3. TOPIC 2. ECOLOGY- Revision questions.

Page 1 of 7
1. Explain how excessive use of pesticides may affect soil to discharge hot water in to lake raising the average
fertility. (1mk) temperature from 25oC to 30oC diverted into the lake. In
2. The graph below represents a population growth of a certain 1969, discharge of hot water, sewage and industrial waste into
herbivore in grassland ecosystem over a period of time the lake was stopped. The fish populations during the period
of investigation are shown in the table below.
C
Fish 1964 1966 1968 1970 1971 1972 1973
species
Population A 6102 223 20 106 660 4071 7512
size
B 30 11 22 63 311 405
D 208
C 100 0 0 0
36 0 0
D 4521 272 23 27 79
400 617

a) In which year was the fish population lowest? (1mk)

Time b) State two factors that might have caused the lowest
number of fish during the year you have stated in (a)
Suggest three factors that could have caused the population (i) above. (2mks)
change between C and D. (3mks) c) Explain how each factor you have state in (a) (ii)
3. A biologist carried out a study to investigate the growth of a above could have brought about the changes in fish
certain species of herbivorous bony fish and the factors populations. (2mks)
influencing plant and animal life in four small lakes A, B, C, d) (i) What is the difference in the rate of population
and D. The lakes were located in the same Geographical areas. recovery of species A and D? (1mk)
Two of the lakes A and B were found to contain hard water
(ii) Suggest two biological factors that could have led to
due to presence of high contents of calcium salts. The mean
this difference. (2mks)
bodies lengths of 2 year old fish, amount of plant life and
e) (i) State a method that might have been used in
investigate biomass in each lake were determined. The data
estimating fish populations in the lake. (1mk)
was as shown in the table below.
(ii) State one disadvantage of the method that you
have stated in (c) (i) above. (1mk)
Lak Mea Typ Amou Insec Snai Cra wor
5. State two roles of green plants in a fish aquarium other than
es n e of nt of ts ls bs ms
providing food for fish. (2mks)
body wate plant
6. State two precautionary measures which should be taken in
lengt r life
preventing an outbreak of cholera. (2mks)
h of (g/m3
7. With reference to leaf structure only, explain FIVE ways by
two of
which plants are adapted to living in arid areas. (5mks)
year water)
8. Name a water-borne disease and state a control measure for
old
it. (2mks)
fish
9. What is the biological reason for spreading oil on stagnant
(cm)
water in the control of malaria? (1mk)
A 31.2 Har 1050 11 300 10 180
10. The diagram below represents a section through a leaf of a
d
terrestrial plant.
B 28.6 Har 950 72 100 9 90
d
C 18.4 Soft 1.2 97 0 2 20
D 16.3 Soft 0.5 99 0 1 10

(a) Describe the procedure that may have been used to

determine the mean body length of the fish. (3mks)
(b) What were the likely reasons for the difference in the
mean body length of the fish living in lakes A and D?
(2mks)
(c) Suggest one reason for the absence of snails in lake C and
D. (1mk)
(d) (i) Name any six abiotic (physical) factors that are likely
to influence the plant and animal in life in Lake A. (a) Explain two ways in which structures labelled X and Y
(6mks) are adapted to their function. (2mks)
(ii) Explain how each of the factors named in (d) (i) above (b) State the difference that would be observed between the
may influence the plant and animal life in Lake A. (6mks) above section and one obtained from the plant growing in
fresh water habitat. (1mk)
4. An investigation was carried out between 1964 and 1973 to 11. a) Explain how food as a factor regulates the population of
study the changes of fish population in a certain small lake. animals in an ecosystem. (5mks)
Four species of fish A, B, O and D were found to live in this b) Describe the flow of energy from the sun through
lake. In 1965, a factory was built near the lake and was found the different trophic levels in an ecosystem. (5mks)
3. TOPIC 2. ECOLOGY- Revision questions. Page 2 of 7
12. Explain why the biomass of primary producers is greater than (b) Account for the shape of the graph between
that of primary consumers in a balanced ecosystem. (2mks) (i) A and B. (2mks)
13. a) What is pollution? (1mk) (ii) B and C. (2mks)
b) State the cause and the methods of controlling (iii) C and D. (2mks)
pollution of ;- (19mks); (iv) Give three reasons for the shape of the curve
i) Air between D and E. (3mks)
ii) Water c) (i) Suggest what would happen to the population of
14. The chart below shows a feeding relationship in a certain the bacteria if the temperature was lowered to 00
ecosystem. after incubating for 12 hours. (1mk)
ii) Suggest a reason for your answer in c) i) above.
(1mk)
17. 1997. Oil can be applied on the stagnant water to control the
spread of malaria.
i) How does this practice control the spread of
malaria? (1mk)
ii) HawksGive a reason why this practice should be
discouraged. (1mk)
18. 1997. The following below represents a feeding relationship
in an ecosystem

