Fig. 1 shows a forensic scientist examining fly eggs and maggots on a dead rabbit found in grassland. The scientist recorded the air temperature and the sta...
Question 1 Report
Fig. 1 shows a forensic scientist examining fly eggs and maggots on a dead rabbit found in grassland. The scientist recorded the air temperature and the stage of the flies to estimate when the rabbit died.
| day | mean air temperature / degrees C | observation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 20 | eggs present |
| 3 | 21 | small maggots present |
| 6 | 19 | large maggots present |
(a) Name the feeding relationship between the maggots and the rabbit tissue. [1]
(b) Describe how the fly observations changed from day 1 to day 6. [2]
(c) Suggest why temperature is recorded when estimating the time of death. [1]
The diagram shows a peat bog with moss plants at the surface and waterlogged peat below. A conservation team measured the depth of new peat formed in one year. The bog water is acidic and contains little oxygen.
(a) Name the plant process that removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. [1]
(b) Suggest why dead moss decays slowly below the water level. [2]
(c) What is the effect on atmospheric carbon dioxide when peat is drained and burned? [1]
Answer Details
(a) The maggots show detritivory, meaning feeding on dead organic material. [1]
(b) Eggs were present first, then small maggots were observed, followed by large maggots by day 6. [2]
(c) Temperature is recorded because it affects the rate of insect development and decay, so it affects estimates of time since death. [1]
(a) Moss plants remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere by photosynthesis. [1]
(b) Waterlogged peat has little oxygen. Aerobic decomposers cannot respire effectively in these conditions, so decay is slow. [2]
(c) If peat is drained and burned, atmospheric carbon dioxide increases. [1]
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