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Productivity and energy transfer: Edexcel A‑Level Biology A questions

Every Edexcel A-Level Biology A exam question on Productivity and energy transfer (specification points 5.10–5.11), 2016–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

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1,749 questions

  1. Q1(a)(i)

    June 2024 · Paper 1

    1 markProductivity and energy transfer
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 1, question 1(a)(i): Which of the following is the correct value for the net primary productivity (NPP) in this ecosystem? (1) A 7 025 731 kJ m–2 yr–1 B 697 036 kJ m–2 yr–1 C 142 26

  2. Q1(a)(ii)

    June 2024 · Paper 1

    2 marksProductivity and energy transfer
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 1, question 1(a)(ii): The table shows some information on trophic levels in this ecosystem. Energy intake Energy fixed as biomass Trophic level / kJ m–2 yr–1 / kJ m–2 yr–1 Primary co

  3. Q4(a)

    June 2024 · Paper 3

    3 marksProductivity and energy transfer
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 3, question 4(a): Explain why an area of ocean can support a greater biomass of humpback whales than of great white sharks. (3)

  4. Q4(b)(i)

    June 2024 · Paper 3

    1 markProductivity and energy transfer
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 3, question 4(b)(i): State the relationship between gross primary productivity and net primary productivity. (1)

  5. Q4(b)(ii)

    June 2024 · Paper 3

    4 marksProductivity and energy transfer
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 3, question 4(b)(ii): The concentration of oxygen in water (dissolved oxygen) can be measured using an oxygen probe. Explain how an oxygen probe could be used to estimate the effect

  6. Q8(a)

    June 2023 · Paper 3

    1 markProductivity and energy transfer
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 3, question 8(a): The mass of ‘carbon turned into sugars by photosynthesis’ is a measure of the gross productivity of photosynthetic organisms (paragraph 2). Write an equation th

  7. Q2(b)(i)

    June 2022 · Paper 1

    3 marksProductivity and energy transfer
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 1, question 2(b)(i): Explain why a diet based on plant protein produces lower greenhouse gas emissions than a diet based on animal protein. (3)

  8. Q3(b)(i)

    June 2022 · Paper 3

    1 markProductivity and energy transfer
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 3, question 3(b)(i): Add shading to the graph to show the area that represents net primary productivity. (1)

  9. Q3(b)(iii)

    June 2022 · Paper 3

    3 marksProductivity and energy transferThe carbon cycle and reforestation
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 3, question 3(b)(iii): Deduce the effect of succession on the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. (3)

  10. Q1(c)

    November 2021 · Paper 1

    2 marksProductivity and energy transfer
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 1, question 1(c): Net primary productivity (NPP) is a measure of the increase in biomass of a plant. Explain why respiration affects the production of biomass. (2)

  11. Q3(b)(ii)

    October 2020 · Paper 3

    2 marksProductivity and energy transfer
    The whole paper ↗
    October 2020 Paper 3, question 3(b)(ii): The table shows information about two types of ecosystem. Gross Net Percentage of gross Total surface Ecosystem productivity productivity productivity used area

  12. Q2(a)(i)

    June 2019 · Paper 1

    1 markProductivity and energy transfer
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2019 Paper 1, question 2(a)(i): Calculate how much energy is lost through respiration by the primary consumers. (1) Answer kJ m−2 yr−1

  13. Q2(a)(ii)

    June 2019 · Paper 1

    1 markProductivity and energy transfer
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2019 Paper 1, question 2(a)(ii): The table gives details of energy transfers at the different trophic levels. Energy fixed as Trophic level Transfer efficiency (%) biomass / kJ m−2 yr−1 Produce

  14. Q2(a)(iii)

    June 2019 · Paper 1

    1 markProductivity and energy transfer
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2019 Paper 1, question 2(a)(iii): The efficiency of photosynthesis can be measured as the percentage of energy from sunlight that is converted to gross primary productivity (GPP). Which of the f

  15. Q2(b)

    June 2019 · Paper 1

    3 marksProductivity and energy transfer
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2019 Paper 1, question 2(b): Explain why the value for GPP is lower than the light energy available to the ecosystem. (3)

