Download Plant Ecology 03-55-468

Name:__________________________________
Equations you may need for the midterm exam:

R0   l x m x
x 0


x 0
x 0
G  [ xlx m x ] /  l x m x

1   e  ri li mi
i 0
Fx  p x mx
px 
l x 1
lx
dN
KN
 rN
dt
K
GRR =  mx
r = ln(R0)/G
VP = VG + VE + covGE
VP = VA + VD + VI + VE + VGxE + covGE
VA/VP = h2
R = Sh2
Page 1
Student No.:_________________________
Name:__________________________________
Student No.:_________________________
Plant Ecology 03-55-468
Midterm Exam
November 2, 2011
Match the following terms from the left hand column with the appropriate definition from the right hand
column. Enter the letter of the definition in the blank. Only one definition is correct; more definitions are
provided than terms. (1 mark each)
1._m___ vessel elements
2._j___ water use efficiency
3._a___ reaction norm
4._d___ pericycle
5._r___ stroma
a. the way in which a quantitative trait responds to a range of
environmental conditions
b.the soil type found in prairie grassland and steppe regions
c. the soil type found in boreal forest regions
d. the outer layer of the stele in roots of dicots; it is meristematic
tissue that can give rise to root branches
6._l___ light compensation point
e. the tissue fluid bathing cells
7._o___ reproductive value
f. the loss of heat energy from a leaf due to evaporation and
transpiration
8._g___ breeding value
9._k___ nitrogen use efficiency
10._p__ activity limit
11._q__ tracheid
12._h__ eluvation
13._i__ elasticity
g. the deviation of the phenotypic value of an individual’s progeny
from the population mean
h. the percolation of soluble minerals and fine particles down from
upper soil horizons to lower in the soil profile
i. the relative impact of elements in a Leslie or Lefkovich matrix on
the finite rate of increase
14._f__ latent heat exchange
j. the number of grams of carbon fixed in photosynthesis per gram of
water lost to transpiration
15._s__ phenotypic plasticity
k.the maximum photosynthetic rate per gram of nitrogen in a leaf
16._c__ podzol (spodisol)
l. a light intensity at which the rate of photosynthesis and the rate of
photorespiration are equal
17._n__ stolons
18._e__ apoplast
m. short, wide conducting elements in the xylem of Angiosperms
only
n. above ground, spreading root branches from which new ramets
may arise
o. the contribution in offspring that an average individual in stage x
will make to the next generation before it dies
p. the temperatures (high or low) at which a plant ceases to function
effectively
q.a type of elongated cell that forms the water conducting tissue in
primitive vascular plants
r. the watery matrix that fills the chloroplasts
s. none of the above are correct
Page 2
Name:__________________________________
Student No.:_________________________
Circle the correct answer for each of the following multiple choice questions (1 mark each)
19. Which of the following is a plant that uses CAM
(Crassulacean Acid Metabolism)?
a. a prairie grass like Andropogon gerardii
24. Photorespiration:
a. occurs in C3, but not in C4 plants
b. occurs in C4, but not in C3 plants
b. an red oak tree, Quercus rubra
c. releases free oxygen as a waste product
c. a boreal forest tree, Populus tremuloides
d. involves activities only in the chloroplasts
d. an epiphytic Spanish moss, Tillandsia
usneoides
25. Cyclic photophosphorylation occurs:
20. In which of these environments would you be
most likely to find a C4 plant?
a. in photosystem I only
b. in photosystem II only
a. a low arctic meadow
c. in both photosystems I and II
b. a high mountain grassland
d. in neither photosystem
c. a prairie grassland in the central U.S.
26. Rubisco (ribulose biphosphate carboxylase)
occurs in:
d. in a local deciduous forest
21. Where is PEP carboxylase found within a plant
leaf?
a. C3 plants only
b. C4 plants only
a. in the bundle sheath
c. CAM plants only
b. within the chloroplasts
d. C3 and C4 plants
c. in the cells of the xylem
e. all photosynthetic plants
d. in the mesophyll cells
27. The A horizon of the soil:
22. How do you prove a hypothesis?
a. by performing an experiment and finding results
consistent with the hypothesis
b. by performing a series of experiments and
finding the results of each consistent with the
hypothesis
c. by finding results in the literature consistent with
the hypothesis
d. you cannot prove the hypothesis
23. Which of the following is not a common function
of the mycorrhizae associated with plant roots?
a. consists of litter and partially decomposed
plant materials from previous years’ growth
b. is a layer comprised of decomposed and
decomposing plant materials mixed with
surface soil
c. is the layer into which minerals and water are
leached from above
d. is the original parent material from which soil
is formed
28. Which of the following correctly defines the
gross reproductive rate?
a. to provide the plant with certain soil nutrients
a. the total number of female offspring born to
an average female in the population
b. to provide the plant with carbohydrates as an
energy source
c. to facilitate the absorption of soil water
b. the total number of female offspring born
to a mother who lives to the maximum age
in the population
d. to excrete organic acids that help to solubilize
some minerals in the soil
Page 3
c. the number of female offspring born to an
average female in her year of peak
reproductive output
Name:__________________________________
29. In the Krantz anatomy of C4 plants, where is
rubisco found?
a. in the mesophyll cells
Student No.:_________________________
31. In C4 plants where is the oxygen concentration
highest?
a. in the chloroplasts of mesophyll cells
b. in the chloroplasts of bundle sheath cells
b. in the bundle sheath cells
c. in the vessel element cells
c. in the vessel element cells
