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The Komodo dragon is a species of lizard - Scottish Highers Biology - Question 7 - 2023
Question 7
The Komodo dragon is a species of lizard. An investigation was carried out into the effect of environmental temperature on the metabolic rate of a Komodo dragon. The... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:The Komodo dragon is a species of lizard - Scottish Highers Biology - Question 7 - 2023
Step 1
The Komodo dragon is a conformer. Use evidence from the table to support this statement.
Answer
The Komodo dragon is classified as a conformer because its oxygen consumption increases in direct correlation with the rise in environmental temperature. For instance, as the temperature rises from 20 °C to 40 °C, the oxygen consumption increases from 0.4 cm³/kg/hr to 1.7 cm³/kg/hr. This indicates that the metabolic rate of the Komodo dragon matches the environmental temperatures.
Step 2
Describe how the investigation could be improved to give more reliable results.
Answer
The reliability of the investigation could be improved by repeating the measurements at each temperature multiple times and using a larger sample size of Komodo dragons. This would help to account for variability in individual metabolic rates and provide a more accurate average of oxygen consumption.
Step 3
Calculate the average increase in oxygen consumption per °C between 20 °C and 40 °C.
Answer
The increase in oxygen consumption from 20 °C to 40 °C is calculated as follows:
Oxygen consumption at 40 °C: 1.7 cm³/kg/hr Oxygen consumption at 20 °C: 0.4 cm³/kg/hr
Increase = 1.7 - 0.4 = 1.3 cm³/kg/hr
Now to find the average increase per °C over 20 °C to 40 °C, which is a range of 20 °C:
Average increase per °C = ( \frac{1.3}{20} = 0.065 ) cm³/kg/hr/°C.
Step 4
Explain how increasing the environmental temperature leads to an increased metabolic rate in a Komodo dragon.
Answer
Increasing environmental temperature results in increased enzyme activity, allowing the Komodo dragon to metabolize food more effectively. As temperature rises, enzyme-catalyzed reactions accelerate, leading to higher rates of respiration and ATP production. Consequently, the metabolic rate increases as more energy is generated to meet the organism's physiological demands.
Step 5
Name the type of response that allows conformers to tolerate variation in the environmental temperature.
Answer
The type of response that allows conformers to tolerate variation in environmental temperature is referred to as a behavioral response. This implies that conformers adjust their behavior according to the temperature fluctuations in their environment.
Step 6
Compare the range of ecological niches that can be occupied by conformers and regulators.
Answer
Regulators generally occupy wider and more diverse ecological niches compared to conformers. This is because regulators can maintain their internal environments regardless of external conditions, allowing them to thrive in various habitats. In contrast, conformers have narrower ecological niches since their physiological limits are closely tied to environmental changes, thus limiting their habitat options.