Question 1.
Question
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Total
Hierarchies in the Sty.
Evidence for
Evidence for
Evidence for
Achieved
Achieved with Merit
Achieved with Excellence
Need both ideas
 Rank order of individuals
within the group / order
from most dominant to
most submissive
 Competitive / decided by
aggressive interactions
Need any 2 ideas:
 Greater daily intake for
YES
larger pig / more able to
compete
 Larger daily weight gain by
larger pigs
 Smaller pigs feed more at
night / able to avoid
competitive interactions at
night.
Need any 2 ideas: eg.
 Pushing other pigs away
from feeders
 Aggression / biting etc
 Submissive pigs avoiding
dominant individuals
 Submissive displays /
postures
Comparison with single feeder,
need one idea for each size:
Explanation:
Small pigs:
Less competition for
Daily intake increases or
feeders, thus submissive
Nightly feeding decreases
Medium pigs:
/ smaller pigs are able to
feed more
Daily intake same or
Nightly feeding decreases
Large pigs:
Daily intake decreases or
Nightly feeding decrease
Or similar comparisons made
Explanation involving any 2
ideas:
 more intense competition
in a homogeneous group
 no clear winner & loser due
to similar weights
 using 1 feeder  longer
time to establish hierarchy
in homogeneous group
3
3
1
Question 2
Q4.
a.
Starling behaviour
Evidence for
Achieved
The sexes have different forms
/ colours / sizes / shapes.
2 advantage stated:
 Mimicry is copying or
emulating a behaviour
and reduces
competition.
 Greater breeding
success.
b.
 Evolution of varieties
that match NZ habitats.
1 required
Total
Assessment
for Q
Question 3.
Question
a.
Evidence for
Achieved with Merit
2 reason given.
 Mimicry reduces
competition/ enlarges
home range/territory with
bluff. Reduces breeding
potential of other
species.
 European clay banks
have other species
nesting (competition) or
preying (snakes). Fewer
domestic breeding sites
(buildings) in NZ.
 Selection pressure
stated. Greater predation
in NZ of young. More
rural land in NZ. New
competition here.
Greater density of birds
in NZ. Native birds have
burrows (kingfisher
mimicry?). Founder
effect.
1 (associated) required
Evidence for
Achieved with Excellence
Mechanisms / origins
stated:
 A selection pressure
identified along with the
subsequent natural
selection. (Not ‘adapting’
nor adaptation)
OR
 Behaviour described in
terms of reduced energy
expenditure leading to
greater breeding
success.
1 required
/2
/1
/1
Student gains
Achieved
for this question if:
 both opportunities for
‘A’ are answered
correctly.
Student gains
Achieved with Merit
for this question if:
 both opportunities for ‘A’ are
answered correctly
and
 the opportunity
for ‘M’ is answered
correctly.
Student gains
Achieved with Excellence
for this question if:
 both opportunities for ‘A’ are
answered correctly
 the opportunity for ‘M’ is
answered correctly
and
 the opportunity for ‘E’ is
answered correctly
Territories and Home Ranges
Evidence for
Achieved
Both defined:
Territory: area occupied and
defended intraspecifically /
against members of the same
species.
Home range: area occupied
by an animal during its
normal activities but not
defended.
Evidence for
Achieved with Merit
Evidence for
Achieved with Excellence
b.
Both described:
Chaffinch:
Territory and home range are
basically the same
Gannets:
Territory = 1m2 nest site that
is defended
Home range = area of sea
animal travels to in search of
food.
/2
total
Question 4.
Question
/1
Hunting Spider Biorhythms.
Evidence for
Achieved
Biological Clock
described:
Endogenous / internal
mechanism that allows
animal to regulate / time
activities
a.
b.
Both explained:
Chaffinch:
Territory is large enough to
supply all the animals needs
(water, food, nest site)
Gannets:
Territory: supplies nest site
only. It is defended because it
contains nest / young and
one of the adults is always in
attendance. It does not
supply food (and water).
Home range: is extensive
because food supply is
sparsely distributed and
mobile. (Gannets cannot nest
at sea)
Evidence for
Achieved with
Excellence
Evidence for
Achieved with Merit
2 advantages described and
explained (why they are
advantageous);

