18.3. Conservation
A subsection of Biology, 9700, through 18. Classification, biodiversity and conservation
Listing 10 of 69 questions
The IUCN Red List provides information about the conservation status of species throughout the world, including the American badger, Taxidea taxus, and the black-footed ferret, Mustela nigripes. shows an American badger and shows a black-footed ferret. shows the IUCN conservation status of the American badger and the black-footed ferret in 1987 and in 2013. American badger, T. taxus conservation status American badger, T. taxus black-footed ferret, M. nigripes black-footed ferret, M. nigripes critically endangered extinct in the wild endangered vulnerable near threatened least concern American badgers and black-footed ferrets are both predators. • American badgers feed on prairie dogs and a range of other animals. • Black-footed ferrets feed almost entirely on prairie dogs. • American badgers do not have any animal predators. • Black-footed ferrets are preyed upon by American badgers and several other predators. Suggest reasons why black-footed ferrets are an endangered species but American badgers are not. In 1987, the world population of black-footed ferrets consisted of only 18 animals living in captivity. A number of different agencies worked together to prevent the extinction of this species. Their goal was to produce young black-footed ferrets to be released into the wild. The survival and breeding of the animals in the wild would then be monitored and supported. The collaborating agencies included: • local government • universities • zoos • native tribes that owned undeveloped reservation land. Outline how these different agencies could contribute to successful conservation of the black-footed ferret. Black-footed ferrets were released at three different locations in the wild at different times. Each population was established from captive-bred animals. shows the population sizes of black-footed ferrets at the three release locations. year population size / number of individuals South Dakota Wyoming Arizona Describe the patterns of population growth at the three locations where black-footed ferrets were released. Table 2.1 shows information about the gene pool of the populations of black-footed ferrets and the leg sizes of the black-footed ferrets at each release location in 2004. All three populations were started by animals from the same captive population. In this original captive population, 100% of the genes surveyed showed polymorphism, that is, they had more than one allele. The mean number of alleles per gene locus was two. The population at the South Dakota location in 2004 maintained the same level of genetic variation and leg size data as the original captive population, but the populations in Wyoming and Arizona showed changes. Table 2.1 population location gene pool data leg size data percentage of genes that are polymorphic mean number of alleles per gene locus mean length of lower back leg bone / mm mean length of lower front leg bone / mm South Dakota 2.00 69.4 59.0 Wyoming 1.43 68.0 56.7 Arizona 2.14 69.4 59.0 Use Table 2.1 to describe how the gene pools and leg sizes of the Wyoming and Arizona black-footed ferret populations have changed, compared to the original captive population. With reference to , suggest reasons for the changes you have described in . In 2008 some black-footed ferrets were born in captivity as a result of IVF using frozen sperm that had been stored for several years. Explain the benefits of using frozen sperm in captive breeding programmes.
9700_m16_qp_42
THEORY
2016
Paper 4, Variant 2
View
Palm oil is an edible vegetable oil that comes from the fruit of oil palm trees. • Palm oil is cheap. • It is the world’s most widely used vegetable oil. • The yield of oil per hectare from oil palm trees is thirty times more than that of oil from maize. • Around 85% of the world’s palm oil is now produced in Indonesia. Table 8.1 shows the change in forest cover on the three main Indonesian islands between 2000 and 2010. Table 8.1 island Sumatra Borneo Java area of island / million hectares forest cover in 2000 / million hectares forest cover in 2010 / million hectares loss of forest cover between 2000 and 2010 / million hectares percentage loss of forest cover between 2000 and 2010 Complete Table 8.1 to show the loss of forest cover and the percentage loss of forest cover for Borneo between 2000 and 2010. The Sumatran forest is the natural habitat for the Sumatran orangutan, Pongo abelii. shows a Sumatran orangutan. The Sumatran orangutan is classified as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Loss of forest cover can separate family groups from other groups. Suggest the genetic consequences of the separation of family groups. Suggest ways in which the Sumatran orangutan can be protected in its natural environment. Describe the role of zoos in the protection of endangered species such as the Sumatran orangutan.
