Study the diagram and answer the questions that follow.

Question

TOTAL SECTION A: [50]
Question 2.1.1 [1 mark]
Give a name for this type of diagram.
9

Question 2.1.2 [1 mark]
Which terrestrial plant group is least suited to life on land?
Question 2.1.3 [2 marks]
The gymnosperms are more advanced than the bryophytes.
State TWO pieces of information from the diagram that supports this statement. Question 2.1.4 [2 marks]
What feature do all four plant groups have in common with their algal ancestor?
[6 marks]
Question 2.2
The information in the table is a record of the number of different animal species in South Africa and in the world.
Taxon
Number of species in SA
Number of species in the world
VERTEBRATES
X
59813
Mammals
318
5417
Birds
793
9958
Reptiles
171
5242
Amphibians
287
6200
Fish
Freshwater
120
9413
Marine
3331
20593
INVERTEBRATES
66184
1203377
Insects
–
950012
Molluscs
–
81000
Crustaceans
–
40000
Corals
–
2177
10

Question 2.2.1 [1 mark]
How many vertebrate animal species (X) occur in South Africa?
Question 2.2.2 [3 marks]
What percentage of the total number of marine fish in the world is represented by the South African marine fish? Show all your work.
Question 2.2.3 [1 mark]
According to the table, which invertebrate animal species contributes the most
to biodiversity in the world?
Question 2.2.4 [4 marks]
Explain TWO ways in which humans would be affected if all the insects were to
become extinct.

Answer 1

Question 2.1.1: Phylogenetic tree or evolutionary tree
Question 2.1.2: Bryophytes
Question 2.1.3: The gymnosperms have vascular tissues and seeds, while the bryophytes do not have vascular tissues or seeds. Additionally, the gymnosperms are shown as a more recent branch on the diagram compared to the bryophytes.
Question 2.1.4: All four plant groups have chlorophyll and perform photosynthesis like their algal ancestor.

Question 2.2.1: 792 vertebrate animal species occur in South Africa
Question 2.2.2: South African marine fish = 3331 / 20593 * 100% = 16.18%
Question 2.2.3: Insects contribute the most to biodiversity in the world
Question 2.2.4:
1. Humans would be affected by a lack of pollination, as many insects are important pollinators for plant species. Without insects, the reproduction of many plants would be negatively impacted.
2. A decline in insect populations could disrupt food chains and ecosystems, leading to potential food shortages for humans who rely on these ecosystems for resources.