Bioe 107 Fall 2018
Hints for answering the questions and sample questions from past tests.
Mid-term #2
The exam will have 2 parts:
A. Definitions w one example (based on terms/examples)
B. Short answer (mostly from study guides)
As with the first mid-term, the number of points you get depends on the completeness of your answers.
I. Definitions (answer 5: 3 pts definitions + 2 pts example); 5 definitions/examples = 25 pts
As before: the answers that are most complete get more credit.
eg., From Terms/concepts:
climate change
resistance
primary succession
ecosystem services
predator switching
II. Short answers: 7 questions.
Two areas of emphasis for the class have been constructing and testing hypotheses. These will continue in
the final, with the usual questions of a) give an expt or critical observation that distinguishes between 2
concepts and b) testing other key ideas that you have had in the class (e.g., related to major concepts such
as climate change, ecological succession, disturbance). These include all of the major concepts; e.g.,
predation, gradients of S, interactions, disturbance/stability, TD vs BU, connectivity, and applied ecology
(climate change, conservation/management)).
We did not emphasize mathematical models in the 2nd part of the class, but some are key (predator/prey,
Total/per capita impacts). We also stressed key conceptual ideas (e.g., succession, disturbance, gradients,
climate change, conservations, community importance [vs total impacts], island biogeography, ecosystem
services…) that are important to understanding ecology; know the graphs & diagrams related to these
concepts.
Here are a few example question from past mid-terms….:
1. List and explain 3 ways that biodiversity is currently under threat. Give an example of each,
explaining essential details.
2. Draw a graph to illustrate how disturbance frequency affects species richness according to the
intermediate disturbance hypothesis. How is this modified by beneficial interactions? How is this
related to succession? Alternative states?
3. Indicate the predictions of the Lotka-Volterra predator-prey models. Show how numbers of predators
and prey are expected to change over time.
4. Indicate the different assumptions of the models/mechanisms of succession for (i) colonization
following a disturbance and (ii) impact of a given stage on later ones. (iii) Give one example of each
mechanism, with enough detail about the system that indicates the relevance of the model (e.g., types
of organisms (common names are fine), what was assessed)
There is no separate section on identifying graphs because these are incorporated into the Short Answer
questions on this exam. Make sure that you understand the key conceptual graphs.
As before, we will provide the key equations and ask you to interpret aspects of them.
