Meerkats are small mammals that live in deserts which are dry and open habitats. Deserts are very hot during the day but cold at night. Meerkats are carnivores which search for food during the daytime. (a) Fig. 2.1 shows part of a food web from a desert. [Figure 2.1]

1. (a)(i)Using the visible characteristics of the organisms in the food web, complete the gaps in Table 2.1 to classify the named organisms. Table 2.1 organism vertebrate or arthropod group visible classification feature scorpion meerkat mammal snake eagle vertebrate bird has feathers[6]
2. (a)(ii)Suggest and explain what might happen to the populations of snakes and beetles in the food web if the number of meerkats went down.[4]
3. (a)(iii)Suggest and explain why deserts usually have low biodiversity.[2]
4. (b)Meerkats are social animals living in groups of about 10–15 individuals. When they are not out in the open, they spend time in networks of burrows, which can be as deep as 1.5m. Suggest three ways in which these burrows help the meerkats to survive.[3]

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