Biology 9700 · AS & A Level · Evolution

Evolution — practice question

The Hawaiian archipelago is a chain of volcanic islands in the Pacific Ocean. Fig. 4.1 shows where five of these islands are situated relative to one another. Table 4.1 gives the size and age of these five islands, together with the total number of $ Mecyclothorax ground beetle species and their species density on each island.
(a(i))[1]

Complete Table 4.1 by working out the density of Meczylothorax beetle species on the island of O‘ahu.

(a(ii))[2]

Use Table 4.1 to explain why the island of Hawai‘i has the lowest density of Meczylothorax beetle species.

(a(iii))[2]

Use Fig. 4.1 and Table 4.1 to suggest why O‘ahu has fewer Meczylothorax beetle species than Moloka‘i.

(b)[4]

The rate of speciation of Meczylothorax beetles on the slopes of the volcano Haleakalā, on Maui, is the highest recorded for any genus or location on earth. The volcano last erupted 400 years ago. This produced lava flows which cut through ancient forest and vegetation, dividing it into many separate microhabitats. Explain how the large number of Meczylothorax beetle species on Haleakalā developed.

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