Myxomatosis is a disease of rabbits caused by a virus. In 1953, the virus spread through the rabbit population in Britain.
The Table shows the percentage of infected rabbits that died from myxomatosis in different years.
Table
| Year | Percentage of infected rabbits that died |
|---|---|
| 1953 | 99 |
| 1960 | 92 |
| 1970 | 75 |
| 1980 | 60 |
Calculate the percentage decrease in the percentage of infected rabbits that died between 1953 and 1980. Give your answer to the nearest whole number.
Explain why the percentage of infected rabbits that died decreased between 1953 and 1980.
In 1953, only about 1% of infected rabbits survived. Suggest why rabbits did not become extinct in Britain.
44 exam-style questions on Edexcel GCSE Biology 4.1 Evolution and natural selection, covering 4.1.1 Work of Darwin and Wallace and 4.1.2 Resistant organisms and evolution. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.