyweight,withthefishtheyeatcontaining
1mgofmercuryperkilogramofbodyweight
2016ENVSCEXAM 6
do
no
t w
rit
e i
n t
his
ar
ea
do
no
t w
rit
e i
n t
his
ar
ea
SECTION A – continued
Question 17MajornaturaltransportmechanismsformercuryoritscompoundsareA. roads,rivers,lakesandwind.B. wind,rain,lightningandrivers.C. sea,waves,plantgrowthandsalt.D. rivers,wind,rainandwatermovementthroughsoil.
Question 18Ratscaneatlargeamountsofcryoliteoncewithlittleornoharmfuleffects.However,ratsthateatsmallamountsofcryoliteeverydaybecomeillanddie.Whichtypeoftoxicityiscryolitecausinginthisexample?A. acuteB. chronicC. persistentD. synergistic
Question 19Whichoneofthefollowingisadiffusesourceofpollution?A. apipeB. acityC. ashipD. achimney
Question 20AnanimalpopulationismorelikelytosufferthedamagingeffectsofinbreedingwhenA. geneticdriftishigh.B. geneticdiversityislow.C. geneticswampinghasoccurred.D. geneticallydifferentindividualsmate.
Use the following information to answer Questions 21–23.Pachypodiumisagenusofspine-bearingtreesandshrubsthatisnativetoMadagascarandAfrica.AllspeciesofPachypodiumareprotectedundertheConventiononInternationalTradeinEndangeredSpecies(CITES).Manyspeciesaregrowninspecialisednurseriesforsaletocollectorsofrareplants.SomeofthesenurseriesusetheMonkSkipperButterflytomovebetweenPachypodiumflowersinordertoimitatethenaturalreproductivemechanismofthetreesintheirnativehabitat.
Question 21ThemainobjectiveofCITESistoA. protectendangeredanimalsandplants.B. bantheimportationofnon-nativespecies.C. ensureafairpriceispaidwhentradingendangeredspecies.D. supportthemonitoringofendangeredplantsandanimalsintheirhabitat.
7 2016ENVSCEXAM
do
no
t w
rit
e i
n t
his
ar
ea
do
no
t w
rit
e i
n t
his
ar
ea
SECTION A – continuedTURN OVER
Question 22TheMonkSkipperButterflyisA. apollinatorofspeciesofPachypodium.B. apredatorofspeciesofPachypodium.C. damagingthePachypodiumflowersbyfeedingonthem.D. contributingtogeneticswampingofspeciesofPachypodium.
Question 23ThereproductionofspeciesofPachypodiuminnurseriesA. stopsthepurchaseofthesespeciesbycollectors.B. lowersspeciesdiversityinthenaturalhabitat.C. reducesthechanceofextinctionofthespecies.D. causesareductioninpopulationsizeinthewild.
Question 24Anenvironmentalmanagementplanwasputinplaceduringtheconstructionofatouristresort.Theplanincludedmaintenanceofnativegrasslands.Thesegrasslandsarefoundinthemiddleofthedevelopmentandlinksurroundinghabitats.ThesegrasslandsarebestdescribedasA. regulatoryframeworks.B. remnantvegetationprovidingawildlifecorridor.C. humaninterventionreducingecosystemdiversity.D. habitatmodificationcausinglossofendangeredspecies.
Question 25AsmallpopulationofthemarsupialKakaduDunnartwasfoundinKakaduNationalParkin1980andremainstheonlyidentifiedpopulationintheworld.TheKakaduDunnartisA. anexoticspecies.B. non-nativetoAustralia.C. endemictotheKakaduregion.D. foundinanurbanenvironment.
Question 26Coralreefsplayavitalroleintropicalwatersaroundtheplanet.Theyareimportantbreedinggroundsforfishandothermarinespecies.Theyalsoprotectcoastlinesfromstormerosionandremovecarbondioxidefromtheatmosphere.TheseactionswouldbestbedescribedasA. socialbenefits.B. ecosystemservices.C. biodiversityresources.D. transportmechanisms.
