A-LevelBiologyBiodiversity and conservation9700/41 · Oct/Nov 2022 · Q19 Marks

The wild Bactrian camel, Camelus ferus, lives only in the desert regions of Mongolia and northern China. Fig. 1.1 shows a wild Bactrian camel. [Figure 1.1]

(a)The wild Bactrian camel is at risk of extinction in the wild and is categorised as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). There are only 950 wild Bactrian camels left in their natural habitat. Suggest reasons why the wild Bactrian camel has become critically endangered.[2]
(b)Outline the role of the IUCN.[3]
(c)Some zoos use assisted reproduction techniques, such as embryo transfer, in their captive breeding programmes for endangered species. Embryo transfer has resulted in domesticated dromedary camels giving birth to wild Bactrian camel calves. Describe the procedure of embryo transfer in a mammal such as a camel.[4]

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Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (Oct/Nov 2022). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

[2] (a) any two from: 1 habitat loss; 2 competition with / disease from, farm / invasive / alien, animals / species ; 3 climate change; 4 hunting / poaching / killing by humans ; 5 AVP;
[3] (b) any three from: 1 global / international / worldwide (authority / advisory); 2 (to give advice to) conserve / protect, nature / biodiversity / habitats ; 3 assess / categorise, species conservation status ; 4 ref. Red List (of Threatened Species); 5 influence, governments / policy; 6 educate / raise awareness; 7 AVP;
[4] (c) any four from: 1 mating / IVF / (super-ovulate female plus) Al; 2 remove embryo (from, mated / artificially inseminated, female) ; 3 check / select, healthy / normal / best, embryos ; 4 may freeze embryos for, storage / later use; 5 implant embryos in (different female) uterus ; 6 ref. surrogate (mother) ; 7 ref. (named female reproductive) hormone(s); 8 AVP;

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