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Since 2003, in France, people have been buying Siberian chipmunks as pets but then releasing them into the wild when they are no longer wanted - Edexcel - GCSE Biology - Question 4 - 2018 - Paper 1
Question 4
Since 2003, in France, people have been buying Siberian chipmunks as pets but then releasing them into the wild when they are no longer wanted. They are now classif... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Since 2003, in France, people have been buying Siberian chipmunks as pets but then releasing them into the wild when they are no longer wanted - Edexcel - GCSE Biology - Question 4 - 2018 - Paper 1
Step 1
Draw a pyramid of biomass for this food chain.
Answer
To create a pyramid of biomass:
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Shape: Draw a pyramid with a broad base representing the acorns, followed by a narrower section for the chipmunks, and the narrowest portion for the wild dogs.
- Base (Acorns): 20560 kg
- Middle (Chipmunks): 2200 kg
- Top (Wild Dogs): 230 kg
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Label Each Section: Clearly label each section of the pyramid with the respective organism names and their biomass.
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Proportions: Ensure that the width of each section is proportional to the biomass values: chipmunks should occupy 10.7% of the acorns, and wild dogs must occupy 10.4% of the chipmunks.
Step 2
Explain why the number of chipmunks in France might increase.
Answer
The increase in the chipmunk population can be explained by several key points:
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Predator Absence: Few chipmunks are being eaten or killed due to a lack of natural predators in the environment, allowing their numbers to grow unchecked.
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Reproductive Potential: With fewer chipmunks being removed from the population, the overall number of chipmunks can increase significantly since more individuals can reproduce.
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Ecosystem Changes: The absence of wild dogs, their natural predators, allows for a surge in the chipmunk population, which can lead to ecological imbalances.