50-351

Spring 2005

Cumulative Questions

1. Choose an independent stream ecology project other than your own. Briefly summarize the purpose and findings of the study and its relationship to topics discussed in class.

2. Choose an independent forest ecology project other than your own. Briefly summarize the purpose and findings of the study and its relationship to topics discussed in class.

3. Define population, metapopulation, community, and ecosystem. What ecological processes occur at each of these levels?

4. Many of the mathematical models used in ecology are modifications of the simple exponential growth model. Choose two models that are modifications of the exponential growth model and answer the following questions.

a. State the mathematical equation for the exponential growth model.

b. Draw the corresponding graph of population size vs. time.

c. State the mathematical equations for each of the chosen models.

d. Describe each of the chosen models in your own words. (Do not just write out the names of the variables.)

e. For each chosen model, under what conditions will the population grow exponentially?

5. Review the ten rules in ecology from the beginning of the course. Choose the two rules that are most relevant to your study of ecology this semester. For each selected rule, write a short paragraph describing the rule’s relevance to your understanding of ecology.