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Biodiversity within a community: AQA A‑Level Biology questions

Every AQA A-Level Biology exam question on 3.4.6 Biodiversity within a community, 2016–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

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1,383 questions

  1. Q10.1

    June 2025 · Paper 2

    3 marks3.4.6 Biodiversity within a community
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 2, question 10.1: In tropical rainforests, there is a high biodiversity of animal species (lines 1–3). Explain why. [3 marks]

  2. Q06.2

    June 2024 · Paper 3

    1 mark3.4.6 Biodiversity within a community
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 3, question 06.2: Which statement correctly represents the species richness of the woodland? Tick () one box. [1 mark] The number of all species present in the woodland The numb

  3. Q06.3

    June 2024 · Paper 3

    4 marks3.4.6 Biodiversity within a community
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 3, question 06.3: A student studying the information in this question concluded that all woodlands should be protected to increase the biodiversity of birds. Evaluate the student

  4. Q06.4

    June 2024 · Paper 3

    1 mark3.4.6 Biodiversity within a community
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 3, question 06.4: It is not possible to extrapolate the data for the number of bird species recorded breeding each year beyond 1979. Explain why. [1 mark]

  5. Q06.7

    June 2024 · Paper 3

    3 marks3.4.6 Biodiversity within a community
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 3, question 06.7: The news website published the headline: The LPI shows human activities cause significant decrease in biodiversity. Suggest three reasons why this headline is n

  6. Q05.3

    June 2024 · AS Paper 1

    2 marks3.4.6 Biodiversity within a community
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 AS Paper 1, question 05.3: A student investigated biodiversity in a community of bee species in a field of wild flowers. The student trapped and identified the bee species in the field ov

  7. Q05.4

    June 2024 · AS Paper 1

    2 marks3.4.6 Biodiversity within a community
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 AS Paper 1, question 05.4: In a different investigation, the student found that: • the species richness of plants in a field of wild flowers is greater than the species richness of plants

  8. Q05.1

    June 2023 · Paper 3

    1 mark3.4.6 Biodiversity within a community
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 3, question 05.1: The scientists used the following formula to calculate the index of diversity (d) of fish. d = N (N–1) Σn (n–1) where N = total number of fish of all species an

  9. Q05.2

    June 2023 · Paper 3

    2 marks3.4.6 Biodiversity within a community
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 3, question 05.2: In 1997, the scientists recorded the highest species richness, but the lowest value of d over the 29 years. Describe and explain how these results for 1997 were

  10. Q05.3

    June 2023 · Paper 3

    4 marks3.4.6 Biodiversity within a community
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 3, question 05.3: A journalist studied Figure 7 and Figure 8 (on page 16) and concluded that releasing heated water from a power station has no effect on local fish communities.

  11. Q07.1

    June 2023 · AS Paper 1

    4 marks3.4.6 Biodiversity within a community
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 AS Paper 1, question 07.1: Using the standard deviation data from Table 4, describe the differences in prokaryotic biodiversity found in the soil with these two farming methods. In your a

  12. Q07.3

    June 2023 · AS Paper 1

    2 marks3.4.6 Biodiversity within a community
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 AS Paper 1, question 07.3: Evaluate the balance between conservation and farming for these two farming methods. Use the information provided in Table 4 (on page 16). [2 marks]

  13. Q01.3

    June 2022 · Paper 1

    1 mark3.4.6 Biodiversity within a community
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 1, question 01.3: Suggest one reason the scientists used biomass instead of the number of individuals of each plant species when collecting data to measure diversity. [1 mark]

  14. Q01.4

    June 2022 · Paper 1

    2 marks3.4.6 Biodiversity within a community
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 1, question 01.4: The scientists used this equation to calculate the plant species index of diversity. 𝑑𝑑= 1 −෍ቀ𝑛𝑛 𝑁𝑁ቁ 2 where n = shoot biomass of each plant species and N = tot

  15. Q01.5

    June 2022 · Paper 1

    2 marks3.4.6 Biodiversity within a community
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 1, question 01.5: Sometimes farmers stop growing crops on an area of land to allow the natural ecosystem to recover. The plant species index of diversity of these areas previousl

  16. Q10.2

    November 2021 · Paper 2

    2 marks3.4.6 Biodiversity within a community
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 2, question 10.2: The percentage of forest cover in Malawi decreased between December 1990 and December 2016 (lines 9–10). Calculate the mean loss of forest cover in km2 per week

  17. Q07.1

    November 2021 · AS Paper 1

    2 marks3.4.6 Biodiversity within a community
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 AS Paper 1, question 07.1: Use the information in Figure 7 to calculate the index of diversity for the insects captured in plot 1. The formula to calculate the index of diversity (d) is d

  18. Q07.2

    November 2021 · AS Paper 1

    1 mark3.4.6 Biodiversity within a community
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 AS Paper 1, question 07.2: The student concluded that cutting plants with a lawn mower increased the species richness of insects in that meadow. Use information in Figure 7 to explain why

  19. Q04.1

    June 2017 · Paper 3

    2 marks3.4.6 Biodiversity within a community
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2017 Paper 3, question 04.1: Table 1 shows plant species recorded at one site, on one island, in 1975. Table 1 Species Number of individuals Hydrocotyle vulgaris 3 Plantago maritima 19 Ranu

