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8. A student investigated the decomposition of leaves from different types of tree - Edexcel - GCSE Biology - Question 8 - 2021 - Paper 1
Question 8
8. A student investigated the decomposition of leaves from different types of tree. (a) Decomposers in the soil convert A nitrogen into nitrates B nitrates into ni... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:8. A student investigated the decomposition of leaves from different types of tree - Edexcel - GCSE Biology - Question 8 - 2021 - Paper 1
Step 1
State two abiotic factors that should be kept the same in this investigation.
Answer
- Temperature: Keeping the temperature constant ensures that the rate of decomposition does not vary due to changes in heat.
- Moisture level: Maintaining the same moisture level in the soil is crucial as it affects the activity of decomposers which can influence the breakdown of the leaves.
Step 2
Explain how this investigation could be improved to make the results more comparable.
Answer
To improve the investigation for comparability, one could use leaves of the same age and condition from each tree type. This would help ensure that differences in decomposition rates are due to type of leaf rather than variations in leaf maturity or health. Additionally, repeating the experiment multiple times and averaging the results could help provide more reliable data.