A-LevelBiologyBiodiversity and conservation9700/42 · Oct/Nov 2022 · Q19 Marks

The Asiatic lion, Panthera leo persica, is found only in the Gir Forest National Park in the Gujarat region of western India. Fig. 1.1 shows a female Asiatic lion. [Figure 1.1]

(a)The Asiatic lion is at risk of extinction in the wild and is categorised as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Outline the role of the IUCN.[3]
(b)The Maldhari community is a tribe of herdsmen that lives in the Gir Forest. The Maldhari have co-existed with the Asiatic lions for thousands of years. The Maldhari place old and weak cattle at the edges of their cattle enclosures. Suggest why the Maldhari place old and weak cattle at the edges of their cattle enclosures.[2]
(c)Some zoos use assisted reproduction techniques, such as IVF, in their captive breeding programmes for endangered species. Describe how IVF can be used with an endangered species such as the Asiatic lion.[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.

[3] any three from:
1 Red List;
2 e.g. threatened / endangered / extinct etc., species ;
3 ref. education / spreads awareness ;
4 provides a global forum for sharing expertise / AW ;
5 provides advice about conservation issues ;
[2]
1 cattle at edge / old and weak cattle, (easy) for lions to kill (for food) ;
2 (so) the remaining cattle can survive / AW;
[4] any four from:
1 female given, hormone / FSH / gonadotropins;
2 ref. to superovulation / AW ;
3 (secondary) oocytes / ova, harvested / AW ; Ignore eggs
4 detail of harvest ; e.g. use of fine needle / using ultrasound
5 sperm / semen, added to (secondary) oocytes / ova ;
6 cultured / AW, for several days / until embryo or blastocyst stage ; Ignore number of cells
7 embryo / blastocyst, placed in uterus ;

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