BIO 250 MICROBIOLOGY COMPREHENSIVE
EXAM SCRIPT 2026 QUESTIONS WITH
ANSWERS GRADED A+
◉ Define fertility. Answer: The average number of offspring per
reproductive female
◉ What is the relationship between life cycle complexity and
reproductive rate? Answer: Organisms with a simple life cycle generally
reproduce quicker
◉ Describe a stage of life in which an organism is sessile? Answer: The
organism is attached to a surface (such as a rock)
◉ What is a hermaphrodite? Answer: An organism with both male and
female reproductive organs
◉ What is a life history? Answer: A collection of age or stage specific
traits (or demographic parameters) directly affecting an individual's
reproductive success
,◉ What is a K-species? Answer: A species which is generally large in
size, has a long lifespan, and few reproductive events
◉ What is an r-species? Answer: A species which is generally small,
with a short life, and produces many offspring
◉ What is geometric mean relative fitness? Answer: Number of young +
probability of adults surviving to reproduce next year
◉ How do you calculate the intrinsic growth rate (r)? Answer: r = (births
- deaths)/(t*Navg)
t = timespan of study
Navg = average population size over the time of the study
◉ What is an age structure diagram? Answer: Characterizes the
distribution of ages within a population
◉ Define birth rate. Answer: Number of births per capita (person) per
unit time
◉ What is a cohort? Answer: A group of individuals in a population that
were all born around the same time
, ◉ Describe how someone would study a cohort using the dynamic
method. Answer: Following a single cohort over time as they age
◉ Describe how someone would study a cohort using the static method.
Answer: Studies multiple cohorts over time as they reach a single age
range (e.g. studying elk between 2-5 yrs of age for 15 years)
◉ Describe the survivorship curve, what are on the x and y axes?
Answer: Shows the relationship between age (x-axis) and the number of
survivors of a population (y-axis) - populations generally have Type I,
Type II, or Type III
◉ Describe Type I survivorship. Answer: High survivorship at young
age and low at old age
◉ Describe Type III survivorship. Answer: Low survivorship at young
age, but survivors generally live for a long time
◉ Describe Type II survivorship. Answer: Linear relationship between
age and number of survivors
◉ What is the Principle of Allocation? Answer: The idea that any energy
or biomass used for one function reduces the amount of energy available
for another function
EXAM SCRIPT 2026 QUESTIONS WITH
ANSWERS GRADED A+
◉ Define fertility. Answer: The average number of offspring per
reproductive female
◉ What is the relationship between life cycle complexity and
reproductive rate? Answer: Organisms with a simple life cycle generally
reproduce quicker
◉ Describe a stage of life in which an organism is sessile? Answer: The
organism is attached to a surface (such as a rock)
◉ What is a hermaphrodite? Answer: An organism with both male and
female reproductive organs
◉ What is a life history? Answer: A collection of age or stage specific
traits (or demographic parameters) directly affecting an individual's
reproductive success
,◉ What is a K-species? Answer: A species which is generally large in
size, has a long lifespan, and few reproductive events
◉ What is an r-species? Answer: A species which is generally small,
with a short life, and produces many offspring
◉ What is geometric mean relative fitness? Answer: Number of young +
probability of adults surviving to reproduce next year
◉ How do you calculate the intrinsic growth rate (r)? Answer: r = (births
- deaths)/(t*Navg)
t = timespan of study
Navg = average population size over the time of the study
◉ What is an age structure diagram? Answer: Characterizes the
distribution of ages within a population
◉ Define birth rate. Answer: Number of births per capita (person) per
unit time
◉ What is a cohort? Answer: A group of individuals in a population that
were all born around the same time
, ◉ Describe how someone would study a cohort using the dynamic
method. Answer: Following a single cohort over time as they age
◉ Describe how someone would study a cohort using the static method.
Answer: Studies multiple cohorts over time as they reach a single age
range (e.g. studying elk between 2-5 yrs of age for 15 years)
◉ Describe the survivorship curve, what are on the x and y axes?
Answer: Shows the relationship between age (x-axis) and the number of
survivors of a population (y-axis) - populations generally have Type I,
Type II, or Type III
◉ Describe Type I survivorship. Answer: High survivorship at young
age and low at old age
◉ Describe Type III survivorship. Answer: Low survivorship at young
age, but survivors generally live for a long time
◉ Describe Type II survivorship. Answer: Linear relationship between
age and number of survivors
◉ What is the Principle of Allocation? Answer: The idea that any energy
or biomass used for one function reduces the amount of energy available
for another function