d. there is no rubisco in C4 plants
d. in the tissues of the roots
30. In which of the following is the number and
density of chloroplasts lowest?
32. In C4 photosynthesis, what is the initial molecule
formed as the result of carbon fixation?
a. in the mesophyll of C3 plant leaves
a. a short-lived 6 carbon molecule
b. in the bundle sheath of C3 plant leaves
c. in the mesophyll of C4 plant leaves
b. PEP (phosphoenolpyruvate)
d. in the bundle sheath of C4 plant leaves
c. a 4-carbon molecule, oxaloacetate
d. ribulose biphosphate
29. Here is some data about flower size in a new strain of roses:
Mean diameter of flowers on maternal parents
Mean diameter of flowers on maternal parents selected for size
Mean diameter of flowers for all progeny plants
Mean diameter of flowers on progeny of selected female parents
What is the heritability of flower size in this population of roses? (10)
Selection difference = 60-45 = 15
Response difference = 58-50 = 8
R = Sh2
8 = 15h2
h2 = 8/15 = .533
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45mm
60mm
50mm
58mm
Name:__________________________________
Student No.:_________________________
30. Below is a Lefkovitch matrix for the transition probabilities in a fictional population of a weed that
shows size dependent flowering and reproduction. A basic set of boxes representing the stages for
this species is presented below the matrix. Add to the diagram arrows and numbers corresponding to
processes indicated in the matrix. (10)
0
.3
.02
0
.01
.47
.61
0
.001
.05
.82
.129
300
0
0
0
300
.001
.01
.05
0
.47
.3
.82
.61
.129
.02
31. Briefly describe an experimental design that would test whether observed phenotypic variation in the “redflowered witch weed” [my made-up plant] observed over a range from Ontario to Alberta is genetic in origin or is
the result of phenotypic plasticity. (10)
The experiment would take the form of a “common garden” growth experiment or a reciprocal transplant
experiment. In the former, plants from Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta would all be
moved (probably by planting seeds from all sources) in a common location. Plant growth and
phenotypic characteristics would be followed for all. To the degree they all look similar in the “common
garden” the previously observed variation resulted from phenotypic plasticity.
If you choose to do a reciprocal transplant experiment, plants from each location would be dug up and
some replanted in situ; others would be moved and planted in each of the other sites. To make sure soil
differences are not responsible for observed characteristics, the roots of each re-plant should be
carefully washed just before re-planting. The further growth and phenotypes would be monitored in
each site. Phenotypic plasticity would be indicated by the growth and character of transplants coming
to resemble plants originally from the re-planting site.
Page 5
Name:__________________________________
Student No.:_________________________
29a.Every process that affects gene frequencies also affects genetic diversity in plant populations.
Consider a small isolated population, a population of compass plant in a small prairie remnant. For
each of the four processes considered in determining whether a population is in Hardy-Weinberg
equilibrium indicate whether the process increases or decreases the genetic diversity of this isolated
population. (10)
This question is concerned only with within population genetic diversity.
Mutation – should increase the genetic diversity within an isolated population.
Gene flow/migration – should increase the genetic diversity within the isolate.
Genetic drift – should decrease the genetic diversity within the isolate.
Natural selection should also decrease the genetic diversity in the isolate.
b. For each of those processes briefly describe the mechanism by which the genetic diversity is
enhanced or decreased. (10)
Mutation introduces new forms of alleles into individuals who suffer the mutations. The
population thus increases in allelic diversity, though some of the mutated alleles may be
detrimental.
Gene flow brings alleles from other populations. Since this is a small, isolated population of
compass plant, before gene flow its genetic diversity probably incorporates only a fraction of the
total genetic diversity of compass plants in other remnants and larger prairie areas. Gene flow will
carry some of those unrepresented alleles into this remnant population and thus increase genetic
diversity within it.
Genetic drift in small populations results in the loss of genes carried in those individuals who die
prematurely or fail to successfully reproduce. Some of those individuals will have carried rare
alleles, and the loss of the individual means the loss of those alleles, thus a decrease in genetic
diversity.
Natural selection, by leading to the death or reduced representation of offspring in future
generations, reduces the representation of genes carried by individuals selected against, and thus
reduces genetic diversity in the isolated population.
Page 6
Name:__________________________________
Student No.:_________________________
31. Here is the life table you expected. Calculate R0 (4), G (4), and r (4). Project the population numbers given for
time 0 (i.e. N0) for one time period (10). Show your work (including any intermediate calculations) so that
partial credit can be given when simple math errors result in incorrect answers. (22 total)
age
N0
lx
mx
0
1
2
3
4
5
100
700
300
50
25
0
1
.7
.4
.25
.1
0
0
.5
1.5
1
.5
0
lxmx
xlxmx
0
0
.35
.35
.6
1.2
.25
.75
.05
.2
0
___
R0 =  = 1.25
2.5
G =  xlxmx/R0 = 2.0
r = ln R0/G = ln 1.25/2.0 = .223/2 = .111
Page 7
px
Fx
N1
.7
.57
.625
.4
0
0
199.5+281.25+20=500.75
.285
70
.9375
399
.4
187.5
0
20