ZIMBABWE SCHOOL EXAMINATIONS COUNCIL

General Certificate of Education Advanced Level

BIOLOGY 9190/1
PAPER 1

NOVEMBER SESSION 2001 1 hour

OPTION 1 – BIODIVERSITY

1. Sarawak is an area on the large island of Borneo in south-east Asia.

Over a large proportion of Sarawak, the natural vegetation is tropical
rainforest. Licenses have been granted by the government for logging
to take place in 60% of this forest. Illegal logging also takes place. As
well as the destruction caused by cutting down the trees, the
introduction of logging to an area is almost invariably accompanied
by an increase in hunting.

(a) Suggest why logging is accompanied by an increase in hunting.

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A study was carried out into the effects of logging on the diversity of
mammal species living in the forest. An area of primary rainforest was
sampled before logging, immediately afterwards and then again two
years and four years after logging. The total number of mammal
species seen before logging began was 29, while four years after
logging there were 26 mammal species. Eight species had completely
disappeared, while five new species had appeared in the area. These
‘new’ mammals were mainly species that are common in disturbed
areas, such as agricultural land and gardens, throughout south-east
Asia.

Table 1.1 shows the population densities of six groups of mammals

before and after logging. Where numbers were too small to measure
the density, the species was recorded as ‘present’.
 Table 1.1

mammal mean number of animals per km 2

before immediately two years four years
logging after logging after logging after logging
marbled cat present 0 0
oriental small- present 0 0 0
clawed otter
giant squirrel 5.18 1.48 3.75 1.00
smaller species of 15.82 24.08 103.50 19.00
squirrel
species of tree 10.28 4.92 10.04 38.45
shrew
barking deer 2.91 0.79 10.22 present

(b) With reference to Table 1.1,

(i) explain how studies of this type can be used to predict

which species are most likely to be lost when forest is
logged;

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(ii) compare the effects of logging on the numbers of giant

squirrels with its effects on the numbers of smaller
species of squirrels;

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 (iii) suggest two explanations for the different patterns for the
two groups.

1. .…………………………………………………….

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2. .…………………………………………………….

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(c) Explain how the results of this study support the view that
conservation should aim to maintain the total number of species
in a whole country or region, rather than within a small area.

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(d) In early 1998, a further threat occurred to the rainforests of

Borneo, as forest fires raged out of control. It is estimated that
more than 90% of these fires were started deliberately.

Suggest why people deliberately set fire to forests.

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(e) Outline three measures that could be taken by international
organizations to help to reduce the threats to rainforests in
Borneo.

1. .…………………………………………………….

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2. ………………………………………………………

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3. .…………………………………………………….

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[Total:15]