2016ENVSCEXAM 8
do
no
t w
rit
e i
n t
his
ar
ea
do
no
t w
rit
e i
n t
his
ar
ea
END OF SECTION A
Question 27TheAfricanDwarfCrocodileisaspeciesfoundinswampsandrainforestriversinwesternAfrica.Thecrocodilehasbeenhuntedasafoodsourceandcontinualdeforestationiscausingalossofitshabitat.Ifthesethreateningprocessescontinue,thespeciesisthoughttobeatahighriskofextinctioninthemedium-termfuture.Whichoneofthefollowingconservationcategorieswouldbestbeusedtoclassifythespeciesatpresent?A. extinctB. vulnerableC. criticalD. endangered
Question 28Fivedifferentthreatenedspeciesexistonlyinonelocation–averylarge,undisturbed,foresthabitat.ThemosteffectivemethodofconservingthesespecieswouldbetoA. protecttheforesthabitatthroughlegislationbycreatinganationalpark.B. monitorthesespeciesusingavarietyofscientificdatacollectiontechniques.C. capturethreeorfourindividualsfromeachofthesespeciesandsetupcaptivebreedingprogramsinazoo.D. listallfiveofthethreatenedspeciesunderCITES.
Use the following information to answer Questions 29 and 30.AnevaluationofaformerfactorysitebytheEnvironmentProtectionAuthorityhasidentifiedsoilthatiscontaminatedwithheavymetalsonpartofthesiteandanumberofotherenvironmentalconcernsregardingwaterquality.
Question 29ThisevaluationwouldberegardedasA. alife-cycleassessment.B. abioremediationproject.C. anenvironmentalriskassessment.D. anecologicallysustainabledevelopment.
Question 30TheEnvironmentProtectionAuthorityoutlinesanumberofguidelinesregardingtheremovaloftoxicsoilandprotectionofgroundwater.Theseguidelinesmustbefollowedinorderforthedevelopmentoftheformerfactorysitetobelegallyallowedtoproceed.TheseguidelineswouldberegardedasA. partoftheregulatoryframeworkforenvironmentalprojects.B. partoftheprecautionaryprinciplethatneedstobefollowed.C. awayofincludingallrelevantstakeholdersintheenvironmentalmanagementprocess.D. somethingthatgovernmentdepartmentsshoulddotoremindpeopleoftheimportanceofenvironmentalhealth
andsafety.
9 2016ENVSCEXAM
do
no
t w
rit
e i
n t
his
ar
ea
do
no
t w
rit
e i
n t
his
ar
ea
TURN OVER
CONTINUES OVER PAGE
2016ENVSCEXAM 10
do
no
t w
rit
e i
n t
his
ar
ea
do
no
t w
rit
e i
n t
his
ar
ea
SECTION B – Question 1 –continued
Question 1 (16marks)Alarge-scalewindfarmhasrecentlybeendevelopedneararegionofaround105000people.The120windturbinesonthefarmsupplytheregionwith190MWofelectricity,whichisapproximately15%oftheregion’selectricityrequirements.Inthepast,theregionhasbeenreliantonafossilfuelpowerstationforitselectricitysupply.
Nominateafossilfuelandanon-fossilfuelenergysourcethatyouhavestudied.
Fossilfuelenergysource
Non-fossilfuelenergysource
a. Onereasonfortheconstructionofthewindfarmwastheregionalgovernment’sconcernabouttheimpactoffossilfuelextraction.
Describetwoenvironmentalimpactsthatcanresultfromtheextractionofyournominatedfossilfuel. 2marks
b. Identifythekeystepsintheprocessofenergyconversionfromthesourceofyournominatedfossilfueltothesupplyofelectricityintheregion. 3marks
SECTION B
Instructions for Section BAnswerall questionsinthespacesprovided.Writeusingblueorblackpen.
