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Date November 2020 Marks available 2 Reference code 20N.3.HL.TZ0.7
Level Higher level Paper Paper 3 Time zone TZ0 / no time zone
Command term Describe Question number 7 Adapted from N/A

Question

The large tree finch (Camarhynchus psittacula) communicates through singing. The frequency (pitch) of a finch’s song was recorded. The results for a short period of the song are shown.

[Source: Reproduced / adapted with permission. Podos, J., Southall, J.A. and Rossi-Santos, M.,
2004. Vocal mechanics in Darwin’s finches: correlation of beak gape and song frequency. Journal of Experimental
Biology, 207(4), pp.607–619. Published by The Company of Biologists 2004. doi:10.1242/jeb.00770. Permission
conveyed through Copyright Clearance Center, Inc. https://jeb.biologists.org/content/207/4/607.]

Outline the trend in large tree finch song frequency.

[2]
a.

Describe the role of inheritance and learning in birdsongs.

[2]
b.

Markscheme

a. (the pattern/unit is) a low frequency followed by higher frequency;

b. the same pattern/unit is repeated;

c. range limited to specific frequencies;

a.

a. early birdsong pattern is genetically determined/innate;

b. later birdsong pattern is modified based on learning from adults/other birds;

OWTTE

b.

Examiners report

Most candidates could generally outline the trend, but some had difficulty expressing it clearly and correctly.

a.

Most candidates knew that birdsongs had an inherited and a learned component; it was more difficult for some to accurately put it into words and attribute the role of birds of the same species in the learning process.

b.

Syllabus sections

Option A: Neurobiology and behaviour » Option A: Neurobiology and behaviour (Additional higher level topics) » A.4 Innate and learned behaviour
Option A: Neurobiology and behaviour » Option A: Neurobiology and behaviour (Additional higher level topics)
Option A: Neurobiology and behaviour

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