(a) Construct two food chains ending with a tertiary

consumer in each case (2 marks)
(b) Which organism has the largest variety of predators in
the food web? (1 mark)
(c) Name secondary consumers in food web. (2 marks)
(d) Suggest three ways in which the ecosystem would be
affected in there was a prolonged drought. (3mks)
15. 1996. To estimate the population size of crabs in a certain
lagoon, traps were laid at random. 400 crabs were caught, (a) Write down the food chains in which the guinea fowls
marked and released back into the lagoon. Four days later, are secondary consumers. (2mks)
traps were laid again and crabs were caught. Out of the 374 (b) What would be the short term effects on the ecosystem
crabs, 80 were found to be marked. if lions invaded the area? (1mk)
(c) Name the organism through which energy from the sun
(a) Calculate the population size of the crabs in the enters the food web. (1mk)
lagoon using the formula below 19. 1997. The diagram below represents a simplified nitrogen
N= n x M cycle.
m
Where N = Total population of crabs in the lagoon
n = Total number of crabs in the second catch
M = Number of marked crabs during the first
m= Number of marked crabs in the second
catch (2 marks)
(b) State two assumptions that were made during the
investigation (2 marks)
(c) What is the name given to this method of estimating
the population size (1 mark)
16. 1996. A culture of bacteria was incubated in nutrient agar at
350C. Samples were taken at intervals in order to estimate the
number of bacteria in the population. The data obtained is
shown in the graph below.
(a) Name the organisms that cause process E and J.
(2mks)
(b) Name the processes represented by F and H. (2mks)
(c) Name the group of organisms represented by G.
(1mk)
20. 1998. What is the relationship between leguminous plants and
bacteria found in their root nodules? (1mk)
21. 1998. Give two reasons why primary productivity in an
aquatic ecosystem decreases with depth. (2mks)
22. 1998. The herbivorous mammalian species were introduced
into an ecosystem at the same time and in equal numbers. The
graph below represents their populations during the first
seven years. Study the graph and answer the questions that
follow.

(a) When was the population of bacteria 350 million? (1mk)

3. TOPIC 2. ECOLOGY- Revision questions. Page 3 of 7
c) Name suitable methods that were used to estimate the
population of:
i) Domestic animals. (1mk)
ii) Wild animals. (1mk)
d) Give a reason why the method named for wild animals in (c) (i)
above is suitable. (1mk)
e) State three methods which could be used to determine the diet
of wild animals in an ecosystem. (3mks)
f) Name four biotic factors that could have regulated the animal
population in both ecosystems. (4mks)
g) State four human activities that affect population of animals in
game parks. (4mks)
h) What is the importance of national park to a nation? (1mk)
(a) (i) Which species has a better competitive ability? (1mk) 28. 2000. How are leaves of mesophytes suited to their
(ii) Give reason for your answer. (1mk) functions? (20mks)
(b) Account for the shape of the curve species A between 29. 2001. Why are green plants referred to as primary
(i) 1-3 years. (2mks) producers in an ecosystem? (1mk)
(ii) 3-7 years. (2mks) 30. 2001. The diagram below represents the nitrogen cycle

