BIOL 2300 - Final Exam Questions With Complete
Solutions
1st law of thermodynamics and ecosystems Correct Answers
energy cannot be created or destroyed (is constant) in an
ecosystem, energy from sun harvest by 1 producers and used to
form chemical bonds in carbon-based compounds
1st law of thermodynamics Correct Answers the amount of
energy is constant (in a closed system), energy cannot be created
or destroyed, can change form (potential -> kinetic)
2 major types of biogeochemical cycles Correct Answers
gaseous and sedimentary
2 most common diversity indexes Correct Answers Simpson's
diversity index and shannon-weaver diversity index
2 things biological structure is defined by Correct Answers
species richness and relative abundance of each species
2 types of decomposers Correct Answers microbial and
detritivores
2nd law of thermodynamics and ecosystems Correct Answers
when energy is transferred among trophic levels (feeding
relationships), some energy becomes unavailable for further use,
as energy is transferred among organisms a portion is used but
some dissipates as heat
,2nd law of thermodynamics Correct Answers whenever energy
is transformed, some energy becomes unavailable for further
use, eg. burning wood - kinetic energy dissipates as heat
3 types of species interactions that typically occur during
succession Correct Answers facilitation, inhibition, tolerance
3 types of symbiosis Correct Answers mutualism,
commensalism, parasitism
3 ways to conserve biodiversity Correct Answers function-
based biodiversity species, non-function-based species, protect
target areas with high biodiversity
4 ecosystem concepts Correct Answers ecosystems are
superorganisms, ecosystems are structured by feeding
relationships, ecosystems are energy-transforming systems,
trophic-dynamic ecosystem concept
4 general patterns of island biogeography theory Correct
Answers larger islands hold more species, number of species on
an island is determined by dynamic equilibrium, as number of
species increases rate of species successfully colonizing
decreases and rate of species being extirpated increases
4 major groups of detritivores Correct Answers microfauna and
microflora (<100um), mesofauna (100um-2mm), macrofauna
(2-20mm), megafauna (>20mm)
, 4 ways hosts redirect their energy Correct Answers decreased b,
decreased reproductive success, increased d (2 infections and
increased predation)
5 ways outputs can occur Correct Answers released into
atmosphere, inorganic nutrients released via leaching out of soil
to streams, organic matter exported from forest ecosystems to
streams to rivers to lakes, organic matter transferred between
ecosystems by movement of consumers, harvesting
Allelic diversity Correct Answers mean number of alleles per
locus in a pop
Alpha richness (local) Correct Answers diversity (species
richness) within a community, small homogeneous area (1 site)
As patch size increases... Correct Answers edge:interior
decreases, small patch is mostly edge, large patch is mostly
interior
As patch width increases... Correct Answers edge:interior
decreases, long/narrow is mostly edge, square/circular is mostly
interior
Autogenic change Correct Answers change in environmental
conditions directly due to organisms present in community
Basal species Correct Answers do not feed on species but are
fed upon by other species, primary producers
Solutions
1st law of thermodynamics and ecosystems Correct Answers
energy cannot be created or destroyed (is constant) in an
ecosystem, energy from sun harvest by 1 producers and used to
form chemical bonds in carbon-based compounds
1st law of thermodynamics Correct Answers the amount of
energy is constant (in a closed system), energy cannot be created
or destroyed, can change form (potential -> kinetic)
2 major types of biogeochemical cycles Correct Answers
gaseous and sedimentary
2 most common diversity indexes Correct Answers Simpson's
diversity index and shannon-weaver diversity index
2 things biological structure is defined by Correct Answers
species richness and relative abundance of each species
2 types of decomposers Correct Answers microbial and
detritivores
2nd law of thermodynamics and ecosystems Correct Answers
when energy is transferred among trophic levels (feeding
relationships), some energy becomes unavailable for further use,
as energy is transferred among organisms a portion is used but
some dissipates as heat
,2nd law of thermodynamics Correct Answers whenever energy
is transformed, some energy becomes unavailable for further
use, eg. burning wood - kinetic energy dissipates as heat
3 types of species interactions that typically occur during
succession Correct Answers facilitation, inhibition, tolerance
3 types of symbiosis Correct Answers mutualism,
commensalism, parasitism
3 ways to conserve biodiversity Correct Answers function-
based biodiversity species, non-function-based species, protect
target areas with high biodiversity
4 ecosystem concepts Correct Answers ecosystems are
superorganisms, ecosystems are structured by feeding
relationships, ecosystems are energy-transforming systems,
trophic-dynamic ecosystem concept
4 general patterns of island biogeography theory Correct
Answers larger islands hold more species, number of species on
an island is determined by dynamic equilibrium, as number of
species increases rate of species successfully colonizing
decreases and rate of species being extirpated increases
4 major groups of detritivores Correct Answers microfauna and
microflora (<100um), mesofauna (100um-2mm), macrofauna
(2-20mm), megafauna (>20mm)
, 4 ways hosts redirect their energy Correct Answers decreased b,
decreased reproductive success, increased d (2 infections and
increased predation)
5 ways outputs can occur Correct Answers released into
atmosphere, inorganic nutrients released via leaching out of soil
to streams, organic matter exported from forest ecosystems to
streams to rivers to lakes, organic matter transferred between
ecosystems by movement of consumers, harvesting
Allelic diversity Correct Answers mean number of alleles per
locus in a pop
Alpha richness (local) Correct Answers diversity (species
richness) within a community, small homogeneous area (1 site)
As patch size increases... Correct Answers edge:interior
decreases, small patch is mostly edge, large patch is mostly
interior
As patch width increases... Correct Answers edge:interior
decreases, long/narrow is mostly edge, square/circular is mostly
interior
Autogenic change Correct Answers change in environmental
conditions directly due to organisms present in community
Basal species Correct Answers do not feed on species but are
fed upon by other species, primary producers
