Bio 207 Lab Practical UPDATED ACTUAL
Exam Questions and CORRECT Answers
Sensor - CORRECT ANSWER - A device that detects a physical property and records it.
A device that measures changes in electrical current as a result of changes in a physical property
such as temperature
Transducer - CORRECT ANSWER - A device that converts variations in a physical
quantity, such as pressure or brightness into an electrical signal or vice versa. Translates any
physical variable in environment to an electrical signal
Interface - CORRECT ANSWER - a device or program enabling a user to communicate
with a computer. Takes the voltage and translates it into 0s and 1s for computer to read
independent variable - CORRECT ANSWER - a variable (often denoted by x ) whose
variation does not depend on that of another.
dependent variable - CORRECT ANSWER - a variable (often denoted by y ) whose value
depends on that of another. It is influenced by changes in the independent variable
Mean Temperature - CORRECT ANSWER - average temperature when temperature is
constant
linear relationship - CORRECT ANSWER - expressed in a graphical format in which the
variable and the constant are connect via a straight line, the equation of which can be expressed
as y=mx+b, in which m is the slope of the line and b is the y intercept. It is a relationship in
which the x and y variables vary by a constant amount. It is a steady rate of change.
Correlation - CORRECT ANSWER - a mutual relationship or connection between two or
more things. It is when two variable have a predictable relationship
, Lab 1 Summary - CORRECT ANSWER - Intro to handling equipment; Learned how to
use SPARKvue and probes for Lab 2
Explain why salt concentrations in the high salt marsh might be either much higher or much
lower than the concentration of salt in water than the open sea - CORRECT ANSWER -
The high marsh may be infrequently covered with seawater, and may be dry except for very high
tides or storms. During the times between very high tides that cover the high marsh area, the
water will evaporate and the salt concentration could become higher than the sea water. On the
other hand, if there are streams or springs that provide fresh water to those areas, they will have a
lower salinity than sea water. Rainfall could also lose the salinity between times when the tides
reach it. Generally, the salinity in the soul of the high marsh will be lower than the low marsh.
Explain why two different species of the plant genus Spartina are present in the salt marsh but
are not found in the same areas. - CORRECT ANSWER - Spartina alterniflora is found in
the low marsh where the salinity is usually higher and high tides frequently cover their roots. It is
more tolerant of salty conditions than Spartina patens which is found in the higher areas.
There are many ribbed mussels in the salt marsh. List and explain two environmental challenges
these organisms face with every tide cycle and explain how they cope with the challenges. -
CORRECT ANSWER - Dehydration: during air exposure, particularly on warm to hot
days could easily result. Mussels maintain a tight seal between their two shells that creates very
low water permeability.
Overheating or freezing: in either end of the temperature extremes could happen. Mussels
acclimatize seasonally, altering their susceptibility to extremes. They do this by altering their
biochemical process, expressing iso-enzymes and making other biochemical changes. Their
distribution in the intertidal zone is affected by the usual prevailing conditions and they are less
likely to be found where temperatures routinely reach extremes. In those places growth and
reproduction are reduced. Hypoxia: could occur in the air on hot days when muscles need to
tightly seal their shells to prevent dehydration. To cope with this they can convert from aerobic
to anaerobic metabolism, building an oxygen debt that must be repaid once they are re-
submerged during high tide. Predation: during low tide from birds and possibly during high tide
from fish.
What is meant by zonation. Describe the different zones you saw; explain the criteria you used to
identify the various zones. - CORRECT ANSWER - Zones are definable areas with a
predictable assortment of plants and animals and physical characteristics that distinguish them
from each other. Principal criteria for delineating zones in the marshlands include the kinds of
Exam Questions and CORRECT Answers
Sensor - CORRECT ANSWER - A device that detects a physical property and records it.
A device that measures changes in electrical current as a result of changes in a physical property
such as temperature
Transducer - CORRECT ANSWER - A device that converts variations in a physical
quantity, such as pressure or brightness into an electrical signal or vice versa. Translates any
physical variable in environment to an electrical signal
Interface - CORRECT ANSWER - a device or program enabling a user to communicate
with a computer. Takes the voltage and translates it into 0s and 1s for computer to read
independent variable - CORRECT ANSWER - a variable (often denoted by x ) whose
variation does not depend on that of another.
dependent variable - CORRECT ANSWER - a variable (often denoted by y ) whose value
depends on that of another. It is influenced by changes in the independent variable
Mean Temperature - CORRECT ANSWER - average temperature when temperature is
constant
linear relationship - CORRECT ANSWER - expressed in a graphical format in which the
variable and the constant are connect via a straight line, the equation of which can be expressed
as y=mx+b, in which m is the slope of the line and b is the y intercept. It is a relationship in
which the x and y variables vary by a constant amount. It is a steady rate of change.
Correlation - CORRECT ANSWER - a mutual relationship or connection between two or
more things. It is when two variable have a predictable relationship
, Lab 1 Summary - CORRECT ANSWER - Intro to handling equipment; Learned how to
use SPARKvue and probes for Lab 2
Explain why salt concentrations in the high salt marsh might be either much higher or much
lower than the concentration of salt in water than the open sea - CORRECT ANSWER -
The high marsh may be infrequently covered with seawater, and may be dry except for very high
tides or storms. During the times between very high tides that cover the high marsh area, the
water will evaporate and the salt concentration could become higher than the sea water. On the
other hand, if there are streams or springs that provide fresh water to those areas, they will have a
lower salinity than sea water. Rainfall could also lose the salinity between times when the tides
reach it. Generally, the salinity in the soul of the high marsh will be lower than the low marsh.
Explain why two different species of the plant genus Spartina are present in the salt marsh but
are not found in the same areas. - CORRECT ANSWER - Spartina alterniflora is found in
the low marsh where the salinity is usually higher and high tides frequently cover their roots. It is
more tolerant of salty conditions than Spartina patens which is found in the higher areas.
There are many ribbed mussels in the salt marsh. List and explain two environmental challenges
these organisms face with every tide cycle and explain how they cope with the challenges. -
CORRECT ANSWER - Dehydration: during air exposure, particularly on warm to hot
days could easily result. Mussels maintain a tight seal between their two shells that creates very
low water permeability.
Overheating or freezing: in either end of the temperature extremes could happen. Mussels
acclimatize seasonally, altering their susceptibility to extremes. They do this by altering their
biochemical process, expressing iso-enzymes and making other biochemical changes. Their
distribution in the intertidal zone is affected by the usual prevailing conditions and they are less
likely to be found where temperatures routinely reach extremes. In those places growth and
reproduction are reduced. Hypoxia: could occur in the air on hot days when muscles need to
tightly seal their shells to prevent dehydration. To cope with this they can convert from aerobic
to anaerobic metabolism, building an oxygen debt that must be repaid once they are re-
submerged during high tide. Predation: during low tide from birds and possibly during high tide
from fish.
What is meant by zonation. Describe the different zones you saw; explain the criteria you used to
identify the various zones. - CORRECT ANSWER - Zones are definable areas with a
predictable assortment of plants and animals and physical characteristics that distinguish them
from each other. Principal criteria for delineating zones in the marshlands include the kinds of
