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Ecology Lecture Outline and Study Guide for Morehouse College BIO 320 - Prof. Lawrence Blu, Assignments of Ecology and Environment

A lecture outline and study guide for ecology, specifically for morehouse college bio 320. It includes problems and sample examination questions on topics such as human population growth, bird and mammal responses to thermal environment, west nile virus in crows, population dynamics, survivorship curves, and logistic growth. Students are expected to understand concepts related to per capita rate of change, equilibrium, density dependence, energy requirements, and phenotypic variation.

Typology: Assignments

Pre 2010

Uploaded on 08/04/2009

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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
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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.

Canada 0.

United Kingdom 0.

Kenya 0.

Germany -0.

included an average of 7 recaptures of tagged birds, what is the estimated survival rate during that two month period? Write a fully labeled equation (all variables defined) that shows how you will make the initial population estimation, then plug in the appropriate values and make your estimate. Do the same thing for the survival rate estimation.

  1. Imagine a population of fleas were established on a large dog by two individuals (a male and a female) and the population grew until it reach equilibrium. Draw a fully labeled graph of population size as a function of time that would describe the growth of this flea population. Draw a fully labeled graph of per capita birth and death rates for this flea population assuming that the per capita birth rate was density independent.
  2. What is a survivorship curve? Which type of survivorship curve best characterizes human populations in the United States? Name and describe your answer. How would you expect human survivorship curves to differ between the United States and sub- Saharan Africa?
  1. Which of the following is not a characteristic of organisms that are functional ectotherms? a. Body temperature varies with ambient temperature b. Metabolic rate is low but increases with activity c. Heat is only produced by active muscle contraction d. Metabolic rate is high even when an animal is a rest
  2. Age distributions are not the same in all human populations. In a rapidly growing population such as India or Iran, the age distribution would be: a. Pyramid shaped with a broad base b. Funnel shaped with a very narrow base c. Similar for all ages expect the very oldest d. None of the above
  3. Behavioral and physiological responses to changes to multiple environmental conditions or resources are collectively called: a. acclimation b. acclimatization c. calcification d. amortization