Question 23M.2.SL.TZ2.4
| Date | May 2023 | Marks available | [Maximum mark: 5] | Reference code | 23M.2.SL.TZ2.4 |
| Level | SL | Paper | 2 | Time zone | TZ2 |
| Command term | Explain, Outline, State | Question number | 4 | Adapted from | N/A |
The Chinese pangolin (Manis pentadactyla) is a critically endangered species that has declined in numbers by 80 % since 2000. It inhabits both forest and grassland, where it uses long, powerful claws to open ant and termite nests and ingests the insects using a long, sticky tongue.
[Source: By U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Headquarters - Manis pentadactyla, CC BY 2.0,
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=56589200.
Photo credit to Ms. Sarita Jnawali of NTNC – Central Zoo The United States is
cosponsoring four separate proposals to increase CITES protections for pangolins
from Appendix II to Appendix I, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Headquarters -
Manis pentadactyla. CC BY 2.0. File:Manis pentadactyla (29054818144).jpg.
Created: 14 September 2016.]
State with a reason whether pangolins are autotrophic or heterotrophic.
[1]
heterotrophic because it feeds on/eats food/other organisms /eats ants/termites/ doesn’t photosynthesise/does not produce its own food;
Do not accept “it is not autotrophic” as it is part of the stem question.
Explain what information is needed to find the trophic level of pangolins.
[2]
- what (prey) it eats/feeds on/ stomach content;
- the trophic level of what (prey) it eats/feeds on/the trophic level of ants/termites;
- trophic level is the position an organism occupies in the food chain/web;
Do not award points for indicating that predator information is needed.
Outline evidence for evolution from the limbs of mammals such as pangolins.
[2]
- pentadactyl;
- homologous with limbs of other vertebrates;
- due to common ancestry;
- adaptation;