Ecology Lecture Outline and Study Guide Morehouse College BIO 320
1
Section II Problems and Sample Examination Questions
1. Calculate the doubling times for each of the following human
populations:
What assumptions are required to make these doubling time
predictions?
2. Describe how birds and mammals differ from all other
organisms in their responses to the thermal environment. In your
answer, define the functional categories Endothermy and
Ectothermy.
3. American crows, Corvus brachyrynchos, are large social birds
that are found throughout the United States. Since the summer of
1999, crows (and many other bird species) have been hosts for
West Nile Virus. The virus is particularly virulent in crows
causing massive die-offs. To evaluate the status of West Nile
Virus in Atlanta and to assess the level of potential risk to humans,
you have been asked to determine the current size of crow
populations in Atlanta at Piedmont Park. Estimate the Piedmont
Park crow population if you live caught, tagged (using small leg
bands) and released 30 crows, and captured repeated samples of 20
birds during the following week which included an average of 10
recaptures of tagged birds.
If you returned to Piedmont Park two months after the initial tag
and release and captured repeated samples of 20 birds which
Country Per capita rate of change (r)
Algeria 0.033
Canada 0.019
United Kingdom 0.006
Kenya 0.042
Germany -0.002