(c)A natural predator for species A was introduced into the

ecosystem. With a reason state how the population of each species
would be affected. (2mks)
23. 1999. a) Distinguish between a community and population.
(2mks
b) Describe how population of grasshoppers in a given
area can be estimated. (10mks)
24. 1999. Explain how the various activities of man have caused
pollution of air.(20mks)
25. 2000. Give a reason why two species in ecosystems cannot
occupy the same niche. (1mk)
26. 2000. Explain how birds of prey are adapted to obtaining their
food. (3mks) Nitrifying
27. 2000. The numbers of different types of animals supported by bacteria
a square kilometer in two terrestrial ecosystems are shown in
the table below (a) State the process labeled A and D. (2mks)
(b) Name the compound represented by B. (1mk)
(c) Name the group of organisms labeled C. (1mk)
Type of Type of animal Number of animals (d) (i) Name the group of plants which promote process A.
ecosystem supported per sq. (1mk)
km (ii) State the part of the plant where process A takes
Acacia Domestic animals place. (1mk
savannah Cattle 7 (e) How would excess pesticides in the soil interfere
Goat 30 with process A. (1mk)
Sheep 10 31. 2002. a) Name the bacteria found in the root nodules of
Wild games leguminous plant. (1mk)
Thomsons’s 450 b) State the association of the bacteria named in (a) above
gazelles with the leguminous plants. (1mk)
Eland 20 32. 2002. Explain why the carrying capacity of wild animals is
Wild beast 60 higher than that for cattle in a given piece of land. (1mk)
33. 2003. a) Name the bacteria found in root nodules of
Bush land Domestic animals leguminous plants. (1mk)
Cattle 2 b) What is the role of the bacteria named in (a) above? (1mk)
Goats 15 34. 2003. How are leaves of submerged adapted plants for
Sheep 5 photosynthesis? (3mks)
Wild game 35. 2003. Name the causative agent of typhoid. (1mk)
Thomson’s 200 36. 2003. a) What is meant by:
gazelles i) Autecology (1mk)
Eland 12 ii) Synecology. (1mk)
Wild beast 10 b) The number and distribution of stomata on three different
a) (i) Which domestic animal is better adapted to both ecosystems? leaves are shown in the table below:
(1mk)
(ii) Give a reason why the animal named in (a) (i) above is better
adapted to the two ecosystems. (1mk)
b) Why are cattle and sheep fewer in the bush land than in the
savannah? (1mk)
3. TOPIC 2. ECOLOGY- Revision questions. Page 4 of 7
Leaf Number of stomata
Upper epidermis Lower epidermis
A 300 0
B 150 140
C 2 150

