Mole rats, Spalax ehrenbergi, are mammals that live together in underground burrow systems, are blind, and communicate with one another by means of sound and scent. When males are trying to persuade females to mate, they produce a purring call.
In Israel, the mole rats in different regions of the country all appear the same. However, they are actually four separate populations with different chromosome numbers, and each one lives in a different climatic zone.
These are shown in Table 5.1.
This table also gives information about the purring calls used by the males in each population. The males' calls were analysed by measuring how many sound pulses were produced per second, as well as the frequencies of the sounds they made.
(a)[2]
Explain why the chromosome number of each of the four mole rat populations is even.
(b)[2]
With reference to Table 5.2, describe the extent to which female mole rats show a preference for the purring calls of males from their own population.
(c)[4]
With reference to the data in both Table 5.1 and Table 5.2, discuss whether these four populations of mole rats ought to be regarded as different species.
Worked solution & mark scheme
This 8-mark question has a full step-by-step worked solution and mark scheme. One marking point: “Diploid, with two full sets of chromosomes” …