WAEC Biology 2017 Theory question 103

Theory question 103

Soil

(a) Name one instrument used for collecting: (i) soil organisms from a soil sample; (ii) tiny insects from a leaf or a stem. (b) Make a diagram 6cm — 8cm long of the instrument named in 3(a)(ii) and label fully. (c) Explain briefly the relationship between three examples of symbiotic organisms.

Show the model answer
Model answer

(a)(i) Tullgren funnel (or Baermann funnel for soil nematodes).
(ii) Pooter (aspirator).
(b) Diagram of a pooter, 6–8 cm long, with title and labels: specimen tube/bottle, rubber bung (cork), inlet tube (short tube put near the insect), mouthpiece tube (sucking tube), gauze/muslin covering the inner end of the mouthpiece tube.
(c) Any three pairs, each with how both benefit: Rhizobium bacteria and legumes – bacteria fix nitrogen for the plant, plant gives food and shelter in root nodules; lichen (alga and fungus) – alga makes food, fungus holds water and gives shelter; hermit crab and sea anemone – anemone protects the crab, crab carries the anemone to food; termites and cellulose-digesting protozoa in their gut – protozoa digest wood for the termite and get food and shelter; cattle and rumen bacteria – bacteria digest cellulose, get food and a warm home.

Explanation

For symbiosis, say what each partner gains in every example.