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Case Study 1 – Saif claims that Drought leads to low-quality litter that is difficult to
decompose and determines a fungal-dominated microbial community composition while
decreasing the availability of nutrients for plants.
In investigation studying the biodiversity in Desert Biome.
1- Use the graph to describe the climate properties of this
Biome. [2]
The temperature is 10°C in January, it increases to
35°C in June to decrease back to 10°C in December.
The precipitation id low all months of the year – about
zero mm

2- The energy pyramid below represents the flow of

energy in one of the desert food chains.
a- Identify the herbivore and the tertiary consumer in
this food chain [2]
Herbivore – Mice
tertiary consumer- snake.

b- What would be the energy received by the

tertiary consumer if the producers have
5000kcal.[1] Justify your answer [1]
5 kcal, only 10% is transferred from one
transfer level to another.
c- Explain the role of decomposition on matter
flow in Ecosystem. [1]
the decomposer breaks down dead organic
matter into inorganic molecules into soil and air.

d- i- Use the graph below to identify the type of

growth Mice population in the Ecosystem. Justify
your answer.
The mice population is a logistic growth.
The rate of growth slows when the population size
approaches the carrying capacity.

ii- Suggest one of the limiting factors that will affect the mice population growth.
Diseases, competition, predation
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3- Case Study 2
4- : National Center of Meteorology launches real-
time status of air quality over UAE
“Her Excellency Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri said,
“Public health and environmental protection are strategic
priorities for the UAE. Improving air quality is among the
eight pillars of the UAE General Environmental Policy,
which was approved by the Cabinet in November 2020 with
the aim of enhancing quality of life, well-being, and
prosperity in the country, and support the implementation of
the UN Sustainable Development Goals.”
National Center of Meteorology launches real-time status of
air quality over UAE - Bizness Transform

a- State the names of the processes and the cell

organelle that:

- convert carbon dioxide into organic

compounds in pond weeds and algae
[1pt]
photosynthesis converts carbon dioxide to glucose

- convert organic compounds in pond weeds, algae and primary consumers into
carbon dioxide [1pt]
cellular respiration breaks down sugar into carbon dioxide

b- Draw arrows on the diagram above to show how the saprotrophs obtain carbon.
[3pt]
At any stage of the trophic level, an organism that dies will be decomposed by the
decomposers. 2

c- Explain the role of decomposers/saprotrophs in recycling carbon. [2pts]

The decomposer breaks down dead organic matter into inorganic molecules into soil
and air.
d- Draw a box on the diagram in an appropriate position, labeled organic compounds in
secondary consumers.
Draw arrows to show the links between secondary consumers and other parts of the
carbon cycle. [3pts]
The primary consumer will be eaten by secondary consumer

The secondary consumer undergoes respiration to produce carbon dioxide into

the atmosphere.
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Case Study 3

A researcher collected data on an experiment she conducted on

two desert islands. The islands were of similar size, climate, and
species composition and richness, and were the same distance
from the mainland.
a- Use the HHMI Biome Viewer to determine the number of
species found in UAE desert Biome.
The desert biodiversity is caused by 20+2+35= 75
species – only use the data given
B- Originally, the same species of snake was present on both
islands (A and B). In her experiment, the researcher removed the
species of snake from island A. For comparison, the species of
snake was NOT removed from island B. She then recorded the
number of animal species on each island over a period of 24 months. Her data are presented in
the table below.

a- Compare the change of

biodiversity- number of species in both islands A and B. [2]
The number of species in island A, where the snakes were present, remains high (35-40)
Where as, the number of species in island B, where snakes were removed, decreased to 10.
b- Construct a hypothesis about the role of snake that explains the difference between the
numbers of species present on island A versus island B over the 24-month period. [1]
Snakes are keystone species that help maintain balance across the species. E.g, snakes are
top predators, when they are removed, this will increase the amount of birds which will
overconsume insects. Other predators will have hard time to find food. This decrease species
amount
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