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Refer to the infographic below and answer the questions that follow - NSC Marine Sciences - Question 3 - 2024 - Paper 2
Question 3
Refer to the infographic below and answer the questions that follow. The Shark Research Institute collects data on Bull Sharks (Carcharhinus leucas) along the South... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Refer to the infographic below and answer the questions that follow - NSC Marine Sciences - Question 3 - 2024 - Paper 2
Step 1
3.1.1 The river is not in flood. Give TWO differences between ZONE A and ZONE C in terms of the water characteristics.
Answer
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Salinity: Salinity is higher in Zone C compared to Zone A, indicating that Zone C may have a more saline environment due to lower freshwater input.
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Wave action: Zone A has less wave action than Zone C, which could influence the habitats available for juvenile sharks and their food sources.
Step 2
3.1.2 Study the data in the table.
Answer
a) Zone C recorded more juvenile sharks caught, with a total of 11 newly tagged juvenile sharks.
b) More sharks would be caught in Zone C due to factors like availability of abundant food sources, favorable breeding conditions, and lower fishing pressures compared to other zones.
Step 3
3.1.3 Name AND explain how THREE sensory organs, OTHER than eyesight, are used by sharks to navigate upstream.
Answer
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Lateral line system: Sharks use this organ to detect vibrations and pressure waves in the water, which helps them sense movement around them.
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Olfactory bulbs: These are critical for detecting chemicals in the water, allowing sharks to track prey or navigate by scent.
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Nostrils: Sharks possess highly developed nostrils to detect blood or food cues, which aids in their navigation upstream by following scent trails.
Step 4
3.1.4 The residents of the town on the riverbank asked for reasons why the tourists were catching sharks for this research project.
Answer
a) The research program is environmentally sustainable as it involves catch-and-release techniques that do not harm the shark population or their habitat.
b) Overtourism can be prevented by limiting the number of tourists in a given area to ensure sustainable practices or by offering guided tours that follow strict regulations.
c) This type of ecotourism could benefit sharks by raising awareness about their conservation needs and providing funding for research efforts.
Step 5
3.1.5 Motivate whether it is ethical for researchers to conduct this study on sharks.
Answer
It can be considered ethical provided that researchers minimize harm to the sharks during the catch-and-release process, educate participants on sustainable practices, and provide crucial data that supports shark conservation efforts.