Q34 - Environmental DNA and Acoustic Detection of Harbour Porpoises

Theoretical A Real exam question - full text reproduced under IBO's CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license

Use of environmental DNA (eDNA) is a new tool in tracking of marine organisms. In a study, a base sequence from the mitochondria of the cetacean Harbour Porpoise was analysed. Samples were taken both from a harbour pen and outside from natural sites (fig.). Base sequences (base no. 82 to 119) from human, seal, porpoise, and 3 samples of eDNA (Fjord Bælt, Site 1 and Site 7). In addition, echolocation clicks were used for acoustic monitoring (table). Detection of harbour porpoise DNA and sounds at 11 sites, including a control DNA from skin.

Figure 1. Figure 1.

Using the information and data, determine which of the statements are true or which are false.

A. In this study eDNA may be an effective tool to detect marine animals far away from their habitat

B. Most likely, the eDNA from site 7 was from an animal more closely related to the porpoise than to harbour seal

C. Based on the short sequence in the Fig., the two marine animals, seal and porpoise, are more closely related to each other than seal and human are to each other

D. eDNA seems to be a poorer detection method than acoustic monitoring

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Question reproduced from IBO 2015, Theoretical Exam A, licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 - attributed to the International Biology Olympiad. Open the full exam PDF · Community solutions (unofficial)