Neco Model Questions Vol1 2024 Biology Question 14

The metabolic rate of a cold‑water fish follows the Q10 rule: for every \(10^{\circ}\text{C}\) rise in temperature, the rate roughly doubles (Q10 = 2) up to its optimum temperature of \(25^{\circ}\text{C}\), after which the rate declines by \(20\%\) for each additional \(5^{\circ}\text{C}\) increase.\n\nFish A lives in a river where the temperature rises from \(10^{\circ}\text{C}\) to \(30^{\circ}\text{C}\) during summer. Fish B, a related species, has a lower Q10 of 1.5 and its optimum temperature is \(20^{\circ}\text{C}\); beyond \(20^{\circ}\text{C}\) its metabolic rate declines by \(15\%\) for each additional \(5^{\circ}\text{C}\) increase.\n\nAssuming both fish start with a metabolic rate of 1.0 (arbitrary units) at \(10^{\circ}\text{C}\), calculate the metabolic rate of each fish at \(30^{\circ}\text{C}\) and indicate which fish maintains a higher metabolic rate at that temperature.