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Q41 - Mark-Recapture and Hybridisation Risk in Scottish Wildcats

Theoretical A Real exam question - full text reproduced under IBO's CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license
Ecology Speciation & Reproductive Isolation

Lynx (Lynx lynx) may be reintroduced to Great Britain in 2017, after being hunted to extinction 1300 years ago. Scottish wildcats (Felis silvestris grampia) are Britain’s only remaining endogenous cat species, and are distinguished from wildcats (Felis silvestris silvestris) by their larger size, thicker fur, and unique hunting technique. Feral domestic cats (Felis silvestris catus) are also present in Scotland. Motion-sensitive cameras in 347 Scottish locations captured 200 000 images, and volunteers used these to identify wildcats, feral cats, and hybrid cats by their markings. In one year they found 10 different Scottish wildcats. In the next year, they found 9 different Scottish wildcats, one of which had the same markings as a cat photographed in the preceding year. Additionally, they estimated that there were about 500 feral cats, and 300 hybrid cats in the area.

Figure for Q41: Mark-Recapture and Hybridisation Risk in Scottish Wildcats

This question mixes multiple-choice/numeric-estimate parts with True/False statements - answer each part using the information and data above.

A. Using the mark-recapture data (10 wildcats identified in year one, 9 in year two, 1 recaptured), estimate the total Scottish wildcat population.
individuals
B. Neutering feral cats would help prevent the Scottish wildcat population becoming less fit over time.
C. Vaccinating feral cats would be an effective way to prevent transmissible disease in Scottish wildcats.
D. Two species which have coexisted in the same region for thousands of years are more likely to interbreed than two species which have recently come into contact but are equally genetically divergent.
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Question reproduced from IBO 2017, Theoretical Exam A, licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 - attributed to the International Biology Olympiad. Open the full exam PDF · Official answer key & worked solutions