11 2016ENVSCEXAM
do
no
t w
rit
e i
n t
his
ar
ea
do
no
t w
rit
e i
n t
his
ar
ea
SECTION B – Question 1–continuedTURN OVER
c. Emissionstradinghasbeensuggestedasanoptionforreducingtheamountofgreenhousegasesbeingemitted.
Explainthekeystepsofanemissionstradingsystemthatcouldbeusedtoencourageareductioninemissionsfromthefossilfuelpowerstation. 4marks
d. Thereareplansfortheregiontoincreaseitssupplyofnon-fossilenergyfrom15%to75%ofthetotalelectricityrequirements.
Explaintwobenefitsofthisproposal. 3marks
2016ENVSCEXAM 12
do
no
t w
rit
e i
n t
his
ar
ea
do
no
t w
rit
e i
n t
his
ar
ea
SECTION B – continued
e. i. Describethechallengesthatpeakandoff-peakenergydemandscreateforyournominated non-fossilenergysource. 2marks
ii. Explainhowoneofthechallengesdescribedinpart e.i.couldbeovercometoallowfortheconsistentgenerationofelectricityneedsbyyournominatednon-fossilenergysource. 2marks
13 2016ENVSCEXAM
do
no
t w
rit
e i
n t
his
ar
ea
do
no
t w
rit
e i
n t
his
ar
ea
SECTION B – continuedTURN OVER
CONTINUES OVER PAGE
2016ENVSCEXAM 14
do
no
t w
rit
e i
n t
his
ar
ea
do
no
t w
rit
e i
n t
his
ar
ea
SECTION B – Question 2–continued
Question 2 (12marks)Figure1showsEarth,thesunandpartsofEarth’satmosphere.
R
P
Q
S
indicates not absorbed
indicates beinggradually absorbed
sun Key
deep space
upper limit ofEarth’s atmosphere
stratosphere
troposphere
Earth’s surface
Figure 1
a. Inthetablebelow,indicatewhichtypeofradiation–‘infra-red’,‘visible’or‘ultraviolet’–bestfitseachofthelinesP,Q,RandS. 4marks
Line Radiation type
P
Q
R
S
15 2016ENVSCEXAM
do
no
t w
rit
e i
n t
his
ar
ea
do
no
t w
rit
e i
n t
his
ar
ea
SECTION B – continuedTURN OVER
b. Outlinethedifferencebetweenthenaturalandenhancedgreenhouseeffects.Foreachtypeofgreenhouseeffect,includeitsmajorcauseandtheconsequenceforhumans. 4marks
Nominateafossilfuelenergysourcethatyouhavestudied.
c. Describeaprocessofusingyournominatedfossilfuelenergysourceandhowthishasanimpactontheenhancedgreenhouseeffect. 2marks
d. Outlineastrategythatwillallowforthecontinueduseofyournominatedfossilfuelenergysourcebutstillreduceitsenvironmentalimpact. 2marks
2016ENVSCEXAM 16
do
no
t w
rit
e i
n t
his
ar
ea
do
no
t w
rit
e i
n t
his
ar
ea
SECTION B – Question 3–continued
Question 3 (17marks)Alargeoresmelterprocesseslead,zincandcopperores.Peoplelivingnearthesmelterareconcernedaboutemissionsofsulfurdioxideandleadfromthesmelter’slargechimney.Thegovernmentdecidestoestablishanairqualitymonitoringstation.Thenationalstandardforsulfurdioxideemissionsisamaximumconcentrationof200partsperbillionaveragedoveranhour.Thefollowingtablelistshourlysulfurdioxideemissionconcentrationsmeasuredatthemonitoringstationonadaywhenthesmelteroperatedataconstantratefrom6amto3pm.Thesmeltershutsdownat3pm.
