Download population ecology (24)

LEARNING OBJECTIVES - EXAM 1
INTRODUCTION (1)
1 - Define the term biology and be familiar with the fields of study it encompasses.
2 - List, briefly explain and recognize examples of the following characteristics of life.
a - levels of organization
- subatomic particle, atom, molecule, organelle, cell, tissue,
organ, system, organism, population, community,
ecosystem, biosphere
b - metabolism
c - homeostasis, individual adaptation and responsiveness to environment
d - reproduction
e - heredity
f - evolution (adaptation of populations)
g - selective chemistry (not in book)
h - growth and development (not in book)
i - interdependency
3 - Be familiar with the process of doing science (the scientific method).
4 - Be familiar with the limits of science and experimentation.
5 - Distinguish between science and non-science. (not in book)
EVOLUTION (22)
1 – Distinguish between young earth creationism, intelligent design, and evolutionary
biology.
2 – Describe the observations that led naturalists of the 18th century to develop
alternatives to the theory of special creation.
3 – Define evolution.
4 – Describe the mechanisms of evolution.
gene flow
genetic drift
mutation
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natural selection
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5 – Describe the conditions that are necessary for natural selection to occur.
6 – Distinguish between gradualism and punctuated equilibrium, explaining how punctuated
equilibrium was able to reconcile fossil record and geological climate records.
7 – Explain these evolutionary mechanisms: sexual selection, convergent evolution, coevolution and adaptive radiation.
ECOSYSTEMS (23)
1 – Review the concept of autotroph vs heterotroph.
2 – Describe the flow of energy through a system (trophic level).
3 – Generally describe the cycling of nutrients through systems – biogeochemical cycles.
4 – More specifically describe carbon cycling.
5 – Know what the carbon reservoir is and relate it to the greenhouse effect.
6 - Describe island biogeography (area effect and distance effect) and how it relates to habitat
fragmentation.
7 – Describe the process of succession. Distinguish between primary and secondary
succession. What role do pioneer species play in which process? What is cyclic
replacement?
POPULATION ECOLOGY (24)
1 – Describe the effects of mortality, natality, immigration and emigration on population size.
2 – Define the term “biotic potential” and describe the characteristics of a population that
determines biotic potential.
3 – Distinguish between logistic (exponential) and linear growth.
4 – Define the terms environmental resistance, carrying capacity, and limiting factors.
5 – Discuss the human population in population biology terms.
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