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Since 2003, in France, people have been buying Siberian chipmunks as pets but then releasing them into the wild when they are no longer wanted - Edexcel - GCSE Biology - Question 10 - 2018 - Paper 1
Question 10
Since 2003, in France, people have been buying Siberian chipmunks as pets but then releasing them into the wild when they are no longer wanted. They are now classif... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Since 2003, in France, people have been buying Siberian chipmunks as pets but then releasing them into the wild when they are no longer wanted - Edexcel - GCSE Biology - Question 10 - 2018 - Paper 1
Step 1
Draw a pyramid of biomass for this food chain.
Answer
To create the pyramid of biomass, we visualize the biomass of each organism in the food chain. From Figure 26, we have:
- Acorns: 20,650 kg
- Chipmunks: 2,200 kg
- Wild dogs: 230 kg
The drawing will have acorns at the base, chipmunks in the middle, and wild dogs at the top, in proportion to their biomass. The pyramid will be wider at the bottom, tapering up to represent the decrease in biomass through the food chain.
Step 2
Describe how this affected the Siberian chipmunk population in France.
Answer
The lack of natural predators in France has allowed the Siberian chipmunk population to grow significantly. With few chipmunks being eaten or killed, reproduction rates have likely increased. Consequently, this leads to overpopulation, where more chipmunks can reproduce and thrive in the absence of controlling factors.
Step 3
Step 4
Calculate the percentage increase in the number of cases of Lyme disease in humans in France from 2003 to 2015.
Answer
The percentage increase can be calculated using the formula:
ext{Percentage Increase} = rac{ ext{New Value} - ext{Old Value}}{ ext{Old Value}} imes 100Where:
- New Value = 27,000 (2015)
- Old Value = 9,500 (2003)
So:
ext{Percentage Increase} = rac{27000 - 9500}{9500} imes 100 = 184.2 ext{%}This shows a percentage increase of 184.2%.
Step 5
Explain why there has been an increase in the number of cases of Lyme disease in humans in France.
Answer
Several factors contribute to the increase in Lyme disease cases in humans. First, with more chipmunks in the wild, there are more ticks, as they feed on these animals. Consequently, humans are more likely to be bitten by ticks, increasing the risk of contracting Lyme disease. Additionally, environmental changes and increased outdoor activities may expose more people to tick habitats, further amplifying the chances of infection.