FOR 3213

Example Final Examination

1. What are 4 factors that determine the rate of succession of forest communities? Explain or give an example of each factor.

2. What are 4 reasons water changes temperature more slowly than land?

3. What are 5 benefits of organic matter to the soil?

4. Show in a figure the general relation between net photosynthesis and light intensity for a shade tolerant and a shade intolerant tree species.

5. Describe the three major types of nutrient cycles. Give an example of each one.

6. What are mountain winds and valley winds? When and why do they occur?

7. Show the water balance equation for a watershed. Describe the components. How can forest harvesting affect each of the components?

8. Compare and contrast the opposing theories about regulation of population size: 1.) density-dependent mortality and 2.) density-independent mortality.

9. What are the major inputs and outputs of energy to the primary producers?

10. Species diversity within communities tends to increase from the poles toward the tropics. Give five theories to explain this geographic pattern of species diversity?

11. Some tree species adapt to fire by promoting fire. What are the traits that promote fire and how does a species benefit from this adaptation?

12. Define seed dormancy. Describe two ways to remove seed dormancy. What are two practical implication of seed dormancy?

13. Describe the indirect effects of forest harvesting on site nutrients. What are the consequences of these indirect effects?

14. What is phenotypic plasticity? Describe an experiment to determine the amount of phenotypic plasticity for a trait.

15. Describe the differences between the trophic chains in the forest and grassland. Why do these differences exist?

16. What are the five attributes of an ecosystem? Give an example of each one.

17. Describe the components of the energy budget equation. How can each of the components be changed by forest harvesting?

18. What are the adaptations of trees in tropical forests to conserve nutrients? Why is forest harvesting potentially so damaging to the nutrient capital of a tropical forest?

19. There are 3 basic biotic mechanisms that explain why the succession of forest communities occurs during autogenic succession. What are these mechanisms that cause change?

20. What are the physical and chemical changes to a soil caused by severe fire?

21. What are 5 ways timber harvesting can affect the soil? Give an example of each one.

22. What is a temperature inversion in the atmosphere? When and why do they occur? What is one practical implication of a temperature inversion?

23. What are 5 factors that affect the availability of water to plants? Give an example of each factor.

24. What are 5 advantages of being a member of a population? Give an example of each one.

25. Show in a figure the temperature profile above and below the surface of a bare soil at midday and midnight.