BIOLOGY 3DD3 Study Guide - Ocean Current, Soil Type, Malaria

1. Imagine you are doing a summer internship as a research assistant at Mountain Lake Biological Station in Virginia. During your internship you observe two distinct species of butterflies in the area. They have similar body shapes and they both drink nectar. But their color patterns are different; one is bright green and one is dark green. You further observe that their habitat ranges overlap, but are distinct in that the dark green butterfly prefers shady, cool forest interiors while the bright green butterfly prefers sunny meadows. Both species are camouflaged well in their respective habitats. You have seen both species preyed upon by birds. Finally, the population size of the two species is about equal. Based on the information given, was the evolution of these two species of butterflies more likely due to natural selection or genetic drift? Write an answer in which you concisely define both mechanisms, state which evolutionary mechanism is more likely and logically explain why.

2. You are studying a population of cheetahs and discover that across most loci you find fewer heterozygotes than expected and more homozygotes. What are two possible explanations of this result? What impact might this have on population fitness? This answer can be brief, not a long essay.

QUESTION 3

Which of the following would NOT be a good method for sortingout the evolutionary relationships between a parrot, gorilla,hippopotamus, starfish, and catfish?

10 points

QUESTION 4

Which of these habitats should have the highest number ofendemic species (found there and nowhere else).

10 points

QUESTION 5

Darwin's concept of evolution "the theory of descent withmodification through variation and natural selection" can bedemonstrated by which of the following examples?

10 points

QUESTION 6

During the Beagle journey, Darwin visited islands,allowing him to compare island species with continental species. Interms of framing his theory of evolution, why was thissignificant?

1.

What is a method that some ecologists have proposed to protectspecies from extinction in the face of global climate change?

1. natural attenuation
2. assisted migration
3. bioremediation
4. mitigation
5. adaptive management

2.

Why is it usually not possible to restore a community to itspre-altered state?

1. It is not always possible to determine the kinds of speciesthat populated a community.
2. Invasive species compromise restoration.
3. Climate change complicates restoration.
4. Evolutionary trajectories cannot be predicted.
5. All answers are correct.

3.

How is ecological restoration different from restorationecology?

1. It considers cultural and societal concerns.
2. It does not rely on ecological principles.
3. It cannot be predicted.
4. It does not involve manipulation of the environment.
5. All answers are correct.

4.

What is the goal of assisted migration?

1. to help species respond to climate change
2. to help species learn new seasonal migration routes
3. to help migrating species avoid human-made structures
4. to help native species tolerate restoration efforts
5. All answers are correct.

5.

Which of the following might serve to enhance habitat in arestoration project?

1. a dead log in a stream
2. a concrete water control structure in an estuary
3. removal of a dam
4. an artificial nesting box
5. All answers are correct.

6.

Biologists want to restore a region that experienced stripmining. How will bacteria assist in the restoration?

1. They will restore the biotic parts of a community.
2. They will enhance adaptive management.
3. They will remove harmful metals.
4. They will improve revegetation.
5. They will remove the source of the disturbance.

7.

A barge has leaked a small amount of oil in the middle of LakeMichigan. What might be the best solution to clean it up?

1. Add molasses to stimulate bacterial action.
2. Leave it alone.
3. Introduce engineered bacteria.
4. Add microorganisms not normally found in the lake.
5. Launch a comprehensive restoration effort.

8.

Before deciding on an appropriate restoration strategy for aparticular degraded ecosystem, which information would be LEASTimportant to have?

1. the goals of the restoration, in terms of biodiversity andecosystem functioning
2. the degree to which the ecosystem has been degraded whencompared to a reference ecosystem
3. the types of species that were present before thedegradation
4. the social, political and economic constraints on therestoration
5. None of the answers are correct.

9.

A biologist works to restore habitat during a restorationproject. Which of the following might serve to enhance thehabitat?

1. a dead log in a stream
2. a concrete water control structure in an estuary
3. removal of a dam
4. an artificial nesting box
5. All answers are correct.
6. 10.
7. Restoration ecologists want to restore a landscape to itsoriginal state before humans arrived and altered it, but they donot know what species of plants lived there historically. What isthe best alternative?
8. Import plants from other ecosystems at the same latitude.
9. Bioremediate the soil.
10. Use plants growing nearby.
11. Use assisted migration.
12. Let nature take its course.

11.

Biologists begin collecting native seeds in a seed bank in aregion that experienced considerable alteration. Describe thebenefits of taking this action for the future.

1. It is important to collect samples of native seeds for culturalpurposes.
2. Biologists can use the seeds to restore other regions atsimilar latitudes.
3. If the region is heavily altered, it may take time and multiplesteps to restore the region. Collecting the seeds while they areavailable ensures that the biologists can use them later in therestoration process.
4. The see bank will promote the assisted migration of plants fromhabitats made unsuitable by climate change.
5. All answers are correct.

12.

Although disturbance is often thought of as a detriment tonatural ecosystem functioning, one type of disturbance, fire, isoften used to restore ecological communities. In what way(s) canfire restore ecological communities?

1. Fire is an effective way to "clean the slate" of the ecosystemby burning plants and sterilizing the soil so that appropriatemitigation and bioremediation plans can be implemented.
2. In ecosystems where fire is a natural periodic event, fire cankill many non-native plant species while leaving native speciesless influenced.
3. Fire can suppress the growth of competitive dominant plants,such as shrubs and trees, increasing the diversity of certainecosystems.
4. All answers are correct.
5. None of the answers are correct.