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Study Questions, Problems and Exercises

Essay Questions

(1). Discuss the concept that ecosystems are essentially energy systems.

(2). Compare and contrast the function and structure of the grazing and detritus food
chain.

(3). What is an ecosystem? How does it differ from a community? What are some of its
important components?

(4). Evolution describes the process by which species come to possess adaptations. In an
essay, describe how evolution works through natural selection, spatial isolation, and gene
mutation.

(5). Explain in detail how energy moves through the grazing food chain and the detritus
food chain. Also, discuss how these food chains are related to each other and are
necessary for the cycling of nutrients in an ecosystem.

(6). What seven conditions are required to define something as living?

(7). How did life begin? How did it change from its beginnings to the present?

(8). Outline the four recognized different groups of biological entities.

(9). What are some of the major components of ecosystems? How are these components
related to each other?

(10). Describe how energy flows through ecosystems.

(11). Discuss the term dispersal. Include in your answer an explanation of why organisms
want to disperse, and how organisms accomplish this life-cycle strategy.

(12). Discuss Connell and Slatyer's three mechanisms of succession. Start your answer
with a definition and an example of what is succession, and describe how succession
begins.

(13). With the aid of a diagram explain the ecological niche concept. Also, discuss in
your essay the difference between the fundamental and realized niche, and the
relationship between niche and tolerance range.
 (14). Compare and contrast the characteristics (climate, plant types, animal life, soil types,
etc.) of the following biomes: Tundra, Temperate Deciduous Forest, Desert, and Tropical
Rainforest.

(15). Discuss the different types of species interactions. Be sure to include in your essay
information on how each type of interaction between two species influences the fitness of
each species.

(16).Species vary in abundance both spatially and temporally. Further, we can generalize
that a species will occur only where and when:

(a). It is capable of reaching a location;

(b). Appropriate conditions and resources exist for survival; and
(c). Interspecific interactions do not preclude it.

Discuss these statements fully.

(17). Understanding biogeochemical cycling in an ecosystem requires complete

knowledge of the inputs and outputs to that ecosystem. With the aid of diagrams and
examples, discuss the cycling of a nutrient in a typical ecosystem focusing on the concept
of inputs and outputs to a system.

(18). How do the following attributes control the population dynamics of a species:
natality, immigration, mortality and emigration.

(19). Organic matter is continually being added to the surface of soils by way of wastes
and death. Why is the input of organic matter important in community and ecosystem
function?

(20).Discuss in detail the nitrogen or carbon cycle. In your discussion be sure to explain
how humans have altered these systems.

(21). Why should we be careful of introducing exotic animals and plants into habitats
where they never existed before?

(22). How does competition differ from predation or parasitism?

(23). What is plant succession? What are the differences between a primary and a
secondary succession? How does facilitated succession work?

(24). What is an ecological niche? How do fundamental and a realized niches differ?

(25). Why does the nitrogen cycle require bacteria?