  16. Q9(a)(ii)

    June 2018 · Paper 1

    2 marksProductivity and energy transfer
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2018 Paper 1, question 9(a)(ii): The gross primary productivity (GPP) for one mature tropical rainforest was found to be 24 800 kJ m−2 year−1. It was estimated that 65% of GPP was used in respi

  17. Q5(b)(i)

    June 2017 · Paper 1

    3 marksProductivity and energy transfer
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2017 Paper 1, question 5(b)(i): Calculate the percentage increase in mass of carbon released due to respiration by temperate deciduous forests compared with that by boreal forests. (3) %

  18. Q5(b)(ii)

    June 2017 · Paper 1

    3 marksProductivity and energy transfer
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2017 Paper 1, question 5(b)(ii): The ratio of net primary productivity to gross primary productivity is a measure of the ability of forests to transfer carbon from the atmosphere into biomass.
All 18 questions on Productivity and energy transfer, as a list
  1. June 2024, Paper 1, Q1(a)(i) (1 mark): Which of the following is the correct value for the net primary productivity (NPP) in this ecosystem? (1) A 7 025 731 kJ m–2 yr–1 B 697 036 kJ m–2 yr–1 C 142 26
  2. June 2024, Paper 1, Q1(a)(ii) (2 marks): The table shows some information on trophic levels in this ecosystem. Energy intake Energy fixed as biomass Trophic level / kJ m–2 yr–1 / kJ m–2 yr–1 Primary co
  3. June 2024, Paper 3, Q4(a) (3 marks): Explain why an area of ocean can support a greater biomass of humpback whales than of great white sharks. (3)
  4. June 2024, Paper 3, Q4(b)(i) (1 mark): State the relationship between gross primary productivity and net primary productivity. (1)
  5. June 2024, Paper 3, Q4(b)(ii) (4 marks): The concentration of oxygen in water (dissolved oxygen) can be measured using an oxygen probe. Explain how an oxygen probe could be used to estimate the effect
  6. June 2023, Paper 3, Q8(a) (1 mark): The mass of ‘carbon turned into sugars by photosynthesis’ is a measure of the gross productivity of photosynthetic organisms (paragraph 2). Write an equation th
  7. June 2022, Paper 1, Q2(b)(i) (3 marks): Explain why a diet based on plant protein produces lower greenhouse gas emissions than a diet based on animal protein. (3)
  8. June 2022, Paper 3, Q3(b)(i) (1 mark): Add shading to the graph to show the area that represents net primary productivity. (1)
  9. June 2022, Paper 3, Q3(b)(iii) (3 marks): Deduce the effect of succession on the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. (3)
  10. November 2021, Paper 1, Q1(c) (2 marks): Net primary productivity (NPP) is a measure of the increase in biomass of a plant. Explain why respiration affects the production of biomass. (2)
  11. October 2020, Paper 3, Q3(b)(ii) (2 marks): The table shows information about two types of ecosystem. Gross Net Percentage of gross Total surface Ecosystem productivity productivity productivity used area
  12. June 2019, Paper 1, Q2(a)(i) (1 mark): Calculate how much energy is lost through respiration by the primary consumers. (1) Answer kJ m−2 yr−1
  13. June 2019, Paper 1, Q2(a)(ii) (1 mark): The table gives details of energy transfers at the different trophic levels. Energy fixed as Trophic level Transfer efficiency (%) biomass / kJ m−2 yr−1 Produce
  14. June 2019, Paper 1, Q2(a)(iii) (1 mark): The efficiency of photosynthesis can be measured as the percentage of energy from sunlight that is converted to gross primary productivity (GPP). Which of the f
  15. June 2019, Paper 1, Q2(b) (3 marks): Explain why the value for GPP is lower than the light energy available to the ecosystem. (3)
  16. June 2018, Paper 1, Q9(a)(ii) (2 marks): The gross primary productivity (GPP) for one mature tropical rainforest was found to be 24 800 kJ m−2 year−1. It was estimated that 65% of GPP was used in respi
  17. June 2017, Paper 1, Q5(b)(i) (3 marks): Calculate the percentage increase in mass of carbon released due to respiration by temperate deciduous forests compared with that by boreal forests. (3) %
  18. June 2017, Paper 1, Q5(b)(ii) (3 marks): The ratio of net primary productivity to gross primary productivity is a measure of the ability of forests to transfer carbon from the atmosphere into biomass.

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