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Scientists investigated the effect that the release of heated water into a river from a power station had on the biodiversity of a local fish community over 29 years - AQA - A-Level Biology - Question 5 - 2023 - Paper 3
Question 5
Scientists investigated the effect that the release of heated water into a river from a power station had on the biodiversity of a local fish community over 29 years... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Scientists investigated the effect that the release of heated water into a river from a power station had on the biodiversity of a local fish community over 29 years - AQA - A-Level Biology - Question 5 - 2023 - Paper 3
Step 1
Step 2
Describe and explain how these results for 1997 were possible.
Answer
In 1997, the species richness was recorded at its highest point, indicating a large number of different fish species were present. However, the index of diversity (d) was low. This could be explained by the presence of a few species dominating the population, suggesting that while many species exist, one or two may have been present in very large numbers, overshadowing others that remained in low abundance.
Step 3
Use the information to suggest reasons why the journalist's conclusion could be flawed.
Answer
The journalist's conclusion that heated water release has no effect on fish communities may be flawed due to several factors:
- The study only considered species richness, which does not account for ecological dynamics and species interactions.
- Differences in biodiversity could exist in other local habitats not examined.
- The measurements were only taken in October; seasonal variations may influence results significantly.
- The specific effects of heated water on various species may vary, and some species may be resilient or benefit from such changes, while others decline.