Assessment Schedule
Biology 3.5 Describe processes and patterns of evolution. (90717)
Achievement Criteria
Achievement
Achievement with Merit
Achievement with Excellence
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Describe processes and
patterns of evolution
Describe processes and
explain patterns of evolution
Evidence Statement
Q
Evidence leading to
Achievement
1(a)
1(b)
2(a)
Describe processes and
discuss patterns of evolution
Evidence leading to
Achievement with Merit
Evidence leading to
Achievement with
Excellence
Explains how one species
influences the evolution of the
other.
e.g. There will be natural
variation in thickness of scales
in pine cones and curvature of
bills. The crossbills could easily
reach the seeds of pinecones
with thin scales so thicker
scales became common.
e.g. The birds with the lesser
curved bills would be able to
reach the seeds with thick
scales so lesser curved bills
become common where there
are thick scales.
Discusses how thicker scales
and less curved beaks can be
considered co-evolution
e.g. There will be natural
variation in thickness of scales
in pine cones and curvature of
bills. The crossbills could
easily reach the seeds of
pinecones with thin scales so
thicker scales became
common. The birds with the
lesser curved bills would be
able to reach the seeds with
thick scales so lesser curved
bills become common where
there are thick scales. As the
presence of the crossbills is
influencing the evolution of the
pine cones and the pine cones
are influencing the evolution of
the crossbills it is considered
co-evolution.
Describes a difference in
Crossbill’s beaks or pinetrees
cones due to natural selection
e.g. Birds that could get seeds
survived and where the pine
cones have thicker scales the
birds with deeper, less curved
beaks survive and pass on that
characteristic
e.g. Pine trees whose seeds were
not eaten are able to reproduce
and where there are Crossbill’s
the pine trees with the thicker
cones were able to retain their
seeds and reproduce.
Response must have the idea
that environmental pressures
select which traits/genes are
passed on, hence changing the
gene pool of the population.
Describes how thicker scales and
less curved beaks can be
considered co-evolution
e.g. As both species are
influencing the others evolution of
the traits
Describes a possible reproductive
isolating mechanism
e.g. Different behaviours (in terms
of song recognition) leading to
indigobirds parasitising different
host species
2(b)
Describes how the brood –
parasitic behaviour is divergent
evolution
e.g. Although the birds have a
common ancestor the brood
parasitic behaviour is different
2(c)
Describes the process of
speciation of the indigobirds
e.g.The indigobirds evolved
sympatricly exploiting a different
niche by parasitising different host
species
Describes the pattern of evolution
for both species
e.g. Since a split from a common
ancestor the indigo birds have
demonstrated punctuated
equilibrium and the cuckoo has
demonstrated gradualism
2(d)
3
Describes how it can be
considered convergent evolution
e.g. The development of their
adaptations is convergent
evolution because they are not
closely related yet have the same
adaptations
Explains how the brood –
parasitic behaviour is divergent
evolution
e.g. Although the birds have a
common ancestor the brood
parasitic behaviour is different
with the cuckoo’s destroying
the hosts’ eggs while the
indigobirds do not.
Explains the pattern of
evolution for one species
e.g. The indigobirds have
demonstrated punctuated
equilibrium as they have rapidly
evolved into 10 new species
Discusses the pattern of
evolution for both species
e.g. Since a split from a
common ancestor the indigo
birds have demonstrated
punctuated equilibrium as they
have rapidly evolved into 10
new species. This is in
contrast to the cuckoos’
evolution which demonstrates
gradualism as they have
slowly evolved into 3 separate
species
Explains how it can be
considered convergent
evolution
e.g. The development of their
adaptations is convergent
evolution because they are not
closely related yet have the
same adaptations. This has
occurred as the anteater
species have independently
evolved similar adaptations
since sharing a common
ancestor which enables them to
eat ants.
Sufficiency Statement:
Achievement:
Merit:
Excellence:
At least four correct including one of 1(a), 2(a) and 2(c)
At least five correct including one of 1(a), 2(a) and 2(c) with at least two
Merit answers
At least five correct including one of 1(a), 2(a) and 2(c) with at least one
Merit answer and one Excellence answer