02120020/KMS/CAPE 2018

C A R I B B E A N E X A M I N A T I O N S C O U N C I L

CARIBBEAN ADVANCED PROFICIENCY EXAMINATION®

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

UNIT 1 - PAPER 02

KEY AND MARK SCHEME

MAY/JUNE 2018

question 2
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02120020/KMS/CAPE 2018
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
UNIT 1 - PAPER 02
KEY AND MARK SCHEME
MODULE 1
Question 2.

Question Syllabus Suggested Response Instructions Marks

Objectives KC AK PA

(a) 1.5 1 mark for

(i) each trophic
level
represented
as follows :

must have a
producer at
the base of
the food
chain(1)

plus at least
3 correct
arrows and at 4
note : sharks such as the smooth least 3 other
dogfish (Mustelus spp.) eat correct
crabs and lobsters trophic
levels
(3 x 1 mark
each)

levels /
energy flow
must be
appropriate

marks can be
awarded for
drawings of
organisms

(ii) 1.5  nutrient cycling (1) –

nutrient required by organisms 4
are absorbed by
autotrophs/producers and
passed along the food chain
when these producers are
consumed (1) 2 x 2 marks

 cycling of energy through role

system (1) – the autotrophs/ identified
producers in the food web (1)
capture energy thorough
photosynthesis (about 100 %) explanation
and the energy is transferred of role (1)
to each successive trophic
level (with the quantity of
energy available decreasing by
10 % at each successive
level)(1)
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02120020/KMS/CAPE 2018
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
UNIT 1 - PAPER 02
KEY AND MARK SCHEME

 manufacture/storage of food
(1): autotrophs/ producers are
the only organisms which can 2 x 2 marks
capture solar energy and
convert it to chemical energy role
(i.e. food), which is then identified
passed on to other organisms (1)
in the food chain(1)
explanation
 production of oxygen (1) – of role (1)
during the process of
photosynthesis, plants produce
oxygen which is important for
the survival of aquatic fauna
and other species (1)

 habitats (1) – mangroves,

seagrass and coral reefs
provide habitats for many
species and give shelter and
protection from predators (1)

 nursery/breeding ground for

fish and other organisms (1) –
mangroves and seagrass beds
serve a vital role, providing
protection for juvenile fish
until they can fend for
themselves (1)

 buffer zone (1) – mangroves

and sea-grasses form a buffer
between the open sea and the
coastline by reducing the
effect of waves (1)

 protection of coastline (1) –

coral reefs, mangroves and
seagrasses provide a
structural function as they
protect the coastline from the
direct force of waves (1)

(b)(i) 1.1 An ecotone is a transition zone also accept 2

(1) between two adjacent “border”
ecosystems/communities/biomes. “boundary”
(1) or “where two
ecosystems
meet” in
addition to
“transition
zone”
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02120020/KMS/CAPE 2018
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
UNIT 1 - PAPER 02
KEY AND MARK SCHEME
Question 2. (continued)

Syllabus Marks
Question Objectives Suggested Response Instructions
KC AK PA

(b) 1.2 salinity/brackish environment (1) any three (3) 6

(ii) factors.
The mangrove forest may have
adapted to saline conditions or 3 x 2 marks
brackish conditions (1), while
other plants and organisms find factor
it difficult to exist in saline identified
conditions negatively affecting (1)
plant growth and germination (1).
complete
temperature (1) explanation
of role (2)
Mangrove plants do not adequately
develop at temperatures way below partial
or way above the average sea explanation
water temperature (20ºC) (1). of role (1)
These temperatures have a
negative impact on
photosynthesis. High temperatures repeating the
may impact on the lagoon same reason
organisms, for example the sea for each
grass leading to a decline in sea factor will
grass abundance (1). count as an
incomplete
dissolved oxygen (1) explanation
of the second
Factors such as water flow and an and third
increase in temperature and factor
salinity affect the concentration
of dissolved oxygen, as when
temperature and salinity
increase, the ability of oxygen
to dissolve decreases (1). The
fish in the lagoon will need
oxygen for respiration and will
therefore be negatively impaired
when the concentration of
dissolved oxygen is low (1).

pH (1)

The processes taking place in the

living organisms require specific
pH environments in which to occur
properly (1) Most processes
required a neutral (pH = 7) or
close to neutral environment (1)

tides (1)

The daily low tides can leave

organisms trapped, which can
expose them to sunlight and
predators (1) These organisms
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02120020/KMS/CAPE 2018
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
UNIT 1 - PAPER 02
KEY AND MARK SCHEME
would be negatively impacted (1).

