Marine Sciences Paper 2 (English)

May-June 2026 — Grade 12 / Matric — Marine Sciences

Past Paper 2026 Grade 12 English

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Q1— Section header —

1.1Various options are provided as possible answers to the following questions. Choose the answer and write only the letter (A D\ next to the question numbers (1.1.1 to 1.1.10\ in the ANSWER BOOK, e.g. 1.1.11

1.1.1n Marine Protected Area (MPA\ management, the concept of spill over refers to water from streams in surrounding areas flowing into MPAs excess

1.1.2The class to which the echinoderm in the image below belongs is [Adapted from https://media.australian.museum/media/dd/images/ Crinoidea. Ophiuroidea. Echinoidea. Asteroidea.

1.1.3Which ONE of the following options shows animals that are both found on the rocky shores of the East Coast of South Africa? Oysters and Pear shaped Limpet Pill bugs and zoanthids

1.1.4The diagram below shows a food web of an estuary. Which option ONLY contains primary consumers Small fish, large fish and birds Algae, sea grass and filter feeders Insects, small fish and sharks

1.1.5During a flooding event, water from a river flowed into rock pools. Sea stars in a rock pool would experience the following effect: Water moves Size of cells Cells in through osmosis

1.1.6The following phrases refer to different reproductive characteristics: (i\ Mate in the ocean (ii\ Internal fertilisation (iii\ Pups are precocial at birth (iv\

1.1The diagram below shows a hagfish. [Adapted from https://www.researchgate.net/ Which option in the table below gives the CORRECT combination for the hagfish? and refer to the labels in the diagram above.

1.1The terms below refer to the characteristics of fish. (i\ Bony skeleton (ii\ Foldable fins

1.1.9Which ONE of the following states an effective way to prevent overtourism at sensitive zones of marine touri destinations? Make money for conservation by allowing mass tourism

1.1.10Sea a nemones congregate in gullies of rock pools because the temperature of the water is stable. ater flow brings concentrated food sources ompetition is reduced in the gullies they actively move to search for prey.

1.2Give the correct scientific term/phrase for each of the following descriptions. Write only the term/phrase next to the question numbers (1.2.1 to 1.2.10\ in the ANSWER BOOK.

1.2.1The offshore region just below the spring low tide mark

1.2.2Specific forms of behaviour exhibited by animals in order to increase their chances of survival

1.2.3Grooves on the arms of echinoderms from which tube feet extend

1.2.4Can engulf small particles and foreign cells into itself

1.2.5Subclass of Chondrichthyes that include sharks, skates and rays

1.2.6External ear serving to focus sound into the auditory canal

1.2.7Unregulated experiences offered to tourists centred on outdoor environments

1.2.8In data collection, referring to a g roup of items or people that closely matches the characteristics of its population as a whole

1.2.9The region where plant and animals have shared or similar characteristics due to climatic and environmental conditions

1.2.10Ability of an ecosystem to support and maintain its processes as well as a diverse community of organisms (10 x 1\ (10\ P2

1.3Indicate whether each of the descriptions in COLUMN I applies to A ONLY ONLY BOTH A AND NONE of the items in COLUMN II. Write A only B only

1.3.1Bursa of brittlestars gaseous exchange development of offspring

1.3.2Broad foo t of limpets A: adapted for wave action adapted for light intensity

1.3.3Greenwashing cleaning beaches before tourist arrive giving false or misleading information on environmental benefit

1.3.4Adaptation in cetaceans to store oxygen high levels of myoglobin diving bradycardia

1.3.5The importance of protecting BOFFFs in an MPA asier to count for research large fish are economically more valuable

Q2— Section header —

2.1Study the investigation below and answer the questions that follow. The KwaZulu Natal bather protection program has been implemented at 37 beaches along the KwaZulu Natal coastline. With the goal to ensure safe

2.1.1Draw a pie chart to present the abundance of the different categories of prey eaten and consumed by the large sharks

2.1.2Calculate the percentage abundance of invertebrates in the diet of the medium sharks (2\

2.1.3State TWO ways in which the reliability of th study was increased. (2\ P2

2.1.4Give ONE reason why the scientists did not want to use decaying Tiger Sharks. (1\

2.1.5Explain why there is a shift in importance in the diet from bony fish in small Tiger Sharks to mammals in large Tiger Sharks. (4\ (16\

2.2Read the extract below and answer the questions that follow. Traditional methods of producing anti fouling paints for the shipping industry are energy intensive and release toxic chemicals into the ocean.