can anticipate (prepare
for) a specified activity /
feeding / sleeping /
migration
 rhythm / normal activity can
proceed in absence of
environmental cues.
 external cues are not always
reliable.
 etc
Activity pattern named or
described:
Nocturnal.
i.
24 ½ hours.
(5 hours gained in 10 days)
Because no entrainment
can occur:
c.
i. & ii.
ii.
During regime B there is an
absence of environmental
cues / zeitgeber or
no entrainment can occur
under constant
environmental conditions
the rhythm will be controlled by
the endogenous mechanism only,
the period of the endogenous
mechanism is not equal to 24
hours.
/0
Description includes a
return to normal rhythm.
When normal light / dark
was reintroduced the
spiders rhythm was slowly
re-entrained to be in
phase with environmental
cues (light / dark)
The endogenous
mechanism was entrained
and the observed rhythm of
the spider was back in step
with environmental
changes.
and
This process is progressive
and took about 8 days.
or
Spiders initial success in
hunting was reduced during
its re-entrainment period as
a result of stress due to its
dysrhythmia.
3
2
d.
4
Total
Question 5.
Question
a.
Mantis Sexual Behaviour
Evidence for
Achieved
Predation defined:
Predator (+ = benefited) kills
and eats prey (- =
disadvantaged).
Both described:
 Relationship is
predatory i.e. female
kills and eats male.
 Relationship is cooperative i.e. both
help each other to
produce offspring.
Evidence for
Achieved with Merit
Evidence for
Achieved with Excellence
Both explained:
 Female kills and eats
male
 Both co-operate in
the production of
offspring.
plus
The co-operative nature of
the relationship outweighs the
predatory aspect (for the
male at least).
or similar
Benefits to female and male
explained and linked to
benefit to species:
Benefit to female:
Eggs are fertilized plus the
nutritional benefit that allows
her better survival as she
develops eggs / produces
more eggs / eggs with more
reserves. i.e. greater survival
chances of more offspring.
Benefit to male:
(NB males generally mate
only once). Male helps ensure
survival of his (genetic)
offspring by also contributing
nutritionally (indirectly via the
female). i.e. more eggs / eggs
with more reserves. i.e.
greater survival chances of
more offspring.
Benefit to species:
Overall greater reproductive
capacity / greater chance that
some offspring will survive
and species will continue.
/1
/1
b.
total
/2
Question 6.
Question
Parental Care
Evidence for
Achieved
Despite each female
producing fewer eggs (than a
smelt female). Parental care
ensures each has a greater
survival chance
a.
Evidence for
Achieved with Merit
At least 2 examples given
to explain increased
survival:
Increased survival rate of
offspring is increased by
parental care.
Parental care behaviours
include:
 Incubation
 Defence
 Feeding
 Passing on skills by
learning
 etc
Evidence for
Achieved with Excellence
b.
Y axis =
number
surviving
Both axes and lines
labelled and correct
Mohoua
(either
line)
Smelt
X axis = time / lifespan
Reproductive strategy
described or implied:
Large numbers of eggs
increases chance that at least
some will survive / Survival
depends on numbers
c.
Explanation of how the
strategy works.
Parental reproductive effort /
energy is directed at
producing large numbers of
(fertilised) eggs rather than
directing energy into the
parental care of fewer
offspring.
The chance of any one
surviving must be small but is
countered by large numbers.
i.e. a quantity not quality
approach.
/3
total
Question 7.
Evaluation:
For this species this strategy
is successful (after all the
species is thriving – large
shoals).
Plus
At least one reason for lack of
parental care:
 environment not
conducive to nest
building, materials not
available
 parents must leave to
feed
 etc
/2
/1
Pecking Orders in Parakeets.
Question
Evidence for
Achieved
a.
A social dominance hierarchy of
individuals from most dominant
to most submissive.
('order' OK if specified).
Evidence for
Achieved with Merit
Evidence for
Achieved with
Excellence
b.
c.
Description of 3 dominant
behaviours eg.

beak, claws held ready
for attach

upright stance

aggressive
vocalisations

forward facing, direct
eye contact

wings and tail raised

etc
Description of 3 submissive
behaviours eg.

reduction of apparent
size, crouch

beak, claws turned
away

head turned away,
held low

turning away from food
or other dispute

any recognised
submissive display

etc
i.
correct order. (marker note
ii.
alphabetical order)

d.
i. and ii.
e.
i. and ii.




daisy
(most
dominant)
iris
lily
pansy
rose
(most
submissive)
i.
Pansy
3 factors described.
eg.



f.




sex (male or female)
size
experience in
aggression or
interactions
propensity to
aggression
time since arrival in the
group.
health status
etc
Explanation involves:

who wins, who loses

if 2 animals appear to be
equally placed, the bird
who has most wins is
placed higher on list
ii.
Pansy has won on 7 occasions,
lily on 18. there is no overall /
predetermined winner
The same 3 factors explained in
terms competitive advantage,
eg.

able to fight / intimidate
more effectively

increased aggression
may result from hormone
levels (male)

confidence in aggression
may increase as
individual 'knows'
opponents

sick animals are less
likely to have the 'energy'
to compete

etc
2 or more advantages /
3 or more advantages /
disadvantages described
disadvantages described and
but not explained. eg.
explained. eg.
Individual:

reduces total
aggression once
established.
Individual:

submissive individuals
can display and avoid
aggression.

Limits the reproductive
capacity of the population
and indirectly limits
competition amongst
individuals.

These individuals get 'last
pick' of any resources
and thus have reduced
survivorship.

However even lower
ranked individuals get the
benefit of 'safety in
numbers'.

Dominant individuals will
survive when resources
are scarce.
(also a species advantage)

etc

Only top / dominant
individuals breed

Lowly ranked
individuals can
become weakened in
large groups.

Group protection for all
individuals irrespective
of rank.

Uneven distribution of
resources

etc
g.
Species

Dominant individuals
produce most
offspring.


Total
Non-reproducing
individuals can still
contribute to
reproductive success.
etc
7
4 or more advantages /
disadvantages described
and explained (must
include at least 1
advantage to the
species).
Ideas are linked.
Species

these individuals are the
'best adapted' / strongest
etc and compete for more
resources / able to care
for young more
effectively.
In this way a species becomes
'better adapted'.

these individuals can still
help care for young of
related adults, who have
genes in common.

etc
4
1