  20. Q04.2

    June 2017 · Paper 3

    3 marks3.4.6 Biodiversity within a community
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2017 Paper 3, question 04.2: Outline a method the ecologists could have used to determine the plant species richness at one site. [3 marks]
All 33 questions on Biodiversity within a community, as a list
  1. June 2025, Paper 2, Q10.1 (3 marks): In tropical rainforests, there is a high biodiversity of animal species (lines 1–3). Explain why. [3 marks]
  2. June 2024, Paper 3, Q06.2 (1 mark): Which statement correctly represents the species richness of the woodland? Tick () one box. [1 mark] The number of all species present in the woodland The numb
  3. June 2024, Paper 3, Q06.3 (4 marks): A student studying the information in this question concluded that all woodlands should be protected to increase the biodiversity of birds. Evaluate the student
  4. June 2024, Paper 3, Q06.4 (1 mark): It is not possible to extrapolate the data for the number of bird species recorded breeding each year beyond 1979. Explain why. [1 mark]
  5. June 2024, Paper 3, Q06.7 (3 marks): The news website published the headline: The LPI shows human activities cause significant decrease in biodiversity. Suggest three reasons why this headline is n
  6. June 2024, AS Paper 1, Q05.3 (2 marks): A student investigated biodiversity in a community of bee species in a field of wild flowers. The student trapped and identified the bee species in the field ov
  7. June 2024, AS Paper 1, Q05.4 (2 marks): In a different investigation, the student found that: • the species richness of plants in a field of wild flowers is greater than the species richness of plants
  8. June 2023, Paper 3, Q05.1 (1 mark): The scientists used the following formula to calculate the index of diversity (d) of fish. d = N (N–1) Σn (n–1) where N = total number of fish of all species an
  9. June 2023, Paper 3, Q05.2 (2 marks): In 1997, the scientists recorded the highest species richness, but the lowest value of d over the 29 years. Describe and explain how these results for 1997 were
  10. June 2023, Paper 3, Q05.3 (4 marks): A journalist studied Figure 7 and Figure 8 (on page 16) and concluded that releasing heated water from a power station has no effect on local fish communities.
  11. June 2023, AS Paper 1, Q07.1 (4 marks): Using the standard deviation data from Table 4, describe the differences in prokaryotic biodiversity found in the soil with these two farming methods. In your a
  12. June 2023, AS Paper 1, Q07.3 (2 marks): Evaluate the balance between conservation and farming for these two farming methods. Use the information provided in Table 4 (on page 16). [2 marks]
  13. June 2022, Paper 1, Q01.3 (1 mark): Suggest one reason the scientists used biomass instead of the number of individuals of each plant species when collecting data to measure diversity. [1 mark]
  14. June 2022, Paper 1, Q01.4 (2 marks): The scientists used this equation to calculate the plant species index of diversity. 𝑑𝑑= 1 −෍ቀ𝑛𝑛 𝑁𝑁ቁ 2 where n = shoot biomass of each plant species and N = tot
  15. June 2022, Paper 1, Q01.5 (2 marks): Sometimes farmers stop growing crops on an area of land to allow the natural ecosystem to recover. The plant species index of diversity of these areas previousl
  16. November 2021, Paper 2, Q10.2 (2 marks): The percentage of forest cover in Malawi decreased between December 1990 and December 2016 (lines 9–10). Calculate the mean loss of forest cover in km2 per week
  17. November 2021, AS Paper 1, Q07.1 (2 marks): Use the information in Figure 7 to calculate the index of diversity for the insects captured in plot 1. The formula to calculate the index of diversity (d) is d
  18. November 2021, AS Paper 1, Q07.2 (1 mark): The student concluded that cutting plants with a lawn mower increased the species richness of insects in that meadow. Use information in Figure 7 to explain why
  19. June 2017, Paper 3, Q04.1 (2 marks): Table 1 shows plant species recorded at one site, on one island, in 1975. Table 1 Species Number of individuals Hydrocotyle vulgaris 3 Plantago maritima 19 Ranu
  20. June 2017, Paper 3, Q04.2 (3 marks): Outline a method the ecologists could have used to determine the plant species richness at one site. [3 marks]
  21. June 2017, Paper 3, Q04.3 (3 marks): Some of the ecologists’ results are shown in Table 2. They carried out a statistical test to find out whether any differences between the 1975 and 2010 means we
  22. June 2017, AS Paper 1, Q09.1 (2 marks): Define each of the following terms. [2 marks] Species Species richness Scientists investigated the species richness of fish caught at various depths in the Paci
  23. June 2017, AS Paper 1, Q09.2 (1 mark): What is the modal value of species richness? [1 mark]
  24. June 2017, AS Paper 1, Q09.3 (3 marks): 68% of all the fish caught in this investigation came from sample A. A student thought this showed that sample A had a greater index of diversity than any of th
  25. June 2016, AS Paper 2, Q04.1: What is the mean species richness for dung beetles on the rough grazing farms [1 mar
  26. June 2016, AS Paper 2, Q04.2: In addition to the information provided in Figures 4 and 5, what other measurement is required to calculate an index of diversity for dung beetles? [1 mar
  27. June 2016, AS Paper 2, Q04.3 (2 marks): Explain what the standard deviations suggest about the difference in mean tota number of dung beetles between the different types of farm. [2 mark
  28. June 2016, AS Paper 2, Q04.4: The scientists placed traps to collect the dung beetles at sites chosen at random Explain the importance of the sites being chosen at random. [1 mar
  29. June 2016, AS Paper 2, Q04.5 (3 marks): On the intensive farms, the farmers had removed hedges to increase land for grazing. This resulted in a decrease in the diversity of birds on these farms. Expla
  30. Specimen, Paper 1, Q03.1 (1 mark): This source has been removed due to third-party copyright restrictions.
  31. Specimen, Paper 1, Q03.2 (1 mark): Scientists investigated the biodiversity of butterflies in a rainforest. Their investigation lasted several months. The scientists set one canopy trap and one u
  32. Specimen, Paper 1, Q03.3 (3 marks): Answer =
  33. Specimen, Paper 1, Q03.4 (3 marks): [ ] 8

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