The aye-aye, Daubentonia madagascariensis, is a primate that lives in Madagascar. Aye-ayes are nocturnal, meaning they are active during the night, and they build nests high in trees. Their diet includes insect larvae living inside tree trunks. Fig. 1.1 is an image of an aye-aye. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is the world’s largest international environmental organisation. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ assesses the conservation status of plant and animal species. The aye-aye is listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List, so it is at a very high risk of becoming extinct in the wild.
(a(i))[1]
State the domain that the aye-aye belongs to.
(a(ii))[1]
Suggest one reason that aye-ayes have become endangered.
(a(iii))[3]
Suggest measures that zoos may use to help protect this species from extinction.
(b(i))[4]
Using Fig. 1.2 as a guide, suggest why the two populations show a large genetic difference.
(b(ii))[1]
Name the speciation type that may be happening.
(b(iii))[2]
Suggest and explain a pre-zygotic isolating mechanism that could block successful reproduction between aye-ayes from the two populations.
Worked solution & mark scheme
This 12-mark question has a full step-by-step worked solution and mark scheme. One marking point: “domain Eukarya” …