a. State five :
(i) challenges that make conservation of resources difficult; [5 marks]
(ii) ways by which the Government of a country ensures conservation of natural resources. [5 marks]
b. What is an endangered species? [3 marks]
c. A child with blood group O was born to a mother of blood group A.
(i) What is the blood group genotype of the child? [1 marks]
(ii) What are the possible blood group genotypes of the father? [3 marks]
d. State three reasons why genetic variation is important to plants. [3 marks]
Explanation
a. (i) Challenges that make the conservation of resources difficult:
- Limited land area for development leads to the rapid destruction of the natural forest;
- Over grazing/over fishing;
- Poaching/ killing of endangered species;
- Bush burning/poor farming methods;
- Over cultivation of land;
- High demand for timber that has resulted in the felling of trees/indiscriminate cutting of trees for firewood;
- Damming of rivers for hydro-electricity and irrigation has resulted in the alteration of the ecosystem;
- Lack of awareness of the populace and policy makers of the need for conservation/lack of education;
- Improper enforcement of existing laws/poor leadership;
- Forest fire;
- Inadequate funding in conservation;
- Lack of international/local cooperation on conservation;
- Illegal/unlawful exploitation of minerals.
(ii) Ways by which Government ensures the conservation of resources:
- Creation of parks/gardens/wildlife/zoo/reserves;
- Putting in place a chemical and toxic waste dump programmes to avoid water pollution;
- Enactment of conservation laws;
- Enforcement of conservation laws;
- Creating awareness/education through the media;
- Establishment of conservation fund;
- Training of conservation personnel/employing experts to manage natural resources;
- Establishing local and international cooperation;
- Aforestation/planting of trees.
b. Endangered species
- Species whose population has become so small; that it can completely be wiped out/become extinct; if not properly managed.
c. (i) Genotype of child: OO
(ii) Genotype of Father: OO; AO; BO;
d. Importance of genetic variation to plants
- It enables plants to spread to colonies/new areas;
- It may enable plants to survive harsh/adverse conditions/environments;
- It may enable plants to be resistant to diseases;
- It gives rise to varieties of desirable plant species;
- It makes plants produce better fruits/yield;
- It makes plants produce early yield;