Time Hourly sulfur dioxide concentration (parts per billion)
6am 20
7am 40
8am 80
9am 120
10am 160
11am 60
12noon 40
1pm 100
2pm 140
3pm 140
4pm 40
5pm 40
a. Describeoneharmfuleffectofexposuretosulfurdioxide. 2marks
17 2016ENVSCEXAM
do
no
t w
rit
e i
n t
his
ar
ea
do
no
t w
rit
e i
n t
his
ar
ea
SECTION B – Question 3–continuedTURN OVER
b. Isthesmelterapointordiffusesourceofpollution?Explainyouranswer. 2marks
c. Explaintwofactorsthatthegovernmentwouldhaveconsideredwhendecidingwheretoplacethemonitoringstation. 3marks
2016ENVSCEXAM 18
do
no
t w
rit
e i
n t
his
ar
ea
do
no
t w
rit
e i
n t
his
ar
ea
SECTION B – Question 3–continued
d. i. Drawagraphofhourlysulfurdioxideconcentration(ontheverticalaxis)versustimeofday(onthehorizontalaxis)onthegridprovidedbelow.Includeasuitabletitle,labeltheaxesandincludesuitablescales. 4marks
ii. Addtothegraphalabelledlineshowingthenationalstandardfortheone-hoursulfurdioxideaverage. 1mark
Title
19 2016ENVSCEXAM
do
no
t w
rit
e i
n t
his
ar
ea
do
no
t w
rit
e i
n t
his
ar
ea
SECTION B – continuedTURN OVER
e. Explaintworeasonsforthedropinmonitoredsulfurdioxideconcentrationsfrom10amto 12noon. 3marks
f. Explainwhythemonitoredsulfurdioxideconcentrationsneverreachzero,evenwhenthesmelterisnotoperating. 2marks
2016ENVSCEXAM 20
do
no
t w
rit
e i
n t
his
ar
ea
do
no
t w
rit
e i
n t
his
ar
ea
SECTION B – Question 4–continued
Question 4 (14marks)Thegiantclam(Tridacna gigas)isalargesessile(attachedtotheground)shellfishfoundincoralreefhabitats,includingtheGreatBarrierReefofAustralia.Visitorstotheareaadmirethestrikingbluecolourandimpressivesizeoftheclams,whichcangrowupto1.2mandweighupto200kg.Duringreproduction,eachgiantclamreleaseseggsandspermintothewater,whicharecarriedinthecurrenttobefertilised.Youngclamsundergoagrowthstageinopenwaterbeforesettlingandattachingtosandorcoralrubble.Theexcesseggscanbeconsumedbyfishthatareconsideredtobe‘opportunisticfeeders’.Thegiantclamfeedsbyallowingalargevarietyofanimalandplantmattertofloatintoitslarge‘mouth’opening.Inthisway,theclamactsasawaterfilter.Theclamalsogainsadependablesourceoffoodfromthewasteproductsofasymbiontalgaespeciesthatlivesontheclam’sinternaltissues.Thealgaearephotosynthetic,requiringlighttogrow.Thegiantclam islistedasvulnerablebytheInternationalUnionforConservationofNatureandoverexploitationbyhumanshascauseditsprobableextinctioninseveralcountries.Therehasalsobeenareductionindiversityandabundanceofotherspeciesinthecoralreefsthatarehometotheclam.
a. Explainwhythealgaecanbetermeda‘symbiont’ofthegiantclam. 2marks
b. Describetwohumanactivitiesthatcouldbeathreattothegiantclamandexplainhoweachwouldhaveanimpactonthespecies. 4marks
21 2016ENVSCEXAM
do
no
t w
rit
e i
n t
his
ar
ea
do
no
t w
rit
e i
n t
his
ar
ea
SECTION B – continuedTURN OVER
c. Explainhowareductionindiversityand/orabundanceofotherspeciesmighthaveanegativeimpactonthegiantclam. 2marks
d. AnextensiveanddiversecoralreefhasrecentlybeenidentifiednearWilsonsPromontoryMarineParkandunderwatercamerasarebeingusedtosearchforsignsofendangeredspeciesinthisarea.
