Faculty of Science / School of Environmental Sciences

BIO262 Vegetation Ecology – Online test 2020

Assessment item 3

NUMBER OF QUESTIONS: 11

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Write your name and student number at the bottom of this page.

2. This is an open book style test, however, please ensure CSU policy for plagiarism and
academic misconduct are adhered too. Tests will be checked for plagiarism.

3. This test consists of 8 short, 2 medium, and 1 long response questions. Please adhere to
word limits.

4. To complete the test, enter your responses to this document (first save, and rename the doc in
WORD). Enter your student details below. ANSWER ALL THE QUESTIONS.

5. See the Subject Outline for marking criteria (rubric).

6. Submit your completed test paper to EASTS.

7. Submission is due Sunday 18th October 11.59pm Late penalties will be strictly enforced. The
test is designed to be completed in about 3 hours – so you have plenty of time to complete.

8. Test papers will not be returned. Your marks are uploaded to Gradebook.

STUDENT NAME: Revathy Gopi STUDENT NUMBER: 11630690

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Short response [3 marks each = 24 total]

1) Plants fix carbon from CO2, but why don’t plants keep their stomata fully open and obtain all
the CO2 they can get?

When the stomata of plants are open during the uptake of CO2, water is lost through
transpiration. If the stomata was allowed to stay fully open in order to obtain more CO2, the
plant will continue to lose more and more water through transpiration – it is losing water faster
than it is absorbing water.

2) What are three (3) ways that plants can vegetatively reproduce?

 Clonal reproduction – using underground rhizomes

 Stolons (runner) - modified shoot above ground

 Bulbs and root tubers – underground storage organs that divide

3) The bet-hedging model has been proposed to explain the allocation of resources in plant
species to survive in unpredictable environments. What are the three main areas that plants
allocate resources to?

 Maintenance (survival)

 Growth

 Reproduction

4) In terms of plant life-history attributes, what is an (a) an obligate re-sprouter, and (b) an
facultative seeder?

a) An obligate resprouter can only reproduce by vegetative resprouting

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 b) A facultative seeder reproduces mainly by seed but can also resprout

5) Apart from eating fruits and seeds, describe two (2) other mechanisms where animals can
disperse plant seeds?

 Transportation of seeds on their bodies like burrs caught on fur or mud

 Collection and storage of seeds

6) In Grimes C-S-R model, (a) a long-lived tree is called a…….?; (b) an annual weed is called
a…….? Which of these examples is the equivalent of a K strategist?

a) A long-lived tree is called a competitor

b) An annual weed is called a ruderal

The long-lived tree is the equivalent of a K strategist

7) Identify and describe (using an example) the interaction where one plant species uses
chemicals to change the environment to negatively influence other species.

Allelopathy is a type of interference competition (amensalism) where a plant species secretes

chemicals that directly inhibits the growth and reproductive ability of nearby plants. An
example of an alleopathic plant is Casuarina equisetifolia (Australian Pine/ Horsetail
Casuarina) whose leaf litter prevents other plant species from growing under or around it.

8) List the three (3) main vegetation attributes which are used to describe a plant community.
What is the other emergent property that a plant community possesses?

Composition, structure, and function are the main vegetation attributes, and the emergent
properties form from interactions which occur within the community.

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Medium length responses (200- 300 words each). [8 marks each = 16 total]

9) Human population expansion and development has resulted in increases in CO² into the
atmosphere, and associated changes in temperature and rainfall. Explain and contrast the
possible effects of climate change on a mixed C3 and C4 plant community?

Climate change and human population expansion has resulted in increased Co2 levels in the
atmosphere, increased average temperatures and decreased amount of rainfall. In a mixed
C3 and C4 plant community the C3 plants would benefit more and flourish under conditions of
increased CO2 whereas C4 would not really be impacted either way as they are already
capable of efficiently using smaller amounts of CO2 and have a higher photosynthetic rate
than C3 plants. However, an increased average temperature and decreased amounts of
rainfall must also be factored into the situation. The rate of photosynthesis for C3 plants is
optimal between 20-30 ̊C and temperatures over 30 ̊C will cause the rate of photosynthesis to
decrease and the amount of water lost through transpiration to increase. The rate of
photosynthesis for C3 plants will also be negatively affected by decreased amounts of rainfall
and despite increased amount of CO2, C3 plants will not be able to flourish in this
environment. On the other hand, the optimal temperature for C4 plants is 30-45 ̊C which is
means that although there is more CO2 in the atmosphere and a decreased amount of rainfall
C4 plants will still able to flourish in such conditions.

However, one last thing that should be considered is that if C4 plants or rather plants in
general where to flourish due to the effects of climate, then more CO2 gas will be consumed
by plants and more O2 will be produced. It is unknown precisely what effect this could have on
climate change but its is possible to speculate that it would help to reduce greenhouse gas
levels and stop the rise of average temperatures. This would in turn allow for C3 plants to
flourish.

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10) A team of ecologists have recently returned from the field, having collected a vegetation
floristic dataset. Describe the two main analytical methods you would use to identify plant
communities from this floristic dataset?

In order to identify the plant communities within this dataset I would first use classification
(cluster) analysis. If a quadrat was used to gather the data of all the samples within the fixed
shape and area, the data collected from this method should include plant coverage, the
presence and/or absence of plant species, frequency, density, species composition, basal
area and biomass. This information can be analysed using a quadrat classification in order to
determine what quadrats are most similar.

I would then use ordinance to construct a map that could show me the placement of samples,
rather than their geographical location. This would also help show the similarity of the plants in
the biological communities.

Mini-essay response (approx. 700 words) [20 marks]

11. In a hypothetical Australian forest, a fire burns a small 5 hectare patch of vegetation,
completely burning (but not killing) the existing vegetation. Afterwards, the site begins to
naturally regenerate. Describe (using the aid of diagrams, or examples if you wish) the
potential impacts of this disturbance in terms of:

(i) changes in key resources immediately after the fire;

A fire such as his would be considered an environmental stochasticity. Immediately after

the fire there would be an abundance of minerals an nutrients within the soil. Due to the fire
there would likely be a short period of increase rainfall and temperature would be warm.
Due the lack of predator and other plant competition there would also be an increased
amount of light, CO2 and water. According to the law of tolerance the environment would
be in the optimal zone for plant regrowth. If the area is one that is often disturbed then
there is a high chance that many of the plant species found there have large seed banks
and some of them may even have serotiny to protect the seeds from the fire.

(ii) the likely short-term plant composition and structure, and the interactions amongst these
plants; and

Due to the optimal conditions of the land and the assumed presence of serotinous seeds, I

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 believe that short after the fire there will be an abundance of small juvenile plant species
that will grow rapidly due to the optimal zone. They will also grow rapidly due to a lack of
predation and competition. However, grasses and other smaller plant species will struggle
to survive at this point due to the abundance of serotinous species. There will be a dense
regeneration of plant species that product long term persistent seeds.

(iii) the likely long-term changes in composition and structure 10 years after the disturbance.

In the long term there will probably be an abundance of larger and more tolerant species in
the area. Gradually grasses and smaller plant will also populate the area and grow more
abundant. The population growth rate will eventually even out and continue at a steady rate
so long as there are no other disturbances.

Hint: this question builds on theory from multiple topics you have covered in BIO262.

Total test marks = 60

(converted to mark / 30)

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