Biology 6C Study Guide

Lecture Exam 1

This study guide is intended to assist you in organizing and studying. Please refer to your lab
handouts for additional information on some of these topics. It is possible there will be material on
the exam that is not on this study guide. (This is my disclaimer.)

Introduction

Ch 52

What is Ecology? How is Ecology different than Environmentalism? What is the focus of study in
Natural History? Environmental Science? Conservation Biology? How are these allied sciences
related to ecology? Be able to define evolution and briefly describe the process of evolution through
natural selection.

Scientific Method

Ch 1

Define and understand the factors in experimental design: dependent and independent variables,
controlled variables, experimental and control groups. What is the difference between a working
hypothesis, an alternative hypothesis and the null hypothesis? Be able to apply the above terms to
both the mimicry study (king snake and coral snake) and to the ivory-billed woodpecker case study
(as appropriate). What is an ultimate explanation? A proximate explanation? What is reductionism?
Holism? Be able to explain the differences between popular science articles and scientific journal
articles.

Population Ecology

Ch

53
What is a population? What are some of the problems of defining a population for study? (In other
words, what are some spatial and temporal considerations?)
Demographics: What is demography? How is density expressed? What are some ways to determine
the density of a population? What is a census/direct count? What types of organisms can one easily
census? What are some of the problems with censusing? What types of organisms should be
measured by area of coverage? What is the Lincoln-Peterson method? How does one perform this
method? What are the assumptions? What is an Index of Relative Abundance? What is dispersion?
What are the three patterns of dispersion and what are some of the causes of each? How does one
calculate an Index of Dispersion? What value indicates each pattern? What are some ways to
determine the age of an organism? What are the two types of life tables and how are the data
collected for each? Be able to define the following terms: general fertility rate, total fertility rate,
replacement rate, life expectancy. Name some countries that have higher than replacement rate
growth and some that typically have lower. What is a population pyramid and what does it tell you
about the future population structure? What do the population pyramids look like for Japan, India and
Kenya (from the movie World in the Balance). What are some of the problems faced by each of
these countries relative to their population structure? What is a survivorship curve? What are the
three generalized curves and what characteristic mortality pattern accompanies each? Be able to give
examples of organisms for each type of curve. What is a sex ratio? What kinds of factors alter the 1:1
ratio? Review the examples discussed in class of organisms that vary from a 1:1 ratio.
1

Population Growth: What is positive population growth? Negative growth? What affects population
growth? What is rmax? What factors are considered in calculating rmax? Define biotic potential.
What is the difference between exponential and logistic growth? Under what conditions might each
occur? Be able to recognize and explain the characteristic curve and equation associated with each.
What is K and how does it relate to population growth? How does consideration of K alter the
population growth curve? How does consideration of K change the mathematical equation for
population growth? What demographic factors are important in prediction the population growth of a
population? Which model (exponential or logistic) best describes human population growth? What is
demographic transition?
Population Regulation: What are the four general patterns of population fluctuation we discussed in
class? What is the difference between a density dependent factor and a density independent factor?
Which is associated with an equilibrium view? What is meant by lag time? What are some density
dependent factors that may regulate populations? Some density independent factors? Understand
the examples discussed in class relating food (resource) supply, predation and disease, stress,
territoriality, and dispersal to population regulation. What are some abiotic factors that control
populations? What is a metapopulation and how does it affect population density?
Life History Strategies What is a life history strategy? What effects can body size have on an
organisms life history? How does body size relate to metabolic rate? How does body size relate to
life span? What is metamorphosis? Describe the advantages some organisms have gained by having
a larval stage that is very different than the adult stage. What is diapause? What are the advantages
of diapause? Be able to relate energetics to reproduction. What are some of the tradeoffs between
large and small litter/clutch sizes? What is iteroparity? Semelparity? Understand the difference
between r-selection and k-selection and what conditions favor one over the other. What types of
organisms exhibit each and how does each relate to an organisms life history?

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