a) Suggest the possible habitat of the plants from which the leaves
were obtained. (3mks)
b) State the modifications found in the stomata of leaf C. (1mk)
37. 2004. Explain how abiotic factors affect plants. (20mks)
38. 2005. Name the organism that causes amoebic dysentery. What is represented by X, Y, and Z? (3mks)
(1mark) 42. 2006. a) Distinguish between pyramid of numbers and
39. 2005. After an ecological study of feeding relationships pyramid of biomass. (2marks)
students constructed the food web below. b) Give three reasons for loss of energy from one trophic
level to another in the food chain. (3marks)
43. 2007. (a) Distinguish between population and community. (2
marks)
b) Name a method that could be used to estimate the
population size of the following organisms:
(i) Fish in a pond. (1 mark)
(ii) Black jack in a garden. (1mark)
44. 2007. State two ways in which schistosoma species is adapted
to parasitic mode of life. (2 marks)
45. 2007. Describe causes and methods of controlling water
pollution (20 marks)
46. 2008. State the causative agent of Cholera. (1 mark)
47. 2008. Describe the three characteristics of a population. (3
marks)
48. 2008. Describe the nitrogen cycle. (20 marks)
a) Name the process through which energy from the sun 49. 2009. Name two benefits that a parasite derives from the host
is incorporated into the food web. (1mark) .
b) State the mode of feeding of the birds in the food web (2 marks)
(1mark) 50. 2009. (a) Name the causative agents of the following diseases
c) Name two ecosystems in which the organisms in the in humans:
food web live (1mark) i. Typhoid. (1mk)
d) From the information in the food web, construct a ii. Amoebic dysentery. (1mk)
food chain with the large bird as a quaternary (b) Name the disease in humans caused by Plasmodium
consumer. (1mark) falciparum (1 mark)
e) What would happen to the organisms in the food web 51. 2009. (a) State three effects of dumping untreated sewage into
if bird N migrated? (3marks) a river. (3 marks)
f) Not all the energy from one trophic level is available (b) Name one process that is responsible for loss of
to the next level. Explain. (3marks) energy from one trophic level to the next. (1mark)
g) (i) Two organisms which play a role in the 52. 2009. Other than using the quadratic, give two methods of
ecosystems are not included in the food web. Name estimating population of grass. (2 marks)
them. (2marks) 53. 2009. (a) i) What is meant by the term biological control. (1
(ii) State the role played by the organisms named mark)
in g(i) above. (1mark) ii) Give an example of biological control. (1 mark)
(b) (i) What is eutrophication? (3 marks)
h) i) State three human activities that would affect (ii) What are the effects of eutrophication? 3 marks)
the ecosystem. (3marks) (c) Name a substance that is responsible for acid rain. (1
ii) Explain how the activities stated in h (i) mark)
above would affect the ecosystems. (3marks) 54. 2010. What is meant by the following term?
40. 2006. What is the importance of the following in an a) Habitat. (1 mark)
ecosystem; b) Ecosystem. (1 mark)
a) Decomposers. (1mk) 55. 2010. State three factors that contribute to the deceleration
b) Predation. (1mk) phase in the population curve of an organism. (1 mark)
41. 2006. The chart below represents a simplified nitrogen cycle. 56. 2010. The diagram below represents a food web in certain
ecosystem
3. TOPIC 2. ECOLOGY- Revision questions. Page 5 of 7
(b) Explain your answer in (i) above. (1mark)
61. 2012. Name the process through which free atmospheric
nitrogen is converted into nitrates. (1mark)
62. 2012. The data provided below represent populations of a
predator and its prey over a fifty years period.

