14. A tick is a small invertebrate - Scottish Highers Biology - Question 14 - 2019
Question 14
14. A tick is a small invertebrate. Some ticks carry the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi (B.burgdorferi) in their gut after biting infected animals. If these ticks bit... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:14. A tick is a small invertebrate - Scottish Highers Biology - Question 14 - 2019
Step 1
Use the information given to suggest why ticks can be described as
(i) vectors
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Answer
Ticks can be described as vectors because they transmit the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi from infected animals to humans. They act as carriers, facilitating the transfer of pathogens when they bite.
Step 2
Use the information given to suggest why ticks can be described as
(ii) parasites
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Answer
Ticks are classified as parasites because they feed on the blood of their hosts, in this case, humans, deriving nutrients at the expense of the host's well-being.
Step 3
Calculate the percentage increase in cases of Lyme disease in the UK between 1999 and 2009.
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To find the percentage increase, first calculate the difference in cases: 870 (2009) - 200 (1999) = 670 cases. Then, use the formula for percentage increase:
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The conclusion may not be valid because it assumes a direct correlation between increased temperatures and Lyme disease cases without considering other factors. For instance, other variables such as an increase in tick populations or changes in human behavior that could also contribute to the rise in cases were not accounted for.
Step 5
Explain how Method 1 could reduce the number of cases of Lyme disease in humans.
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Using pesticides to kill ticks directly reduces tick populations in the environment. With fewer ticks present, there are fewer opportunities for ticks to bite humans and transmit Borrelia burgdorferi, thereby decreasing the incidence of Lyme disease.
Step 6
Explain how Method 2 could reduce the number of cases of Lyme disease in humans.
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Answer
Treating infected animals with antibiotics helps eliminate the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi from the animal's system. When these animals are no longer carriers of the pathogen, they cannot transmit it to ticks, thereby reducing the risk of transmission to humans.
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