Fauna, Flora and Touristic Geography — November 2024

Source: 04 FAUNA, FLORA AND TOURISTIC GEOGRAPHY NOV 2024-compressed.pdf | Paper code: 2912/105; 2918/105

Question 1(a)

Explain five ways in which the Rift valley lakes are important to the tourism industry in Kenya. (10 marks)

Answer

  1. Lake landscapes provide distinctive scenery for sightseeing and photography.
  2. Bird habitats attract birdwatchers, including visitors interested in flamingos where conditions support them.
  3. Water-based activities diversify the visitor experience at suitable lakes.
  4. Wildlife and nearby protected areas support combined safari itineraries.
  5. Visitor spending supports accommodation, guiding, transport and other local tourism enterprises.

Question 1(b)

Describe five observable features that indicate old age in mammals. (10 marks)

Answer

  1. Heavily worn or missing teeth may indicate advanced age.
  2. Greying or a changed coat can occur in some species.
  3. Reduced muscle mass or a more prominent bony outline may be visible.
  4. Slower movement or joint stiffness may accompany ageing.
  5. Cloudiness in the eyes or impaired responses may be observed. These signs are species-dependent and can also result from disease or injury; one sign alone does not establish age.

Question 2(a)

Explain five negative effects of climate change on the environment. (10 marks)

Answer

  1. More severe drought can reduce freshwater availability and vegetation.
  2. Intense rainfall and floods can erode soils and damage habitats.
  3. Rising temperatures can shift suitable habitats and threaten sensitive species.
  4. Ocean warming and related stress can damage coral ecosystems.
  5. Sea-level rise can increase coastal flooding, erosion and saltwater intrusion.

Question 2(b)

Outline five ways in which improved transport enhances tourism in Kenya. (10 marks)

Answer

  1. Makes remote attractions easier to reach.
  2. Reduces journey times between destinations.
  3. Improves the reliability of visitor transfers.
  4. Opens new routes for domestic and international visitors.
  5. Supports the supply of goods and services needed by tourism businesses.

Question 3(a)

Explain five factors that may contribute to increase in human population in a destination. (10 marks)

Answer

  1. Employment opportunities attract workers and their families.
  2. Better healthcare can reduce mortality.
  3. Improved water, sanitation and housing can support longer survival.
  4. High birth rates increase the population through natural growth.
  5. Education, transport and other improved services can attract settlement from surrounding areas.

Question 3(b)

Outline five roles of birds in an ecosystem. (10 marks)

Answer

  1. Disperse seeds from consumed fruits.
  2. Pollinate certain flowering plants.
  3. Control insects and other prey populations.
  4. Remove carrion through scavenging.
  5. Provide food for predators and help transfer nutrients through food webs.

Question 4(a)

Explain five reasons that make car ownership a motivator of domestic tourism in Kenya. (10 marks)

Answer

  1. Private cars allow families to choose departure and return times.
  2. They make attractions outside scheduled transport routes easier to visit.
  3. Sharing the vehicle can reduce transport cost per traveller.
  4. Personal luggage and recreational equipment can be carried conveniently.
  5. The ability to make stops and change plans encourages short, spontaneous trips.

Question 4(b)

Outline five factors that should be considered before establishing a butterfly farming project in Kenya. (10 marks)

Answer

  1. Suitable climate and a location appropriate for the intended species.
  2. Reliable supplies of host plants and nectar plants.
  3. Lawful sourcing and the permits required for the species and business.
  4. A realistic market, operating budget and technical skills.
  5. Biosecurity, containment and measures protecting wild butterfly populations and local habitats.

Question 5(a)

Explain five ways in which swamps are important in an ecosystem. (10 marks)

Answer

  1. They provide breeding and feeding habitats for wildlife.
  2. Wetland vegetation traps sediment and helps filter some pollutants.
  3. Stored floodwater can reduce downstream flood peaks.
  4. Wetland soils and vegetation store carbon.
  5. Swamps support nutrient cycling and the productivity of connected aquatic food webs.

Question 5(b)

Outline five characteristics of fish that enable them to survive in marine environment. (10 marks)

Answer

  1. Gills extract dissolved oxygen from water.
  2. Fins provide propulsion, steering and balance.
  3. Body shapes suited to their habitat help movement or concealment.
  4. Salt-and-water regulation maintains internal conditions in seawater.
  5. Protective skin, mucus and, in many species, scales provide a barrier against injury and infection.

Question 6(a)

Describe five similarities between reptiles and amphibians. (10 marks)

Answer

  1. Both groups are vertebrates with an internal skeleton.
  2. Both are generally ectothermic and depend strongly on external heat.
  3. Both include species that reproduce by internal or external egg development, although reproductive methods differ.
  4. Adults of both groups include lung-breathing species, while amphibians may also exchange gases through skin.
  5. Both descend from tetrapod ancestors and commonly have two pairs of limbs, with modifications or loss in some lineages.

Question 6(b)

Outline five ways in which plants in arid areas reduce water loss. (10 marks)

Answer

  1. Reduce leaf area or replace leaves with spines.
  2. Develop a thick, waxy cuticle.
  3. Have sunken or protected stomata.
  4. Close stomata during the hottest or driest periods.
  5. Shed leaves during prolonged dry conditions; adaptations differ between plant species.

Question 7(a)

Explain six threats to wildlife in community conservancies in Kenya. (12 marks)

Answer

  1. Habitat conversion to farming or settlements reduces space for wildlife.
  2. Overgrazing degrades vegetation and creates competition for forage.
  3. Poaching directly removes animals and disrupts populations.
  4. Human-wildlife conflict can result in retaliatory killing.
  5. Drought and climate variability reduce food and water availability.
  6. Inadequate funding or weak management can limit patrols, monitoring and community benefit-sharing.

Question 7(b)

Explain four reasons why classification of mammals is important. (8 marks)

Answer

  1. Identification: grouping organisms by diagnostic features helps distinguish species.
  2. Communication: recognised names reduce ambiguity between researchers and managers.
  3. Evolution: classification represents evidence about relationships and shared ancestry.
  4. Conservation: identifying species and populations supports surveys, protection priorities and management.
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