• To what extent can the different environmental value systems improve the

sustainability of food production? 9 mks

To what extent can the different environmental value systems improve the sustainability
of food production? 9 mks

• To what extent can different environmental value systems contribute to both

causing and resolving the problem of water scarcity? 9 mks
• Dominica is focusing on a “Building back better” programme of recovery after
Hurricane Maria
• Define the terms ‘ecosystem goods' and ecosystem services',
• Case Study: Plastic in Fish from the Pacific Ocean (The Great Pacific Garbage Patch)
• Identify two inputs and two outputs that might influence a person’s Environmental
Value System.
• What are Keystone Species
• Case Study: The Silver Springs Ecosystem (Odum’s Classic Study)
• Case Study: Human Population Impact on the River Ganges
• To construct an identification key for rare wild cats, we will create a dichotomous
key, which is a tool that allows users to identify species by answering a series of yes/no
questions that gradually narrow down the possible options. Each step in the key will
focus on distinct physical traits or behaviors of the wild cats.
Outline two reasons why the climax community is more stable than the intermediate
community.
• Distinguish between zonation and succession.
• Outline two ways in which the food web is likely to change as a result of
succession.
• Outline two ways in which the soil quality in the pioneer stages of the
succession model shown in Figure 1 will differ from that in the climax ecosystem
based on imput and out put causing climate change
• Outline the processes by which a species may evolve a greater tolerance to higher
temperatures.
• .Explain how the atmosphere plays a role in maintaining life-supporting
temperatures over the Earth’s surface.
• Explain how organic waste may be an effective fertilizer in terrestrial systems but
a source of pollution in aquatic systems.
• What is photochemical smog name 2 factors which affect photochemical smog
frequency and occurance
• In addressing environmental issues, mitigation strategies may be seen as primarily
• Define primary productivity
 • Answers
1. To what extent can different Environmental Value Systems (EVS) improve
the sustainability of food production? (9 marks)

EVS, including anthropocentric, technocentric, and ecocentric viewpoints, each influence

how we approach sustainable food production:

Anthropocentric views prioritize human needs, focusing on efficiency and high yields,
which can support food production but may neglect long-term ecological impacts.
Examples include monoculture farming and the heavy use of pesticides. While it
boosts productivity, it can degrade soil health and biodiversity.
Technocentric approaches rely on technological innovations like GMOs and vertical
farming to increase production without expanding land use. This can contribute to
sustainability by reducing land degradation and resource use.
Ecocentric systems advocate for organic farming, permaculture, and agroforestry,
focusing on working with natural ecosystems. These methods improve soil health,
biodiversity, and water conservation, leading to long-term sustainability.

EVS perspectives can promote sustainable food production through better resource
management, but without balancing human demands and ecosystem health, true
sustainability might not be achieved. Hence, different systems have varying degrees of
success in fostering sustainable food practices.

2. To what extent can different environmental value systems contribute to

both causing and resolving the problem of water scarcity? (9 marks)

Anthropocentric views often cause water scarcity due to overuse in agriculture,

industry, and inefficient water management. Agricultural irrigation, especially in
water-stressed regions, can deplete freshwater resources.
Technocentric views offer solutions such as water recycling, desalination, and
efficient irrigation techniques. However, the costs and environmental impacts (e.g.,
energy use) need to be managed.
Ecocentric perspectives emphasize the sustainable management of water resources
through conservation, watershed protection, and reducing pollution. This helps
protect freshwater ecosystems, maintaining water availability for all species.
Each EVS plays a role in either exacerbating or mitigating water scarcity, depending on its
approach to resource use. While some systems might prioritize immediate human needs,
others aim for long-term sustainability.

3. Dominica's "Building Back Better" Program after Hurricane Maria

This program focuses on rebuilding infrastructure and communities more resiliently,

incorporating sustainable practices that reduce vulnerability to future natural disasters like
hurricanes and climate change.

4. Define ‘ecosystem goods’ and ‘ecosystem services’:

Ecosystem goods: Tangible products obtained from ecosystems, such as timber,

food, and water.
Ecosystem services: Benefits humans receive from ecosystems, such as air
purification, pollination, and climate regulation.

5. Case Study: Plastic in Fish from the Pacific Ocean (Great Pacific Garbage
Patch)

The ingestion of plastic debris by marine organisms in the Pacific Ocean, particularly fish,
can lead to harmful effects on marine ecosystems and human health through the
bioaccumulation of toxic substances.