TIME IN POPULATION IN RELATIVE NUMBERS

YEARS POPULATION OF POPULATION OF
P Q
5 24500 17000
10 30000 20500
15 33500 26000
20 33500 30000
a) Name the trophic level occupied by each of the 25 31000 33000
following: 30 27000 32000
i) Caterpillars. (1 mark) 35 25000 30000
ii) Small insect. (1 mark) 40 29000 27500
b) From the food web, construct two food chains 45 32500 28000
which end with lizards as a tertiary consumer. (2 50 34000 28500
marks) a) (i) Using the same axes, draw graphs of the relative populations
c) i) Which organisms have the least biomass in this of P and Q against time. (7 marks)
ecosystem? (1 mark) ii) With a reason, identify the curve that represents the prey.
ii) Explain the answer in (c)(i) above. (2mks)
57. 2011. The figure below illustrates a food web in a certain iii) Account for the two populations between 25 and 32 years.
ecosystem. (2mks)
iv) Which years were the two populations equal? (2mks)
v) Apart from predation, state three biotic factors that may have
led to the decline of the prey population. (3 marks)
(b) Describe the hazards of air pollution by Sulphur (IV) Oxide.
(4mks)
63. 2013. A scientist carried out an investigation to find out the
population growth of mice under laboratory conditions. 20
young mice were placed in a cage. The results obtained from
the investigation were as shown below.
Time 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 16 18
in
months
From the food web: Numbe 2 2 6 11 31 45 45 14 16
a) Draw the shortest food chain. (1 mark) r of 0 0 5 5 0 5 0 5 0
b) Identify the organisms with the highest: mice
i) Number of predators. (1 mark)
ii) Biomass. (1 mark) a) On the grid provided, draw a graph of the number
58. 2011. What is meant by the following terms? of mice against time. (6mks)
a) Ecology. (1mk) b) Account for the changes in mice population between
b) Carrying capacity. (1mk i) 0 to 2 months (2mks)
59. 2011. How are the pneumatophores adapted to their function? ii) 2 to 6 months (2mks)
(2 marks) iii) 6 to 10 months (2mks)
60. 2012. The table below shows results of a study of three plants iv) 10 to 12 months (2mks)
C, D and E growing in different habitat c) i) Between which two months was the population
greatest? (1mk)
ii) Calculate the rate of population would be over
the period in c) (i) above (2mks)
d) What change would be expected if the investigation
was continued to the 19th month? (1mk)
e) To obtain the observed results, state two variables
that were kept constant during the investigation.
(2mks)
64. 2014. An experiment was done to determine the uptake of
nitrogen from the soil by broad bean seedlings. The
experiment was done with one set of seedlings M grown in
(a) Which one of the plants C, D and E grows in an the atmosphere enriched with carbon (IV) oxide and another
area of relatively low water availability? set up of seedlings N grown in the normal atmosphere. The
(1mk) amount on nitrogen in each seedling was measured in
3. TOPIC 2. ECOLOGY- Revision questions. Page 6 of 7
milligram at interval of ten days. The table below shows the
results obtained.
Amount of nitrogen in milligrams

Set 0 2 7 12 16 39 63 86 89 91
M 5 0 5 0 5 5 0 5 5

Set 0 1 3 50 65 10 12 12 13 14
N 5 5 5 0 5 5 0

Tim 1 2 3 45 55 65 75 85 95 10
e in 5 5 5 5
days
a) Using the same axis draw line graphs of nitrogen uptake
by the two (M and N) sets of broad bean seedlings against
time. (8mks)
b) Determine the rate of uptake of nitrogen in set M
between 65 and 85 days. (2mks)
c) i) What is the relationship between carbon (IV) oxide
concentration in the air and nitrogen uptake? (1mk)
ii) Account for the relationship in c) ii) above. (3mks)
d) i) What would happen to the concentration of nitrogen in
seedlings in set M, if after 75 days the seedlings are
transferred to normal atmosphere? (1mk)
ii) Explain your answer in in d) i) above. (2mks)
e) State three ways in which nitrogen fixation occurs.
(3mks)
65. 2015. a) Name the organism that;
i) Causes malaria. (1mk)
ii) Transmits malaria. (1mk)
b) State the two control measures for malaria. (2mks)
66. 2015. a) What is meant by each of the following:
i) Pyramid of biomass. (1mk)
ii) Pyramid of numbers. (1mk)
b) During an ecological visit to the savanna grassland, students
were able to see lions, antelopes, vultures and pastoralists
grazing their cattle. Construct a food chain with four
consumer levels to illustrate the energy flow in the ecosystem.
(2mks)
67. 2015. The graph below shows the relative numbers of three 68.
main species of organisms in a pond.
69.
70.
71.
a) Giving a reasonfor your answer, which of the species is a:
i) Producer? (1mk)
ii) Secondary consumer? (1mk)
b) State the depths at which each of the populations labelled
L, M and N is at its optimum. (3mks)
c) i) Which method may have been used to determine the
population of organisms labelled N in the pond?(1mk)
ii) Give a reason for your answer in c) i) above. (1mk)
iii) State four assumptions made when using the
method in c) i) above. (4mks)
d) State two reasons why primary productivity in the pond
decreases with depth. (2mks)
e) Explain the ecological importance of fungi to plants.
(2mks)
f) Why is flooding likely to lead to a cholera outbreak?
(3mks)
2016. Name two benefits that a parasite derives from its host.
(2mks)
2016. Other than a quadrat, give two methods that can be
used to estimate the population of grass. (2mks)
2016. State three factors that contribute to the decelerating
phase in the population curve of an organism. (3mks)
2016. The figure below illustrates a food web in a certain
ecosystem.

