DATA BASED QUESTION

1 Dry and wet seasons occur in the African plains. The different seasons affect the
quality of food available for the animals. Many herbivores, such as wildebeest
take in low quality food that is poor in nitrogen content, and they have insufficient
amount for maintenance, let alone for growth and reproduction.

A research worker measured the average protein content of the food available
for assimilation to the wildebeest, and compared this with the protein content of
the food they ate, over a period of 12 months. The results are shown in Figure 9.

Using the information given in Figure 9 to answer the questions.

Eaten by
herbivores

Actually
available for
assimilation

Figure 9

Legend:
N  November D  December J  January F  February
M  March A  April M  May J  June
J  July A  August S  September O  October

ai) State the month in which the smallest average percentage of protein was eaten.
(1m)

ii) State the lowest average percentage of protein available for assimilation to the
wildebeest. (1m)
b) Using the information from Figure 9, state and explain the wet season. (2m)

c) Assuming the trend of protein that is actually eaten is similar to the

population of wildebeest, sketch on the graph paper provided the population of
wildebeest and lion over a period of 12 months. Place the month of year on the
X-axis and the population of wildebeest and lion (in arbitrary unit) on Y-axis.
(2m)

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d) In the fight against mosquito born disease such as malaria, heavy usage of
insecticide (non-biodegradable) is being adopted. The insecticide is only used
during the wet season and is quickly washed away by the rain, hence leaving no
chance for the animals to take them in by ingestion of any means. However,
plants are found to be able to absorb the insecticide and incorporate it into its
leaves, especially in the plasma membrane of the plant cell/areas rich in
lipids.

After a few years, it was observed that the lion population has dropped due to
combination of both death and infertility. Experimental studies revealed that high
concentration of insecticide used to combat against malaria can lead to death or
infertility in animals.

i) On the graph drawn in (c), draw a line and label X to show the average level of
insecticide present in the lion for 12 months. (1m)

ii) Explain how the lion acquire the insecticide in its body and why death or infertility
only sets in after a few years. (3m)

ANSWER
1ai) august

ii) 3.5% (accept anything between 3.5 – 4.0 %)

b)

 October - November to April/May

 During wet season, the availability of water allow the plant to grow
 As the plant grow, its protoplasmic content increases and hence the protein
available to the wildebeest increases accordingly

c)

Red is wildebeest

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 Green is lion
di) Blue represent insecticide level

ii)

 The insecticide is absorbed by the plant and incorporated into the plasma
membrane during the wet season
 The wildebeest consumed the plant and accumulate the insecticide in its body
 The lion eat the wildebeest and hence take in the insecticide
 As the insecticide is non-biodegradable and is stored in lipid region/fats
 Hence it is only after years of accumulation before the insecticide reaches a toxic
level to either kill the lion or cause its infertility