6. Identify two inputs and two outputs that might influence a person’s
Environmental Value System (EVS):

Inputs: Education, cultural beliefs.

Outputs: Environmental action, voting behavior.

7. What are Keystone Species?

Keystone species are organisms that have a disproportionately large impact on their
environment relative to their abundance. Their presence or absence affects the entire
ecosystem, such as top predators or essential pollinators.

8. Case Study: The Silver Springs Ecosystem (Odum’s Classic Study)

This study examined the energy flow and trophic levels in a freshwater ecosystem,
highlighting the interconnectedness of species and energy transfer in ecosystems.
9. Case Study: Human Population Impact on the River Ganges

Human activities along the River Ganges, such as industrial waste, sewage, and agricultural
runoff, have led to pollution and degraded water quality, impacting biodiversity and human
health.

10. Dichotomous Key for Rare Wild Cats

A dichotomous key uses a series of binary questions (e.g., presence of spots, size of ears) to
narrow down the identification of wild cat species.

11. Outline two reasons why the climax community is more stable than the
intermediate community.

Greater biodiversity in climax communities leads to more complex food webs,

making them more resilient to disturbances.
Climax communities have better-established nutrient cycling and energy flow,
maintaining balance and stability.

12. Distinguish between zonation and succession.

Zonation: The spatial distribution of species across different areas due to

environmental gradients, such as altitude or moisture.
Succession: The gradual process of change in an ecosystem's species composition
over time, leading to a climax community.

13. Outline two ways in which the food web is likely to change as a result of
succession.

Increased species diversity introduces more complex feeding relationships.

The addition of more producers and decomposers allows for more energy flow and
nutrient cycling.

14. Outline two ways in which the soil quality in the pioneer stages of
succession will differ from that in the climax ecosystem.

In the pioneer stage, soil is often poor in nutrients and organic matter, while in the
climax ecosystem, soil is rich in nutrients and organic content.
Pioneer soils may be unstable and prone to erosion, whereas climax soils are more
structured and better at retaining water.
15. Processes by which a species may evolve greater tolerance to higher
temperatures:

Through natural selection, individuals with traits that help them survive higher
temperatures reproduce more successfully. Over generations, these traits (e.g., heat-
resistant enzymes or behaviors that reduce exposure) become more common in the
population.

16. Explain how the atmosphere plays a role in maintaining life-supporting

temperatures:

The atmosphere traps heat via the greenhouse effect, where gases like carbon dioxide
absorb and re-radiate heat, keeping the Earth's surface warm enough to sustain life.

17. Explain how organic waste may be an effective fertilizer in terrestrial

systems but a source of pollution in aquatic systems:

In terrestrial systems, organic waste decomposes and releases nutrients that plants can use
for growth. However, in aquatic systems, the excess nutrients cause algal blooms that lead
to oxygen depletion, creating dead zones and harming aquatic life.

Photochemical smog is a type of air pollution that forms when sunlight reacts with
pollutants like nitrogen oxides (NOₓ) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), resulting in
harmful substances such as ozone (O₃) and particulate matter. This smog typically occurs in
urban areas with high vehicle emissions and industrial activities.

Two factors affecting the frequency and occurrence of photochemical smog:

1. Sunlight and temperature: High levels of sunlight and warm temperatures increase
the rate of the photochemical reactions that produce smog, leading to more
frequent occurrences in summer or sunny climates.
2. Topography and wind patterns: Areas surrounded by mountains or with limited
wind circulation trap pollutants, leading to the accumulation and persistence of
photochemical smog.
Define Primary productivity
3. Primary productivity refers to the rate at which energy is captured and converted into
organic compounds (biomass) by primary producers, such as plants, algae, and certain
bacteria, through the process of photosynthesis or chemosynthesis. It represents the
foundation of the food chain, as these producers convert solar or chemical energy into forms
that can be consumed by other organisms.
4. There are two main types:
5. Gross Primary Productivity (GPP): The total amount of energy or biomass produced by
primary producers in an ecosystem.
6. Net Primary Productivity (NPP): The amount of energy or biomass that remains after
primary producers use some for respiration. It is the energy available for consumption by
herbivores and other organisms.