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In the 1960s in Scotland, large areas of natural habitat were cleared to make way for a new motorway - Scottish Highers Biology - Question 12 - 2023
Question 12
In the 1960s in Scotland, large areas of natural habitat were cleared to make way for a new motorway. This resulted in habitat fragments with reduced species and gen... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:In the 1960s in Scotland, large areas of natural habitat were cleared to make way for a new motorway - Scottish Highers Biology - Question 12 - 2023
Step 1
Step 2
Explain how the bottleneck effect may lead to the local extinction of certain species.
Answer
The bottleneck effect occurs when a small group of individuals from a population survive an event that drastically reduces the population size, leading to a reduced genetic diversity. The small population may face inbreeding, resulting in poor reproductive rates. With limited genetic variation, these individuals may be unable to adapt to environmental changes, further increasing the risk of local extinction.
Step 4
Explain how these tunnels may result in an increase in biodiversity.
Answer
The tunnels allow movement between fragmented habitats, increasing access to resources such as food and mates. Additionally, they facilitate gene flow between populations, which can help mitigate inbreeding and promote genetic diversity. The tunnels also allow for recolonization of fragments after local extinctions.