Ifthegiantclamweretobefoundhere,outlinewhyitshouldbeincludedonthethreatenedlistoftheFlora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988. 2marks
e. DescribetwomanagementactionsthatmightbedetailedintheFlora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 ActionStatementforthegiantclam. 4marks
2016ENVSCEXAM 22
do
no
t w
rit
e i
n t
his
ar
ea
do
no
t w
rit
e i
n t
his
ar
ea
SECTION B – Question 5–continued
Question 5 (15marks)Ascientist,Sophie,conductsascientificsurveyofdifferentspeciesofgliderpossumsintheCentralHighlandsofVictoria.Shesamplesthreerandomareasofequalsizeandherfindingsareshowninthetablebelow.
Species Conservation status
Area X Area Y Area Z
SugarGlider notthreatened 30 60 10
Feather-tailGlider notthreatened 20 20 10
GreaterGlider endangered 10 0 0
Yellow-belliedGlider vulnerable 20 20 5
SquirrelGlider vulnerable 20 0 5
a. Inwhichofthethreeareas,X,YorZ,wasthelowestspeciesrichnessobserved?Explainyouranswer,makingclearthemeaningoftheterm‘speciesrichness’. 3marks
23 2016ENVSCEXAM
do
no
t w
rit
e i
n t
his
ar
ea
do
no
t w
rit
e i
n t
his
ar
ea
SECTION B – Question 5–continuedTURN OVER
b. Anotherscientist,Thanh,looksatSophie’sdata.HestatesthatAreaZhastheleastbiodiversityasithastheleastnumberofindividuals.
IsThanh’sviewofbiodiversitycorrect?Explainyouranswer. 3marks
c. ExplainwhySophiechosetosamplethreerandomareasthatwereofequalsize. 2marks
2016ENVSCEXAM 24
do
no
t w
rit
e i
n t
his
ar
ea
do
no
t w
rit
e i
n t
his
ar
ea
SECTION B – Question 5–continued
SophieusesSimpson’sIndexofspeciesdiversity(biodiversity),D,toevaluatethethreeareas.Simpson’sIndexisdefinedasfollows.
D=1–(p12 + p2
2 + p32 + … + pn2),wheretherearedifferentspeciesinthearea
where p1 =number of individuals of Species 1 in an area
total numbeer of individuals in area
ThehigherthevalueofD,thegreaterthebiodiversity(speciesdiversity).ThecalculationforAreaXisshownbelow.
Species Number of individuals of
this species
p = number of individuals of this speciestotal number of indiividuals in area
p2
SugarGlider 30 p=30/100=0.30 0.09
Feather-tailGlider 20 p=20/100=0.20 0.04
GreaterGlider 10 p=10/100=0.10 0.01
Yellow-belliedGlider 20 p =20/100=0.20 0.04
SquirrelGlider 20 p=20/100=0.20 0.04
totalnumberofindividuals=100 sumofp2=0.09+0.04+0.01+0.04+0.04=0.22
Simpson’sIndexforAreaX=1–sumofp2 =1–0.22=0.78
SophiealsocalculatesDforAreaZandD=0.72
d. UsethetablebelowtocalculateSimpson’sIndexforAreaY. 3marks
Species Number of individuals of
this species
p = number of individuals of this speciestotal number of indiividuals in area
p2
SugarGlider 60
Feather-tailGlider 20
GreaterGlider 0
Yellow-belliedGlider 20
SquirrelGlider 0
totalnumberofindividuals= sumofp2 =
Simpson’sIndex=1–sumofp2 =
25 2016ENVSCEXAM
do
no
t w
rit
e i
n t
his
ar
ea
do
no
t w
rit
e i
n t
his
ar
ea
SECTION B – continuedTURN OVER
e. Whichareahasthegreatestspeciesdiversity?Explainyouranswer,makingclearthemeaningoftheterm‘speciesdiversity’. 3marks
f. Scientistsusethreeconservationcategoriestoclassifythedegreeofrisktothreatenedspecies.
