I. FILL-INS (4 pts each question).  Fill in the blanks with the appropriate word or words to make the sentence or statement complete.  NOTE:  Some statements have more than one correct response, you need only supply a correct answer in the context of the course.
 

1. The two basic concepts that form the basis for a definition of Ecology are 1)___________ and 2)____________________.
Why is an understanding of Principles of Ecology important to the topic of Wildlife Conservation? ___________________________________________________________

2. We discussed 5 ethical principles of Conservation Biology.  List two:
  1)__________________________________
  2)__________________________________
 
Explain why one of your two answers above is a basis of Conservation.
 
 
 

3. Living organisms must obtain food/water to live.  What else is a requisite to life? __________________________________________________________________
 
Why is it necessary (in addition to food/water)? ____________________________
 ___________________________________________________________________

4. A quilt was brought to class to illustrate the principles of Ecology that says: ________________________________________________________________
 
Explain what this Ecology principle means?
 

 
5. Explain the statement “The fundamental niche of a living organism is defined by abiotic factors”.
 
 
 

6. Label this diagram (x, y, a & b)
 
 
 
 

7. Diagram a J curve.  What is represented by the J? ______________________________
Under what condition do we see a J curve in nature? _____________________________
 
 
 

8. If a large tree blows over in a forest would an “r” or “k” strategy organism likely benefit? ____________________________   Explain your answer.
 
 
 

9. Charles Darwin developed the concept of Evolution based on three commonly observed features of many species - namely: 1) ________________________
      2) ________________________
      3) ________________________
 
 
 
 

10. Assume a population of 25 individuals that have a large birth to death ratio so rate of increase is 0.5.  If growth is exponential what would be the size of the population after one year? ____________________________________________________________
 
Show your calculations:
 
 
 

11. For an established population we determine there are individuals in a forested area where we have calculated a carrying capacity of 500 individuals.  Potential rate of increase is 0.5.  How many individuals should we find in the forested area next spring? __________
 
Show your calculations:
 
 
 

12. Explain 2 ways genetic change may occur in a population over time.
 1)

 2)
 

13. What does the inflection point signify in a population growth curve?
 ________________________________________________________________
 
How does a density dependent factor influence a population growth curve?
 ________________________________________________________________
 

14. Draw and complete a food chain (5 levels) indicating direction of energy transfer.
 
 
 
 
 

15. Explain 3 important features of the biogeochemical cycle of carbon.
 
 
 

16. How do hetertrophs obtain energy?  _____________________________________
 
Primary consumers, often called _____________________, utilize _________________
as they eat _____________________.  Some of the energy is ____________________ while other is ______________________.
 

17. Change in a population over time is termed _____________________.  While change in an ecosystem over time is termed ________________________.  Why can’t the same term be used for both?
 
 
 

18. Using words and diagram, explain Competitive Exclusion Principle (explained by Lotka-Volterra equations or stated as Gause’s Rule).
 
 
 

19. Conservation has become necessary as the human population (now over __________ billion) primarily utilizes  ___________________ - selected organisms and in so doing we simplify the ____________________ by holding back the ecological process of _________________.

20. (Cont’d  from above) To hold back this process (identified in the last blank #19 above) humans utilize lots of _______________________ to live a comfortable lifestyle which results in alteration of the ______________________ cycles (for example we extract ________________ from the earth which causes ____________________).  A major effect from using these (what you identified in 1st blank in this question) and living a comfortable life leads to a continuing loss of ______________________.

21. If a tree blows over in a forest and takes several other trees with it a ________________ of the environment is created.  This area favors _____________________ organisms which have the ability to ____________________ (list one of several characteristics of such organisms).  Eventually with time the original community returns because of __________________________.

22. Give an example of a keystone species: _________________________________. Why is  it a keystone species?
 
 
 

23. If humans modify an environment and other species populations are drastically affected, a ____________________________ species might have been eliminated.  A ____________________________________ species might be removed from an environment and the species composition might not experience such degradation

24. Two major ways humans seek to protect planet biodiversity is via protection (preservation) of __________________________________________ and protection (conservation) of ____________________________________________________.

25.  Explain the statement: Biological Conservation (BC 101) seeks to “maintain viable  populations of species.”