Freshwater crocodiles (Crocodylus johnsoni) in Northern Australia aestivate for up to three months - Scottish Highers Biology - Question 8 - 2022
Question 8
Freshwater crocodiles (Crocodylus johnsoni) in Northern Australia aestivate for up to three months. A study was carried out to investigate aestivation in freshwater ... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Freshwater crocodiles (Crocodylus johnsoni) in Northern Australia aestivate for up to three months - Scottish Highers Biology - Question 8 - 2022
Step 1
Identify the three-month period when the crocodiles were aestivating.
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Answer
The three-month period when the crocodiles were aestivating is September, October, and November.
Step 2
Crocodiles are conformers. Use information from the table to support this statement.
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Answer
Crocodiles are considered conformers because as the air temperature increases, the body temperature of the crocodiles also increases. This shows that their body temperature is dependent on the external environmental temperature, adhering to the characteristics of conformers.
Step 3
Using values from the graph, describe the changes in the average body mass of the crocodiles between August and December.
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The average body mass of the crocodiles decreases from 6.5 kg in August to 5.6 kg in November. In December, it rises slightly to 6.1 kg, showing an overall decrease during the four-month period.
Step 4
Calculate the average body water content of the crocodiles in November as a percentage of their average body mass.
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To find the average body water content, we assume the average body mass in November is around 5.6 kg. If we consider the average body water content to be approximately 75% of body mass, then:
extAveragebodywatercontent=0.75imes5.6extkg=4.2extkg
Thus, the body water content as a percentage of average body mass is 75%.
Step 5
Calculate the average energy consumption per day of a crocodile in October.
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To determine the average energy consumption, we can use the metabolic rate in October, which is given as 26.5 kJ/kg/day. If we assume an average body mass, the energy consumption can be calculated as:
extEnergyConsumption=extMetabolicRateimesextBodyMass
For example, if the body mass is 5.8 kg, the calculation would be:
extEnergyConsumption=26.5extkJ/kg/dayimes5.8extkg=153.7extkJ/day
Step 6
State the average metabolic rate when the average body mass was 5.6 kg.
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Answer
The average metabolic rate for the crocodiles, when the average body mass was 5.6 kg, is 25.7 kJ/kg/day based on the data from November.
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