Biology Matters G.C.E.

'O' Level (2nd Edition): Textbook Answers Chapter 22

Chapter 22 Our Impact on the Ecosystem

Test Yourself 22.1 (page 438)

1. (a) Deforestation removes trees (producers). With trees removed, rainwater runs off
and is not as easily absorbed by surrounding vegetation. Topsoil is easily eroded
by rainwater and as a result, herbs and grasses may also be washed away. With
topsoil eroded, land becomes barren and plants cannot grow in the soil. The
number of producers in the community decreases permanently.
(b) As the number of producers decreases, the number of consumers, especially
herbivores, decreases due to reduced food supply. Organisms that depended on
trees and plants for their habitat will also show decreases in population.
(c) As the number of producers decreases, less carbon dioxide is absorbed and
converted to carbohydrates in photosynthesis and less oxygen is given out as a
result. The carbon cycle is disrupted.

2. Young fish that are caught will not have a chance to grow and reproduce while
marine organisms that are unintentionally caught often do not survive. Hence,
populations of organisms will decrease and eventually some species may become
endangered or even extinct. This reduces the biodiversity (number of species) living
in the coral reef community.

3. Refer to ‘Sewage treatment via environmental biotechnology’ in Section 22.1.

Test Yourself 22.2 (page 442)

1. The effects of many organisms on the ecosystem are yet unknown. Loss of species
could greatly upset the ecological balance. Biodiversity is also a valuable natural
resource. Many organisms that have not yet been studied may be potentially of great
economic importance, for example, by providing raw materials for industries, cures
for diseases, new sources of food.

2. Controlling the human population will limit humanity’s use of natural resources such
as land, forests and animals. This aids conservation of these resources.

Get It Right (page 444)

(a) False
Not all pollution results from human activities. Some causes of pollution are
natural.
(b) True
(c) False
Conservation is the protection and preservation of natural resources in the
environment.
(d) True

Let’s Review (page 444 – 445)

Section A: Multiple-Choice Questions

1. A
2. A
3. A

© 2013 Marshall Cavendish International (Singapore) Private Limited

22.1
Biology Matters G.C.E. 'O' Level (2nd Edition): Textbook Answers Chapter 22

Section B: Structured Questions

1. There is low pollution, since the insecticide is biodegradable. However, if the garden
is near a water body, rain may wash the insecticide into the water body and poison
the fish in the water body.

2. (a) phytoplankton  zooplankton  minnows  needlefish  ospreys

(b) 13333.3 (to 1 decimal place)  12.5  4  10
From phytoplankton to zooplankton
(c) Osprey population would decrease because of reduced reproduction
rate. Ospreys are top consumers, so with a reduced population of
ospreys, the population of needlefish may increase, causing
corresponding decreases in the population of minnows, which are
food for the needlefish.
(d) Concentration of chemicals in the environment does not give a true
picture as amplification of chemicals occurs along food chains. Also,
different organisms respond differently to the same concentration of
the chemicals.

Section C: Free-Response Questions

1. Deforestation may lead to the followings:

– Soil erosion
The leafy canopy of the trees in forests protects the soil from the impact of the
falling rain. Rainwater is retained and absorbed by the roots of trees, and
gradually released to the soil and then to nearby streams and lakes. When trees
are removed, the soil is directly exposed to the force of the rain. The topsoil is
eroded during heavy rains, especially if the rain falls on steep slopes.
– Flooding
Soil erosion due to deforestation can lead to floods. The eroded soil may be
deposited in rivers and streams, blocking the flow of water. The water levels in
rivers rise rapidly, causing floods.
– Desertification
Without the leafy canopy of trees, sunlight falls directly onto the soil. Water
evaporates rapidly from the soil, causing it to harden. The land becomes barren
and plants cannot grow in the soil. The survival of organisms that depend
directly or indirectly on plants for food are also threatened. The destruction of
land leading to desert-like conditions is called desertification. Desertification
results in habitats being lost and the extinction of many species of organisms.
– Climate changes
Rainwater that is retained and absorbed by the roots of trees is lost as water
vapour during transpiration. The water vapour eventually condenses and falls as
rain. When trees are cleared, the area becomes dry and warm, and annual
rainfall decreases.

2. (a) Untreated sewage may contain disease-causing organisms such

as bacteria. If these disease-causing organisms get into drinking
water, they may affect a large number of people in the community
with diseases. Cholera and typhoid are examples of water-bourne
diseases caused by bacteria.

Untreated sewage contains phosphates and nitrates, which are nutrients for algae
and water plants. Algae and water plants grow and multiply in large numbers. This
can lead to eutrophication which prevents sunlight from reaching the bottom of
rivers or lakes. Submerged algae and water plants die due to lack of sunlight.
Aerobic bacteria and fungi decompose the dead algae and water plants. As
bacteria feed on the decaying organic matter, they grow and multiply rapidly,
using up the oxygen in the water causing other organisms like fish to die due to
the lack of oxygen.

© 2013 Marshall Cavendish International (Singapore) Private Limited

22.2
Biology Matters G.C.E. 'O' Level (2nd Edition): Textbook Answers Chapter 22

(b) Inorganic waste can be poisonous to plant, animal and human life.
Certain chemicals are not excreted from the bodies of organisms but accumulate
in their bodies. These chemicals are then passed along food chains and become
concentrated in the bodies of the final consumers. This is called bioaccumulation.
The top consumers in a food chain can accumulate large amounts of chemicals
from eating affected preys. This may cause the top consumers to suffer toxic
effects.

3. The conservation of species is important:

– to maintain biodiversity by preventing the extinction of species
 Maintenance of a large gene pool is important as many wild plants and
animals possess favourable genes. By cross-breeding the different varieties
of wild plants and animals, we can improve agricultural produce.
 Many tropical plants are of great importance as they are sources of medicinal
drugs.
– for scientific research as the study of wildlife provides useful information to
humans
– for economic purposes
 Marine life needs to be conserved as they are a major source of human food.
 Tropical rainforests also provide food. Rice, pineapple and banana are some
examples of food plants that were developed from rainforest plants.
 Tropical plants provide raw materials for industries. For example, rattan is
used to make furniture, rubber from the latex of rubber trees is used to make
tyres, and fibres from cotton plants are used to make cloth.
– to maintain a stable and balanced ecosystem and prevent global warming and
disruption of natural cycles such as water and carbon cycles
– to preserve natural scenery for people to appreciate and enable outdoor
recreational activities such as fishing, hiking and skiing

© 2013 Marshall Cavendish International (Singapore) Private Limited

22.3