The Galapagos Islands have a high level of biodiversity - Scottish Highers Biology - Question 15 - 2022
Question 15
The Galapagos Islands have a high level of biodiversity. Non-native goats were introduced to the islands by humans. The goats out-competed the native Galapagos giant... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:The Galapagos Islands have a high level of biodiversity - Scottish Highers Biology - Question 15 - 2022
Step 1
Using the information given, state why goats are considered to be an invasive species.
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Answer
Goats are considered to be an invasive species because they spread rapidly across the islands and outcompete the native Galapagos giant tortoises for food.
Step 2
Other than out-competing them for resources, give a reason why invasive species have a negative impact on native species.
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Invasive species can prey on native species or hybridize with them, leading to a decline in the native populations.
Step 3
Describe the impact of the bottleneck effect on these tortoise populations.
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The bottleneck effect leads to reduced genetic diversity within the tortoise populations. This reduction in genetic variation can hinder their ability to adapt or evolve in response to environmental changes, ultimately resulting in lower reproductive success and greater vulnerability to diseases.
Step 4
State which component of biodiversity was increased by releasing breeding pairs and explain your answer.
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Answer
Component: Genetic diversity.
Explanation: The release of breeding pairs introduces new or different alleles into the population, which increases the genetic variability within the species.
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