ECOLOGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT BIOL 315 FALL 2015

STUDY GUIDE FOR FINAL EXAM December 14, 2015

WHAT TO BRING TO THE EXAM

Your red ID number
A scantron form (882-E)
Pencils and an eraser
Use of cell phones, head phones, etc. is strictly
prohibited

FORMAT FOR THE EXAM

Multiple choice (40 questions, 3 pts each)
Short answer (5 7 questions, 4 6 pts each)

MATERIAL COVERED ON THE EXAM

This list is intended to help you focus on some of the
most important concepts we have addressed in lecture AND in your textbook. Note that items
not covered on this list may be on the exam.

GMOs
What is a GMO? How is it created? How does this differ from artificial selection?
What is modified and for what purpose? Be prepared with examples
How are GM plants created in the laboratory?
What are some of the publics concerns over GM foods? Are they all justified? Why
or why not?
How are GMOs regulated in the US?
(Note: there is a GMO key term guide posted on Blackboard under Study Guides)

Land resources and forests

Major forest biomes
What ecosystem services are provided by forests? Be prepared to provide
examples.
Describe the four ways in which forests are harvested. Which is the least destructive
and which is the most?
What are the chief causes and consequences of deforestation?
What are two major regulations that have been enacted regarding forest
management?
What is sustainable forestry?

Habitat fragmentation
What are the key concepts used in landscape ecology?
How does the loss of habitat differ from the fragmentation of habitat?
Is patchiness beneficial? What are some general trends?

1
 Why are patch edges and small patches dangerous for many organisms?
Examples?
Why is the isolation of habitat patches problematic, and what solutions are there?
How can habitat fragmentation affect biodiversity? Case study?

Rain forests
Describe the major characteristics of rainfall and soil for rainforest habitats.
Describe three major reasons why biodiversity tends to be high in rainforests.
What are the major causes of deforestation for rainforests?
What kinds of certifications are used for coffee plantations? Pros and cons?

Non-renewable energy sources

What are the four major non-renewable energy sources? Which is most abundant
and which is most commonly used?
What are the major problems with the mining of coal?
Why is obtaining oil getting more expensive, and where are people now looking for
it?
List the pros and cons of natural gas as an energy source.
Where is nuclear energy generated worldwide? What are the pros and cons of
nuclear energy?

Renewable energy sources

What crops are grown to produce biomass energy, and are they carbon neutral?
Why or why not?
What are some major advantages of hydropower and wind power? What are their
disadvantages?
What are four ways of harnessing the suns energy directly to heat a home or
produce energy?
How is geothermal energy produced and used? What nations use geothermal
energy?
How does a fuel cell work? What is the problem with getting hydrogen for fuel cells?
Tidal energy: what is it? Pros and cons.

Some major topics we have covered earlier in the semester to review:

Sustainability and what this means for each of the systems we have studied
The interaction between human population growth and environmental concerns
The way that energy and nutrients flow through ecosystems
Major sources of air and water pollution and their effects on humans and wildlife
Causes and consequences of global climate change
Trends in the worlds fisheries and how they are managed
Effects of introduced species on native communities