soil(1) any three (3)

factors.
The type (e.g. acidic and
conditions (e.g. whether it is 3 x 2 marks
waterlogged) of the soil in the
are of the mangrove forest can factor
affect plant life, as plants identified
require specific soils with (1)
different content to thrive (1)
If the growth of plants which are complete
the primary producers is explanation
affected, this can in turn affect of role (2)
the aquatic organisms dependent
on these plants (1) partial
explanation
of role (1)
sunlight (1)

Sunlight is required for repeating the

photosynthesis by the producers same reason
in the mangrove, seagrass and for each
coral reef ecosystems (1)The factor will
amount of sunlight available will count as an
dictate the amount of incomplete
photosynthesis which occurs in explanation
these ecosystems, and therefore of the second
the amount of energy and food and third
available for circulation in the factor
ecosystem to the biotic
components (shark, small fish,
crabs etc.) (1)

the presence of nitrates,

phosphates or sulphates (1)

The presence of nitrates,

phosphates and sulphates can lead
to eutrophication which can
create a hypoxic environment
(1)which will smother and kill
the corals, affect/kill the
macrofauna (e.g. fish, crabs,
etc.) and prevent the populations
of seagrasses and mangroves from
photosynthesising (1)

the availability of nutrients (1)

The availability of nutrients in

the water may affect the primary
productivity of the mangrove,
seagrass beds and coral reefs,
altering the rate at which they
grow and photosynthesis (1) This
in turn will have an effect the
numbers of organisms at primary
consumer level, as well as those
in subsequent trophic levels (1)
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02120020/KMS/CAPE 2018
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
UNIT 1 - PAPER 02
KEY AND MARK SCHEME

Question 2. (continued)

Syllabus Marks
Question Objectives Suggested Response Instructions
KC AK PA

(b) (iii) 1.2 sunlight (1) 2 x 2 marks 4

Is a major limiting factor at the

reef. As one proceed seawards the limiting
depth of the water increases factor
therefore it is difficult for identified
sunlight to penetrate to the sea (1)
floor. For photosynthesis
producers will not get sunlight explanation
and the reef will cease to exist of effect of
(1) limiting
factor (1)
temperature (1)

As one moves downwards along the

slope of the reef the temperature
of the water decreases. Coral
reefs requires warm water to
survive and will die at lower
temperatures (1)

sedimentation/ suspended solids

(1)

The presence of suspended solids

will impact coral growth.
Sediments make the water cloudy
and so would limit the amount of
photosynthesis (1)

death of seagrasses (1)

Because of the close association

between sea-grasses and corals if
sunlight does not penetrate the
water column, it can lead to a
decline in the populations of
seagrasses which can mean there
is an increased amount of
sediment deposited on the coral
reefs which will lead to a
decline in their population (1)
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02120020/KMS/CAPE 2018
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
UNIT 1 - PAPER 02
KEY AND MARK SCHEME

presence of minerals/ nutrients

(1)
2 x 2 marks

The presence of nitrates,

phosphates and sulphates can lead limiting
to eutrophication which can factor
create a hypoxic environment identified
which will smother and kill the (1)
corals
explanation
of effect of
limiting
pH (1) factor (1)

The processes taking place in the

living organisms require specific
pH environments in which to occur
properly. Most processes required
a neutral (pH = 7) or close to
neutral environment (1)

invasive species (1)

The red lionfish (Pterois

volitans) is an invasive problem
in the Caribbean Sea which have
become more abundant and is a
threat to both the biodiversity
of the seas and coral reef as
well as the reef itself. This is
between outcompeting similar fish
and having a varied diet, the
lionfish is drastically changing
and disrupting the food chains
holding the marine ecosystems
together. As these chains
are disrupted, declining
densities of other fish
populations are found, as well as
declines in the overall diversity
of coral reef areas (1)

overfishing (1)

the human activity of fishing can

affect the reef’s biodiversity
and its balance which ultimately
damage the reef (1)

diseases (1)
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02120020/KMS/CAPE 2018
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
UNIT 1 - PAPER 02
KEY AND MARK SCHEME
coral reefs are very sensitive,
so diseases such as the black
band disease can decimate reefs
(1)

pollution (1)

pollution from sediments,

nutrients and a variety of other
land-based pollutants are
transported over time into water
and can then settle onto the
coral reef

wind (1)

wind / breeze can aid in mixing

nutrients and temperature which
can in turn affect the conditions
required to sustain the
population on the coral reef (1)

TOTAL 6 14