From the food web:

a) Draw the shortest food chain. (1 mark)
b) Identify the organisms with the highest:
i) Number of predators. (1 mark)
ii) Biomass. (1 mark)
3. TOPIC 2. ECOLOGY- Revision questions.
72. 2016. Study the photograph below of some animals in a
certain ecosystem and answer the questions that follow.
a) State the type of biotic relationship exhibited by the animals
shown in the photograph. (1mk)
b) i) Identify which of the two animals E and F, will have the
least biomass. (1mk)
ii) Give a reason for your answer in b) i) above. (2mks)
d) Explain three visible survival adaptive features for
the organisms illustrated in the photographs. (6mks)
73. 2017. Explain the importance of protecting the forest
ecosystem with reference to the following: (20mks)
a) Climate change.
b) Biodiversity.
c) Biotechnology.
d) Water conservation.
e) Pollution.
74. 2017. You are provided with specimen K ( a straight portion
of a healthy creeping grass with visible roots, leaves, nodes
and internodes) and H (a freshly uprooted, whole/ intact, full
healthy bean plant.
a) State three observable differences between the leaves of
specimen H and K. (3mks)
b) i) Explain three ways in which the stem of specimen H
adapts the plant for maximum photosynthesis. (3mks)
ii) Explain three ways in which the plant from which the
specimen K was obtained is adapted for survival in its
habitat. (3mks)
c) State two ecological importance of specimen K in an
ecosystem. (2mks)
75. Sewage contains saprophytic organisms and organic materials.
The graph below shows changes occurring in a river for some
distance downstream, from a point of untreated sewage
discharge.
a) Suggest the reasons for the increase in oxygen after 10
km downstream. (2mks)
b) Account for the relationship between oxygen and fish.
(2mks)
Page 7 of 7
c) Explain why there was a gradual fall in the amount of
organic matter released into the river shortly after the
point of discharge of untreated sewage into the river.
(2mks)
d) Ammonia is produced by the process taking place in the
sewage treatment works and should be removed before
released into the river. Explain why this is important?
(2mks)
76. 2020. Explain why there is no grass in most dense forests.
(2mks)
77. 2020. Explain why most plants growing in water-logged areas
die before attaining maturity. (3mks)
78. 2020. Below are photographs E and F, of two organisms,
taken from their natural habitats.
a) i) State the main nitrogenous waste product of organism
in photograph E. (1mk)
ii) Give a reason for your answer in a) i) above.
(1mk)
b) State why the organism in photograph E is usually found
on top of rock surfaces even during hot, sunny days.
(1mk)
c) i) Which of the two organisms would have a higher
biomass if both were left in their natural ecosystem.
(1mk)
ii) Give a reason for your answer in c) i) above. (1mk)
d) With reference to observable features, explain why the
organism in photograph F is usually found in a wide range
of habitats. (3mks)
79. 2020. The data below shows the average number of ticks per
animal in a certain farm before and after spraying the animal
with a certain chemical. The spraying was done once every
month. The data was tabulated as shown below.
Time 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14
(months)
Average 200 90 40 20 16 25 45 90
number
of ticks
a) Plot a graph of number of ticks against time. (6mks)
b) Account for the shape of the graph between:
i) 0 and 8 months. (3mks)
ii) 10 and 14 months. (3mks)
c) From the graph, determine the average number of ticks
after spraying the animals for five months. (1mk)
d) If the animals were allowed to graze in an open field,
construct a food chain with five organisms in which the
ticks are secondary consumers. (4mks)
e) Stat three methods by which the average number of ticks
per animal could have been estimated. (3mks)