Please check the examination details below before entering your candidate information
Candidate surname Other names
Centre Number Candidate Number
Pearson Edexcel Level 3 GCE
Wednesday 5 June 2024
Afternoon (Time: 2 hours) Paper
reference 9BN0/01
Biology A (Salters Nuffield)
Advanced
PAPER 1: The Natural Environment and Species
Survival
You must have: Total Marks
Calculator, HB pencil, ruler
Instructions
•• Use black ink or ball-point pen.
Fill in the boxes at the top of this page with your name,
centre number and candidate number.
•• Answer all questions.
Show all your working out in calculations and include units where appropriate.
• Answer the questions in the spaces provided
– there may be more space than you need.
Information
•• The total mark for this paper is 100.
The marks for each question are shown in brackets
– use this as a guide as to how much time to spend on each question.
•• You may use a scientific calculator.
In questions marked with an asterisk (*), marks will be awarded for your ability to
structure your answer logically showing how the points that you make are related or
follow on from each other where appropriate.
Advice
•• Read each question carefully before you start to answer it.
Try to answer every question.
• Check your answers if you have time at the end.
Turn over
P74456A
©2024 Pearson Education Ltd.
F:1/1/1/1/1/1/
*P74456A0128*
, Answer ALL questions. Write your answers in the spaces provided.
Some questions must be answered with a cross in a box . If you change your mind about an
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA
answer, put a line through the box and then mark your new answer with a cross .
1 Silver Springs is an ecosystem in Florida.
Energy flow through this ecosystem has been studied.
The value for the light energy entering this ecosystem is 7 112 800 kJ m–2 yr–1.
The gross primary productivity (GPP) for this ecosystem is 87 069 kJ m–2 yr–1.
The value for respiration (R) in this ecosystem is 55 195 kJ m–2 yr–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 142 264 kJ m–2 yr–1
D 31 874 kJ m–2 yr–1
(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 consumers 14 092 4 615
Secondary consumers 1 602 464
Tertiary consumers 88 21
2
*P74456A0228*
, Calculate the percentage of the total light energy entering this ecosystem that
is fixed as biomass in the primary consumers.
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA
Give your answer to two significant figures.
(2)
.............................................. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . %
(b) Describe the role of mineral ions in the production of plant biomass.
(3)
. . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ ................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ ................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ ................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ ................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ ................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ ................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ ................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ ................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ ................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ ................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ ................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ ................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(Total for Question 1 = 6 marks)
3
*P74456A0328* Turn over
Candidate surname Other names
Centre Number Candidate Number
Pearson Edexcel Level 3 GCE
Wednesday 5 June 2024
Afternoon (Time: 2 hours) Paper
reference 9BN0/01
Biology A (Salters Nuffield)
Advanced
PAPER 1: The Natural Environment and Species
Survival
You must have: Total Marks
Calculator, HB pencil, ruler
Instructions
•• Use black ink or ball-point pen.
Fill in the boxes at the top of this page with your name,
centre number and candidate number.
•• Answer all questions.
Show all your working out in calculations and include units where appropriate.
• Answer the questions in the spaces provided
– there may be more space than you need.
Information
•• The total mark for this paper is 100.
The marks for each question are shown in brackets
– use this as a guide as to how much time to spend on each question.
•• You may use a scientific calculator.
In questions marked with an asterisk (*), marks will be awarded for your ability to
structure your answer logically showing how the points that you make are related or
follow on from each other where appropriate.
Advice
•• Read each question carefully before you start to answer it.
Try to answer every question.
• Check your answers if you have time at the end.
Turn over
P74456A
©2024 Pearson Education Ltd.
F:1/1/1/1/1/1/
*P74456A0128*
, Answer ALL questions. Write your answers in the spaces provided.
Some questions must be answered with a cross in a box . If you change your mind about an
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA
answer, put a line through the box and then mark your new answer with a cross .
1 Silver Springs is an ecosystem in Florida.
Energy flow through this ecosystem has been studied.
The value for the light energy entering this ecosystem is 7 112 800 kJ m–2 yr–1.
The gross primary productivity (GPP) for this ecosystem is 87 069 kJ m–2 yr–1.
The value for respiration (R) in this ecosystem is 55 195 kJ m–2 yr–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 142 264 kJ m–2 yr–1
D 31 874 kJ m–2 yr–1
(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 consumers 14 092 4 615
Secondary consumers 1 602 464
Tertiary consumers 88 21
2
*P74456A0228*
, Calculate the percentage of the total light energy entering this ecosystem that
is fixed as biomass in the primary consumers.
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA
Give your answer to two significant figures.
(2)
.............................................. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . %
(b) Describe the role of mineral ions in the production of plant biomass.
(3)
. . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ ................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ ................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ ................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ ................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ ................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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. . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ ................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(Total for Question 1 = 6 marks)
3
*P74456A0328* Turn over
