AQA GCSE Biology - Unit 2 Summary Notes

AQA GCSE Biology – Unit 2 summary notes
Plant organs
Plant organs include stems, roots and leaves.
Examples of plant tissues include:
epidermal tissues, which cover the plant
mesophyll, which carries out photosynthesis
xylem and phloem, which transport substances around the plant.
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B2.3 Photosynthesis
Summary
Green plants and algae use light energy to make their own food. They obtain the raw
materials they need to make this food from the air and the soil. The conditions in which
plants are grown can be changed to promote growth.
Photosynthesis
Photo = light
Synthesis = making of (glucose)
Photosynthesis = making glucose using light
During photosynthesis:
light energy is absorbed by a green substance called chlorophyll, which is found in
chloroplasts in some plant cells and algae.
This energy is used by converting carbon dioxide (from the air) and water (from the
soil) into sugar (glucose).
Oxygen is released as a by-product.
Photosynthesis is summarised by the equation:

light energy
carbon dioxide + water glucose + oxygen
Where does photosynthesis happen?

Leaves are the main site of photosynthesis.
Photosynthesis mainly in occurs in the mesophyll cells.
These cells contain lots of chloroplasts.
Chloroplasts contain chlorophyll.
A palisade mesophyll cell:
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Factors that limit the rate of photosynthesis
1) Temperature
A low temperature will limit the rate as the molecules will move less and therefore the
reaction happens slower
2) Carbon dioxide
A shortage of CO2 will limit the rate as fewer molecules will be available for the reaction.
3) Light intensity
A shortage of light means there is less energy to power the reaction.
Limiting factors explained:

Light, temperature and the availability of carbon dioxide interact and in practice any one
of them may be the factor that limits photosynthesis.
If one of these factors is closest to its minimum value it will limit the rate.
Increasing this factor will increase the rate.
The rate will continue to increase until another factor becomes limiting.
Any further increase in the original factor will now not increase the rate.
With no limiting factors, increasing a factor above a certain level will not increase the
rate. All chlorophyll molecules are being used.
Farming practices
Farmers artificially manipulate the environment in which they grow plants.
They grow plants in greenhouses or in polythene tunnels.
They can control the temperature in greenhouses using heaters and ventilation.
They can artificially increase the carbon dioxide levels.
They can control the light using fluorescent lamps.
By doing all of this, their plants grow faster and certain plants can be grown in this
country out of their natural growth season. Eg tomatoes can be grown all year round.
Therefore, they increase their profits.
How do plants and algae use glucose?
The glucose produced in photosynthesis may be converted into insoluble starch for
storage
Plant cells use some of the glucose produced during photosynthesis for respiration.
Some glucose in plants and algae is used:
to produce fat or oil for storage
to produce cellulose, which strengthens the cell wall
to produce proteins:
o To produce proteins, plants also use nitrate ions that are absorbed from the
soil.
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B2.4 Organisms and their environment
Summary
Living organisms form communities, and we need to understand the relationships within
and between these communities. These relationships are affected by external influences.
Physical factors
Physical factors that may affect organisms are:
Temperature:
o Temperature affects the rate of an organism’s metabolism.
o Some organisms cannot maintain a constant high body temperature.
o They cannot tolerate extreme temperatures.
o Organisms that can maintain a constant high body temperature may also
struggle to survive in extreme temperatures.
availability of nutrients:
o Nutrients such as nitrates are essential for the growth of plants and
microorganisms.
o If there is a low concentration of these nutrients, these organisms struggle to
grow and survive.
amount of light:
o Plants require light as an energy source for photosynthesis.
o In low light intensities plants grow very slowly.
availability of water:
o All organisms require water.
o It is essential because chemical reactions that occur inside and outside cells
occur in solution in water.
o In the absence of water, cells, and therefore organisms, die
availability of oxygen:
o Oxygen is essential for aerobic respiration.
o It can become limited in the soil, so plant roots cannot grow and absorb
mineral ions and water.
o It can also become limited in water, so aquatic organisms struggle to respire
and survive.
availability of carbon dioxide:
o Carbon dioxide is essential for photosynthesis.
o This can become limited in an environment where there are many plants.
o This will reduce the rate of growth of plants.
Collection of quantitative data

Sampling:
To study the distribution of a species you need to find out:
o The size of the area being studied.
o The number of organisms living there.
o Where those organisms live.
However, it would be very time consuming to count every individual organism:
o They may move
o There may be too many.
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Therefore, a sample of the organisms is counted.

The techniques chosen should enable this sample to be representative of the whole
area.
It should provide valid data.
The sample can be used to estimate the total population.
The technique should be reproducible; if it is carried out again the estimated population
should be the same size.
Quadrats
These are square frames, used to mark off specific areas of ground.
Typically 0.5m X 0.5m with a grid of 10cm X 10 cm
They can be used to survey:
o which species are present,
o numbers of each species, or
o percentage cover of a species.
Random Sampling:
Construct a regular grid using tape across the area.
Generate random numbers using a calculator or computer.
Use these to determine coordinates.
This ensures that there is no bias by the investigator.
It ensures the results are valid.
Investigate the population of the species in the quadrat.
Repeat many times.
Transects
Use when:
There are changes in the distribution of a population of an organism.
There are two neighbouring habitat
eg grassland to woodland
Or, if a particular factor leads to zonation
Eg the effect of the tide and coverage by water on a rocky seashore.
Method
i) Choose the start and end positions of the transect.
ii) Determine the direction and length of the transect.
iii) Lay down a tape or string to mark out transect.
iv) Sample the organisms along the line.
v) Perform further parallel transects to ensure results are reliable.
vi) Take recording of the factors that could be influencing the distribution along
the transect.
Various types of transect:

1. Record each organism, which is touching the line at suitable, regular intervals.
2. Place a quadrat at the start position and record its contents. Place the subsequent
quadrats immediately touching the previous ones along the transect.
3. If the transect is very long, place the quadrats at suitable, regular intervals along the
transect.
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AQA GCSE Biology – Unit 2 summary notes

Photosynthesis is summarised by the equation:

Where does photosynthesis happen?

A palisade mesophyll cell:

Factors that limit the rate of photosynthesis

Limiting factors explained:

How do plants and algae use glucose?

B2.4 Organisms and their environment

Collection of quantitative data

Therefore, a sample of the organisms is counted.

Various types of transect:

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