Explain how the conservation of woodland habitats can help to maintain biodiversity within a community.
Written & reviewed by James Millett — Biology (Imperial College London), PGCE Science (University of Cambridge).
A local wildlife trust is working to protect an ancient woodland. The woodland contains many species of trees, flowering plants, insects, birds and mammals. A nearby area of woodland was cleared ten years ago to build a housing estate.
Model answer (5 marks)
Biodiversity is the variety of different species within a habitat. Conserving woodland keeps or increases the number of species that can live there. A woodland offers a range of habitats and food sources, so many species of trees, plants, insects, birds and mammals can coexist. If woodland is cleared, the area becomes a single habitat with fewer species, so biodiversity falls. High biodiversity makes the community more stable because food webs are robust; if one species is lost, others can fill its role.
Examiner tips
- Use the definition of biodiversity first, then link to woodland conservation, habitat diversity, and stability of food webs.
- Show cause‑effect: conservation → more species → stability.
- Keep answer concise and use exam‑specific terms like ‘habitat’, ‘food web’ and ‘species richness’.
- Use the word ‘maintain’ or ‘increase’ to match the mark scheme.
Mark scheme (5 marks)
- Biodiversity is the variety of different species (within a habitat/community)
- Conserving woodland maintains/increases the number of different species present
- Woodland provides habitats/food sources for a wide range of species (so more species can live there)
- Clearing woodland reduces biodiversity / the cleared area has fewer species than the conserved woodland
- High biodiversity makes the community more stable / allows food webs to be maintained if one species is lost
Key terms in this question
biodiversity · community · habitat · conservation
Related
- All AQA A-Level Biology (7402) revision notes →
- How to answer a "Explain" question →
- Decode the mark scheme abbreviations →
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