Study the diagram of one-day-old hatchlings A and B below - NSC Life Sciences - Question 2 - 2017 - Paper 1
Question 2
Study the diagram of one-day-old hatchlings A and B below. The diagram is not drawn to scale.
Egg shell
A
B
Egg shell
The hatchling has feathers/wings... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Study the diagram of one-day-old hatchlings A and B below - NSC Life Sciences - Question 2 - 2017 - Paper 1
Step 1
2.1.1 State TWO visible features in hatchling A which indicate altricial development.
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Answer
The hatchling A has closed eyes, indicating that it is not yet fully developed and reliant on parental care.
The hatchling cannot feed on its own, which is a characteristic of altricial species.
Step 2
2.1.2 Explain ONE possible advantage of vivipary when compared to ovipary.
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Vivipary provides greater protection to the developing offspring since they grow inside the mother's body, sheltered from external threats and adverse environmental conditions. This leads to a higher survival rate.
Step 3
2.1.3 Explain why you would expect that the yolk content of the egg of hatchling B was more than that of hatchling A.
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Hatchling B, which is more developed at hatching, likely has a higher yolk content to support its nutritional needs immediately after hatching. This extra yolk provides the necessary energy and nutrients for a more independent lifestyle compared to hatchling A, which is reliant on parental care.