SCI2030 – Introduction to Ecology Exam #1, science homework help

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SCI2030 – Introduction to Ecology Exam #1 Please type your responses and submit your completed exam via Ulearn. Please do not email your responses to these questions. 1. Please define ecology and please name two interactions often found in biological communities. 2. Please explain why those using the scientific method need to be objective and unbiased. 3. Please explain why an hypothesis is often described as a ‘tentative explanation’. 4. As scientists study ecology the issue of scale becomes very important. Please explain how the scale of a study’s focus (biological population versus ecosystem, for example) influences the experimental design of a study? (i.e. how does it affect the questions one asks, the hypotheses one uses, and the way one goes about collecting data) 5. The earth has an axis of rotation of approximately 23.5o. Please describe how this tilt affects (causes) the seasons on planet earth? 6. The winter in the northern hemisphere begins on approximately December 21. On this day, specifically, where on the earth is the sun directly over? 7. Considering the climate diagram below: a. During which month is the mean temperature the highest? b. Approximately, what is the lowest mean monthly temperature at this location? c. During which months of the year is there a water deficit? (drought) d. What is the approximate range of mean monthly precipitation at this location? 8. Please list three characteristics discussed about the following biomes. a. tropical rain forest b. tropical savanna c. temperate forest d. boreal forest 9. Consider the hydrologic cycle. At any one time, where is on the planet is the largest reservoir of water? 10. Please discuss how the salinity (brought in by tides) affects the pattern of growth (zonation) in marine shore ecosystems. (hint: think tides, elevation, and species types in your answer). 11. Please explain how the major oceanic currents affect the distribution of energy from the equator to the northern latitudes. 12. Please define Charles Darwin’s mechanism of evolution called natural selection. Please include in your answer how the process of natural selection works to influence populations over time.
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SCI2030 – Introduction to Ecology
Exam #1
Please type your responses and submit your completed exam via Ulearn.
Please do not email your responses to these questions.
1. Please define ecology and please name two interactions often found in biological
communities.
Ecology is defined as the scientific study of processes that influence the distribution
and abundance of various organisms, interactions among the organisms, and the
contacts between the organisms with a conversion and flux of energy and matter. In
other words, is the scientific study of abundance, relations, and distribution of
organisms and their interactions with the entire environment.
Correspondingly, one of the fascinating facultative interaction involves the Boran
people from Kenya, Africa, and a bird called the honey guide. Human hunting parties
are mostly joined and guided by the relentless honeyguide which leads them to
individual bee colonies. The Borans use the art of fire and smoke to scare off the
bees, then break open the honey nest and remove the entire honey while leaving the
wax and larvae behind. The bird then gets access to the larvae and wax. The
application of fire and smoke lowers the bird's risk of getting stung while the human
hunters increase the accessibility to nests. According to these Borans, the honeyguide
bird informs them of: the direction as related to compass bearing of the birds flight;
the distance, evaluated from the duration of the bird's departure and the height of
perch; and lastly, the arrival, shown by the "indicator call." These birds and Boran
hunters can survive without each other, but each benefit from the facultative
ecological interactions.
Another interaction involves the humans, particular ants and a small tree called
the acacia which provides a brilliant example of an obligate human mutualism.
Aforementioned is a case in Costa Rica where these insects called the Pseudomyrmex
provides several methods of protection. The ant attacks and removes any herbivorous
insects, vines that overgrow the acacia, and ...


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