BIO 101 Module 5 Outline and Study Guide
Chapter 18
Evolution
1. What were the contributions of each of these scientists leading up to our current understanding
of evolution?
A. Linnaeus
B. Cuvier
C. Lamarck
D. Darwin
2. What does the term “mechanism” mean when we say that Lamarck and Darwin proposed
“mechanisms for evolution?”
3. What was wrong with Lamarck’s proposed mechanism for evolution?
4. Darwin proposed the mechanism of Natural Selection. Explain how natural selection drives
evolution due to selective pressures in the environment.
5. What are some common misconceptions about evolution, and how are those ideas flawed?
6. List the four key events that we think led to the formation of life on earth. What was the first life
form?
Chapter 19
Population Genetics
1. What is an allele frequency?
2. Why is it difficult to determine the allele frequencies for certain genes in a population?
3. What is the Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium and how is it used?
4. Describe the 5 conditions that are assumed when applying the Hardy-Weinberg Equations to a
data set.
5. What are the two equations used in the Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium? What does each part
represent?
Chapter 44
Introduction to Ecology and Biomes
1. What is ecology?
2. What are some of the biotic and abiotic factors that work together in an ecosystem?
3. Describe the various zones of an aquatic biome (photic/aphotic, littoral/limnetic, benthic).
4. Match each biome on the left to the correct description on the right.
Savanna a. Area with very low precipitation and sparse vegetation
Estuary b. Very cold with a layer of frozen soil called permafrost
Wetland c. The floor of an aquatic biome
Desert d. Mid-latitude, coastal region dominated by small plants and animals
Tundra e. Aquatic biome with a lot of animal diversity; dominated by coral
Lake f. Biome with tall grasses and a few scattered trees
Chaparral g. Area that is near a water source and is flooded some of the time
Boreal Forest h. High temperatures and rainfall with tremendous plant and animal life;
Savanna a. Area with very low precipitation and sparse vegetation
the only biome with an emergent layer of trees
Transition area between river and sea where salt water and fresh
Benthic Zone i. water mix
Tropical j. Standing body of water
Forest k. Forest that is dominated by cone bearing trees
Coral Reef
Climate
5. Describe the impact that each of the following factors has on the climate of an area.
a. Latitude:
b. Air circulation patterns:
c. Tilt of the Earth’s axis:
d. Large bodies of water:
e. Mountains/elevation:
6. What is climate change and what are some things that can cause it? What evidence do we have
that climate change occurs?
Chapter 45
Population Ecology
1. What is a population? What is population ecology?
2. Explain why each of these factors is important to a scientist studying population ecology.
a. Density
b. Dispersion patterns
c. Survivorship Type
d. Population Growth
e. Age Structure
3. What are the three survivorship types? Please describe what happens in each.
4. Describe the two population growth models.
5. Describe the two life history strategies that were discussed in class (r and k) and provide an
example of each. Be sure to paint a complete picture of how they live and what strategies they
use to ensure survival of their species.
Community Ecology and Diversity
6. What is an ecological niche? What can happen when two competing species occupy overlapping
niches?
7. Describe the five types of interactions between species and how the two species are affected by
the interactions.
a. Competition
b. Predation
c. Herbivory
d. Symbiosis
e. Facilitation
8. In symbiosis, the impact on the two species can vary, depending on the type of symbiotic
interaction. Name and describe the three types of symbiotic interactions that can occur.
9. What are the two components of community diversity? What calculation can be used to measure
diversity?
10. There are several categories of organisms that can have a significant impact on the community
structure. Name and describe each category, and also provide an example.
11. What is succession? Contrast the two types.
Chapter 46
Ecosystems
1. Complete this sentence: Energy ________________ through an ecosystem and nutrients
___________ through the ecosystem. Now, explain what this means.
2. The trophic structure refers to the feeding relationships among living things in an ecosystem.
Describe the levels of the trophic structure and what would happen if one of those levels became
extinct.
3. Compare and contrast primary and secondary production. How much energy from one level
actually gets incorporated into the next trophic level?
4. In each of the nutrient cycles, there is a reservoir (where most of the nutrient is located).
Complete the chart below to identify the primary reservoir for each of the biogeochemical cycles
that we discussed:
Nutrient/Chemical Primary Reservoir
Water
Carbon
Phosphorous
Nitrogen
5. What are the two steps to restoration ecology? What happens in each?
Chapter 47
Conservation
1. What are the three levels of biodiversity that we wish to conserve?
2. When a species becomes extinct, what are some possible implications for humans?
3. To protect landscapes, we sometimes design protected areas around “biodiversity hotspots.”
What is a biodiversity hotspot? Why do we target these areas?
4. Describe some of the current threats to species biodiversity. Feel free to give examples from
current events in the news.
5. Explain how each of the following human activities has had an impact on the environment:
a. Nutrient enrichment
b. Use of pesticides and other toxins
c. Burning fossil fuels
d. Use of chemicals like CFC’s that destroy ozone
6. What is sustainability? How can we achieve this?
