Download Dangerous Ideas and Forbidden Knowledge: Quiz 2 Review Outline

Dangerous Ideas and Forbidden Knowledge
Quiz 2
Name:__________________
Seminar Group: __________
Part 1: Please circle the single, best answer to each of the following questions.
1. An individual’s mitochondrial DNA is inherited
a) from both their parents
b) strictly from their father
c) strictly from their mother
d) directly from bacterial parasites
2. Which of the following statements best describes sequence of steps you used to obtain your
mtDNA sequence?
a) collection of cheek cells  extraction and purification of DNA  DNA sequencing  PCR
b) collection of cheek cells  extraction and purification of DNA  PCR  DNA sequencing
c) collection of cheek cells  PCR  extraction and purification of DNA  DNA sequencing
d) collection of cheek cells  PCR  DNA sequencing  extraction and purification of DNA
3. Examine the phylogenetic tree at right. Based on this tree, you
could reasonably conclude all of the following except
a) Individuals 2 and 3 share a more recent common ancestor that
individuals 1 and 2
b) There are fewer differences between the DNA sequences of
individual 1 and individual 4 than there are between
individual 1 and individual 2.
c) Individual 1 is more highly evolved than individual 3.
d) All of these individuals share a common ancestor.
1
4
2
3
4. Which of the following statements correctly describes the terms species richness and species
evenness as they are used in assessing biodiversity?
a) Species richness quantifies how many individuals of each species are present.
b) Species evenness measures whether or not you find the same species of organisms in
two communities.
c) Species evenness quantifies the total number of species in a community.
d) Species richness quantifies the total number of species in a community.
5. Consider two leaf litter communities that have been diligently analyzed by working ecologists.
These ecologists discover that leaf litter communities they collect from the wetland at NSCC
consistently have Simpson’s Indexes ranging from 4.0-5.5. They also notice that
communities collected from our courtyards have indexes ranging from 1.5-2.7. Based on this
information, what can you reasonably conclude from their analysis?
a) Biodiversity is higher in the wetland leaf litter communities.
b) Biodiversity is higher in the courtyard communities.
c) The presence of moist soils is the most significant indicator of leaf litter diversity.
d) The level of human impact is the most significant indicator of leaf litter diversity.
6. Which of the following could be correctly described as a carbon sink?
a) The burning of fossil fuels
b) The breakdown of plant biomass (material) by herbivores
c) A growing tree
d) The carbon dioxide that radiates into space from the earth
Note that this quiz is continued on the back of this page!
Part 2: Please answer the questions below as indicated.
7. In the space below, briefly describe one of the physical functions of a wetland.
8. In the space below, briefly describe one of the biological functions of a wetland.
9. In the space below, briefly explain what makes a species “invasive”, using an example of an
invasive species found in our wetland to illustration your explanation.