2.2.1Explain hy it is beneficial to prevent organism from sticking to the tunicates (3\

2.2.2You were tasked to design and produce such an anti fouling paint by using

2.2Explain ONE possible limitation of using anti fouling paints inspired by the chemicals of the tunicates in real world maritime settings (1 x 2\ (2\

2.2By referring to the tunicates, give your opinion on whether it would be a good idea to emulate the chemicals produced by these animals in shipping. Substantiate your answer. (2\ (13\ P2

2.3Study the images of a Leopard S ucumber ( Bohadschia argus \ and a Humpback Whale ( Megaptera novaeangliae \ below to answer the questions that follow.

2.3.1Leopard Sea ucumbers and Humpback Whales use different structures to filter feed. By referring to the structures explain how food is ingested by: Leopard

2.3.2Discuss how Humpback Whales can breathe and filter feed at the same time. (2\

2.3.3Explain why it is important to conserve both smaller animals such as the Leopard Sea Cucumber and large animals such as the Humpback Whale. (2\ (8\

Q3— Section header —

3.1Study the diagram showing the ventilation mechanism a fish species below to answer the questions that follow. [Illustration adapted from https://ars.els cdn.com/content/image/

3.1.1abel structure (1\

3.1.2Explain why the oral valve is closed when the operculum is opened. (2\

Q3— Section header —

3.1.4

3.2

3.2.1Describe how this kelp forest design in the image is able to prevent shark attacks. (2\

3.2.2State ONE significant effect of this barrier as an artificial kelp forest. (1\

3.2.3Explain how overtourism could have resulted in the increased number of shark attacks. (2\ P2 13 ay

3.2.4

3.3Read the text below to answer the questions that follow. NAHOON MANGROVES The Nahoon stuary near East London in the Eastern Cape has the southernmost mangrove forest in South Africa Like many estuaries, Nahoon is under threat from urban development, with

3.3.1Explain ONE ecological role of mangrove forests. (2\

3.3.2Discuss how sewage run off from urban developments might influence the ecological role of the mangrove forest in the Nahoon stuary. (3\ (5\

3.4Refer to the text and diagrams below hypothetical Marine Protected Area scenario to answer the questions that follow. Rocky shores are among the most accessible marine ecosystems. pecies found on rocky shores are often harvested by local coastal communities.

10.3389/fmars.2022.893260

3.4.1(a\ Use the bar graph on the previous page to name the limpet species that was most

Q3— Section header —

3.4.2Give the IUCN category for this MPA. (1\

3.4.3If this entire MPA is not declared a take zone, d iscuss ways in which the harvesting of limpets could be made sustainable for th community (4\

3.4.4Refer to the diagram on rocky shore zonation above to name the zone or where the harvested limpet species

3.4.5Describe how the overharvesting of the limpet would affect the zone named

Q3— Section header —

3.4.6In your opinion, is this MPA effective in conserving both limpet species Motivate your answer (2\ [38] TOTAL SECTION B: Zone A one B38

Q4— Section header —

Q5— Section header —

Topics Identified

Cell BiologyGeneticsEvolutionEcologyAnimal Behaviour

Mark Allocation

Total150 marks

Sections37 + 38 = 75 marks

Key Information

Contact Number0256422344 · 0146797530

Websitewww.researchgate.net · www.livescience.com

Paper information

SubjectMarine Sciences

Year2026

SessionMay-June

TypePast Paper

PaperPaper 2

LanguageEnglish

Pages17

Downloads7

Examination context

Decade2020s

Years ago0y

Season—

Start day—

Exam period—

Days since exam—

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File size1.84 MB

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Archived on24 September 2026

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