9700_m17_qp_42
THEORY
2017
Paper 4, Variant 2
View
The sea otter, Enhydra lutris, is a marine mammal that lives on the coasts of the North Pacific ocean. shows a sea otter. Table 6.1 shows part of the classification of the sea otter. Table 6.1 taxonomic group name phylum Chordata Mammalia order Carnivora Mustelidae genus Enhydra species lutris Complete Table 6.1 by adding the correct taxonomic groups in the two spaces provided. There were estimated to be about 300 000 sea otters in the year 1700. • Extensive hunting for their fur resulted in the numbers of sea otters falling to about 1000 by the year 1911, when most hunting was banned. • The population size then increased to about 125 000 by the year 2012. All of the sea otters alive today are descended from the 1000 individuals alive in the year 1911. Outline the genetic consequences to a species, such as the sea otter, of having a large population that is descended from a very small number of individuals. Seaweeds, such as kelp, are large algae that can grow to be over 30 metres in length. In the ocean along the coasts of California, USA, there are very dense areas of kelp called kelp forests. Kelp forests are very productive and diverse ecosystems. shows a kelp forest. The sea otter is a keystone species in kelp forests along the coasts of California. This means that sea otters have a larger than expected effect on other organisms in these kelp forests. The loss of the sea otter would cause major changes to the kelp forest ecosystem and a reduction in biodiversity. Sea otters may spend up to five minutes under water while searching for food. During this time, respiration in anaerobic conditions takes place. When a sea otter first returns to the surface of the ocean, its breathing is faster and deeper than normal. Explain why its breathing is faster and deeper than normal. The striated muscle of the sea otter is composed of fibres called myofibrils. Myofibrils are made of units called sarcomeres. Describe the proteins that are involved in the contraction of a sarcomere.
9700_m20_qp_42
THEORY
2020
Paper 4, Variant 2
View
The grey wolf, Canis lupus, is a large predator. During the 20th century, the grey wolf in south-west Europe was hunted almost to extinction. shows a grey wolf. State the genus of the grey wolf. Suggest and explain the effects on the biodiversity of south-west Europe if the grey wolf becomes extinct. Grey wolves can have territories of up to 950 km2. Grey wolves can travel up to 1000 km to start a new population. State reasons why the mark-release-recapture method is not suitable for estimating the size of a grey wolf population. In 1992, new laws were introduced across south-west Europe to protect the grey wolf. shows the distribution of grey wolf populations in south-west Europe in 1970 and 2012. No grey wolves from captive-breeding populations were released into the wild in south-west Europe during the period from 1970 to 2012. key to populations 1 Iberian 2 Sierra Morena 1000 km 3 Italian 4 Alpine Table 2.1 shows the sizes of the populations of grey wolf shown in . Table 2.1 population size of population in 1970 size of population in 2012 percentage change 1 Iberian 2 Sierra Morena –90 3 Italian +700 4 Alpine Complete Table 2.1 to show the percentage change in the size of the Iberian grey wolf population from 1970 to 2012. Write your answer in the table to the nearest whole number. With reference to and Table 2.1, describe the changes to the grey wolf populations in south-west Europe from 1970 to 2012. In regions of south-west Europe where grey wolf populations are present, farmers are concerned for the safety of their livestock, such as sheep. Suggest how governments can help farmers who are concerned for the safety of their livestock. Suggest measures that could help to protect wild populations of grey wolves in south-west Europe.
9700_m21_qp_42
THEORY
2021
Paper 4, Variant 2
View
The western lowland gorilla, Gorilla gorilla, has become an endangered species although it has no known enemies, except humans. Gorillas are herbivorous, feeding on fruit, shoots, tree bark and leaves. shows a western lowland gorilla. Suggest three reasons why the western lowland gorilla has become an endangered species. 1. 2. 3. Explain how captive breeding programmes in zoos may help in the protection of endangered species, such as the western lowland gorilla. Examiner’s Use State two disadvantages of captive breeding programmes. 1. 2.
