A broad range of alpine plant species grows in the mountains of New Zealand’s South Island.
Alpine plants are plants that live above the treeline, meaning the height above which trees are unable to grow. For most of South Island, the present treeline is $1200\,\text{m}$.
(a)[5]
The alpine areas nearest to South Island are $1500$-$2000\,\text{km}$ from it across the sea. Many of the alpine species on South Island are found nowhere else in the world.
Explain how a large number of alpine plant species developed on South Island.
(b(i))[3]
With reference to Fig. 5.1, identify, with reasons, the interval in which South Island’s alpine plant species developed.
(b(ii))[2]
Suggest how DNA sequence data might be used to confirm the time period you identified in (i).
Worked solution & mark scheme
This 10-mark question has a full step-by-step worked solution and mark scheme. One marking point: “natural selection, evolution or speciation” …