Listthesecategoriesinorderofhighestriskofextinctiontolowest. 1mark
Highestrisk
Middlerisk
Lowestrisk
2016ENVSCEXAM 26
do
no
t w
rit
e i
n t
his
ar
ea
do
no
t w
rit
e i
n t
his
ar
ea
SECTION B – Question 6–continued
Question 6 (16marks)Aproposalhasbeendevelopedtoconstructabridgefromarapidlygrowingcoastaltownonthemainlandtoanearbyisland.Currently,theonlylinktothemainlandisasmallferryboatthatrunstwiceaweek.Mostoftheislandisuntouchedbushland.Thecoastalregionisalreadypopularwithtouristsanddeveloperswanttobuildmorehousesontheisland.Thebuildingofthebridgewouldallowanumberofhousingdevelopmentstogoahead.Theintentionisforallbuildingstouserenewableenergyformsforalltheirenergyrequirements,be largelybuiltofrecycledmaterialsandbehighlyenergyefficient,bothduringconstructionandoperation. Allbuildingswillincludeapplianceswithfive-starenergyratings,light-emittingdiode(LED)lightingand solarwater-heatingsystems.Theislandhasapermanentpopulationof350people,butifthehousingdevelopmentsgoahead,thenumberofpermanentresidentswillrisetoaround5000.Thisnumberwillincreasebyanextra2000overthesummerholidayperiod.Thesouthernendoftheislandincludesalargesaltmarshandtidalflatsareathatisahabitatforalargeseabirdcolonywithover25differentspecies,includingsomemigratoryspecies.TheimportanceofthiscoastalsitehasmeantthatitisdeclaredundertheRamsarConvention.Atpresent,theislandhasnoferalanimalssuchasfoxes,cats,ratsorrabbits.Anearbyislandwithsimilarenvironmentalcharacteristicswasstudiedbyscientistsbeforeandafterbeinginvadedbyrabbitsandrats.Thestudyshowedasignificantdecreaseinthenativewildlife,especiallyreptiles,smallmammalsandseabirds.The‘FriendsoftheIsland’environmentalgrouphasjoinedwiththelocalrecreationalfishinggrouptoopposetheplan.Theyhaveconcernsabouttheimpactofbuildingthebridgeonfishinggrounds,abouttheincreasingpopulationnumbershavinganimpactontheisland’shabitatandaboutthepossibledisposaloftreatedsewageintothemarineenvironment.Theenvironmentalgrouphascollectedover1000signaturesonapetitionagainstthebridgeandhousingdevelopments,andplanstoholdanumberofprotestmeetings.
a. Thehousingdevelopersarguethattheplanstomaketheislandtotallyreliantonrenewableenergyformsandbuildenergy-efficienthousingwouldmeanthatthewholebridgeandhousingdevelopmentshouldberegardedasanecologicallysustainabledevelopment.
Evaluatethisclaimusingtwoprinciplesofecologicallysustainabledevelopment. 4marks
27 2016ENVSCEXAM
do
no
t w
rit
e i
n t
his
ar
ea
do
no
t w
rit
e i
n t
his
ar
ea
SECTION B – Question 6–continuedTURN OVER
b. ExplainwhythesouthernendoftheislandhasbeendeclaredaprotectedsiteundertheRamsarConvention. 2marks
c. UndertheRamsarConvention,anyactionthatwillhave,orislikelytohave,asignificantimpactontheecologicalcharacterofadesignatedRamsarsitemustbereferredtotheFederalMinisterfortheEnvironment.Inthiscase,theministerdeterminesthatanenvironmentalimpactassessmentneedstobeprepared.
Describetwostepsintheenvironmentalimpactassessmentprocessthatshouldbefollowed. 3marks
d. Whatroleshouldthelocalenvironmentalgroupandtheexistingresidentsoftheislandplayintheenvironmentalimpactassessmentprocess? 2marks
2016ENVSCEXAM 28
do
no
t w
rit
e i
n t
his
ar
ea
e. Describekeyargumentsforandagainsttheplanneddevelopmentoftheisland.Usingthesepoints,clearlymakearecommendationaboutwhetherthebridgeandhousingdevelopmentsshouldbeallowedtoproceed. 5marks
END OF QUESTION AND ANSWER BOOK