9700_s07_qp_4
THEORY
2007
Paper 4, Variant 0
View
The African elephant, Loxodonta africana, is a large herbivorous mammal which eats tree leaves. It has the longest gestation period of any land mammal and normally produces one offspring at a time. Its habitat is mainly savannah. Suggest how human activities have caused the African elephant to become endangered. The meerkat, Suricata suricatta, also lives in the savannah of southern Africa. It is a carnivorous mammal and feeds on insects, worms, snails and other invertebrates. It grows up to 30 cm in length and lives in large family groups in burrows. shows a meerkat. With reference to the information given, suggest why the meerkat is less likely than the elephant to become endangered.
9700_s09_qp_4
THEORY
2009
Paper 4, Variant 0
View
The greenish warbler, Phylloscopus trochiloides, is a species of small bird that originated in northern India, on the southern edge of the Himalayan mountain range. shows a greenish warbler. Thousands of years ago, populations of the greenish warbler spread around the western and eastern edges of the Himalayan mountain range to establish themselves in north-eastern Europe and Siberia. • A gradual change in characteristics occurred in these populations, leading to different forms of the greenish warbler. • One example of gradual change is in the song of the male warbler, which is very distinctive and is used in mating behaviour. • When greenish warblers from north-eastern Europe meet those from Siberia no mating takes place. • The greenish warblers from north-eastern Europe and Siberia are now considered to be two separate species. shows the spread of the greenish warbler. India Himalayan Mountains north-eastern Europe Siberia Explain what is meant by the term species. State the likely isolating mechanism taking place in populations of the greenish warbler. Explain how the process of speciation occurred in the greenish warbler populations.
9700_s12_qp_41
THEORY
2012
Paper 4, Variant 1
View
The greenish warbler, Phylloscopus trochiloides, is a species of small bird that originated in northern India, on the southern edge of the Himalayan mountain range. shows a greenish warbler. Thousands of years ago, populations of the greenish warbler spread around the western and eastern edges of the Himalayan mountain range to establish themselves in north-eastern Europe and Siberia. • A gradual change in characteristics occurred in these populations, leading to different forms of the greenish warbler. • One example of gradual change is in the song of the male warbler, which is very distinctive and is used in mating behaviour. • When greenish warblers from north-eastern Europe meet those from Siberia no mating takes place. • The greenish warblers from north-eastern Europe and Siberia are now considered to be two separate species. shows the spread of the greenish warbler. India Himalayan Mountains north-eastern Europe Siberia Explain what is meant by the term species. State the likely isolating mechanism taking place in populations of the greenish warbler. Explain how the process of speciation occurred in the greenish warbler populations.
9700_s12_qp_43
THEORY
2012
Paper 4, Variant 3
View
Sarawak is an area of south-east Asia that is largely covered by tropical rainforest. Logging has been allowed in large parts of the forest. A study was carried out to estimate the population size of different species of mammals living in the rainforest: • before logging • immediately after logging • two years after logging • four years after logging. Table 8.1 shows the results of the study for six species of mammal. Where numbers were too small to measure the population density, the species were recorded as “present”. Table 8.1 mean number of animals km−2 mammal before logging immediately after logging two years after logging four years after logging marbled cat present small-clawed otter present giant squirrel treeshrew small squirrel barking deer present Calculate the percentage rise in the small squirrel population from before logging to two years after logging. Show your working. answer % Suggest why populations, such as that of the small squirrel, do not increase in size indefinitely. Suggest why marbled cats and small-clawed otters became extinct in this area but the other mammals did not.
9700_s13_qp_41
THEORY
2013
Paper 4, Variant 1
View
Questions Discovered
69