UGA COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE
QUESTIONS WITH SOLUTIONS
GRADED A PLUS
>> Population
Answer: All of the individuals of a SINGLE SPECIES that interact
>> Community
Answer: All of the populations of LIVING things that interact in a place
>> Ecosystem
Answer: A biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment (biotic &
abiotic)
>> Abiotic
Answer: Non-living factors in an ecosystem
>> Biotic
Answer: Living factors in an ecosystem
>> What size is an ecosystem?
Answer: There is no defined size
>> Biome
Answer: A distinct type of geographical region defined by vegetation present
>> What causes changes in vegetation?
Answer: Temperature and Precipitation
>> Changes as elevation increases
Answer: Temp, soil quality/depth, pressure, O2 all go down. Humidity and water availability generally
go up. As temperatures drop, the air is able to hold less water vapor, so we say it has higher relative
humidity.
>> Biomes change...
Answer: As height and latitude change
>> Which has more biodiversity? 100 km2 at the base of a mountain vs 100 km2 of mountains?
Answer: 100km2 of Mountains, more changes in biome
, >> Old Growth Forest
Answer: •never been logged
>> "Rich" Soil
Answer: lots of available nutrients for plant growth
>> Tephra/Ash
Answer: Rock dust, unable to hold water well or have nutrients
>> Which organisms reach disturbed areas first?
Answer: Animals are going to reach the area first but will be unable to survive.
>> Which organisms establish in disturbed areas first?
Answer: Plants (nitrogen fixing specifically)
>> How do plants migrate into disturbed areas?
Answer: Seed dispersal
>> Seed dispersal
Answer: How seeds/spores are spread away from the parent plant
>> Seed Dispersal Types
Answer: Wind
>> Seed Coat functions
Answer: Protection from environment
>> Thick vs Thin Seed Coat
Answer: Seeds are thinner or thicker based on energy investment from a plant. It costs energy more for
plants to make a thicker seed coat (more seeds vs better seeds)
>> Cotyledons
Answer: the "yolk" for the little embryonic plant.
>> Large Cotyledon Pros
Answer: •Can store more energy
>> Small Cotyledon Pros/Cons
Answer: •Can produce many more
>> Larger Seeds vs Smaller Seeds
QUESTIONS WITH SOLUTIONS
GRADED A PLUS
>> Population
Answer: All of the individuals of a SINGLE SPECIES that interact
>> Community
Answer: All of the populations of LIVING things that interact in a place
>> Ecosystem
Answer: A biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment (biotic &
abiotic)
>> Abiotic
Answer: Non-living factors in an ecosystem
>> Biotic
Answer: Living factors in an ecosystem
>> What size is an ecosystem?
Answer: There is no defined size
>> Biome
Answer: A distinct type of geographical region defined by vegetation present
>> What causes changes in vegetation?
Answer: Temperature and Precipitation
>> Changes as elevation increases
Answer: Temp, soil quality/depth, pressure, O2 all go down. Humidity and water availability generally
go up. As temperatures drop, the air is able to hold less water vapor, so we say it has higher relative
humidity.
>> Biomes change...
Answer: As height and latitude change
>> Which has more biodiversity? 100 km2 at the base of a mountain vs 100 km2 of mountains?
Answer: 100km2 of Mountains, more changes in biome
, >> Old Growth Forest
Answer: •never been logged
>> "Rich" Soil
Answer: lots of available nutrients for plant growth
>> Tephra/Ash
Answer: Rock dust, unable to hold water well or have nutrients
>> Which organisms reach disturbed areas first?
Answer: Animals are going to reach the area first but will be unable to survive.
>> Which organisms establish in disturbed areas first?
Answer: Plants (nitrogen fixing specifically)
>> How do plants migrate into disturbed areas?
Answer: Seed dispersal
>> Seed dispersal
Answer: How seeds/spores are spread away from the parent plant
>> Seed Dispersal Types
Answer: Wind
>> Seed Coat functions
Answer: Protection from environment
>> Thick vs Thin Seed Coat
Answer: Seeds are thinner or thicker based on energy investment from a plant. It costs energy more for
plants to make a thicker seed coat (more seeds vs better seeds)
>> Cotyledons
Answer: the "yolk" for the little embryonic plant.
>> Large Cotyledon Pros
Answer: •Can store more energy
>> Small Cotyledon Pros/Cons
Answer: •Can produce many more
>> Larger Seeds vs Smaller Seeds
