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CSE511S - CONSERVATION ECOLOGY 1 - 1ST OPP- JUNE 2022 |
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r
L
nAmlBIA unlVERSITY
OF SCIEnCE Ano TECHnOLOGY
FACULTYOF HEALTH,APPLIEDSCIENCESAND NATURAL RESOURCES
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCE SCIENCES
QUALIFICATION: BACHELOR OF NATURAL RESOURCEMANAGEMENT
QUALIFICATION CODE: 07BNRS
LEVEL: 5
COURSE CODE: CSE511S
COURSE NAME: CONSERVATION ECOLOGY 1
SESSION: JUNE 2022
DURATION: 3 HOURS
PAPER: THEORY
MARKS: 150
FIRSTOPPORTUNITY EXAMINATION QUESTION PAPER
EXAMINER(S) Prof. T.D. Wassenaar, Mr. J. Amutenya and Ms. C Ntesa
MODERATOR:
Mr. H. Tjikurunda
INSTRUCTIONS
1.
Answer ALL eleven (10) questions.
2.
Read all questions carefully before answering.
3.
Number your answers clearly.
4.
Make sure your student number appears on the answering script.
PERMISSIBLE MATERIALS
1.
Calculator
THIS QUESTION PAPER CONSISTS OF 5 PAGES (Excluding this front page)
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QUESTION 1
Write short notes to define or explain the following scientific terms:
1.1. Ecology
(1)
1.2. Biogeochemical cycle
(1)
1.3. Endemic
(1)
1.4. Ecological niche
(1)
1.5. Life histories
(1)
1.6. Carrying capacity
(1)
1.7. Ecosystem
(1)
1.8. Species diversity
(1)
1.9. Trophic cascade
(2)
[10]
QUESTION 2
Explain the difference between the following pairs of terms.
2.1. Fundamental niche vs. Realised niche.
(2)
2.2. R-strategist/selection species vs. K-strategists/selection species.
(2)
2.3. Grazing food chain vs. Detritus food chain.
(2)
2.4. Structural connectivity vs. Functional connectivity.
(2)
2.5. Primary succession vs. Secondary succession.
(2)
[10]
QUESTION 3
Match definitions or examples with correct words (just write the number and alphabet
e.g. le).
Definitions or examples
Words
1. The change in the genetic composition of a
a)
Predator defences
population over successive generations.
b) Colonization
2. A parasitic plant that derives all of its fixed
c)
Ecosystem engineers
carbon, nutrients and water from the host plant, d)
Holoparasites
in other words, does not carry out
e)
Natural selection
photosynthesis.
f)
Competition
3. When an organism maintains steady internal
g)
Mortality curves
physiological, chemical and physical conditions. h)
Food web
4. A.wide range of characteristics that animal
i)
Hemiparasites
species have evolved to avoid being detected,
j)
Dispersal
selected, and captured by predators.
k)
Crassulacean Acid
5. They are a graphical representation of a life
Metabolism (CAM)
table and summarise the pattern of survival in a I)
Keystone species
population.
m) Survivorship curves
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6. A species with a geographically widespread
n)
distribution.
o)
7. Species that can physically modify and maintain p)
a community or environment, with their
q)
ecological impact being irreplaceable, as they
r)
influence resource availability for other species s)
and make the existence of other animals and
t)
plants possible.
8. The movement of individuals from occupied
patches to unoccupied patches to form new
local populations.
9. One of three main forms of photosynthetic
pathways in plants.
10. A complex pattern of interconnected food
chains in a community/ecosystem.
Ubiquitous species
Evolution
Type Ill
Population density
Type I
Endemic species
Homeostasis
[10)
QUESTION 4
4.1. list the hierarchy of components or elements in the realm of ecology, in their (4)
order of scale from small to large. Use arrows to indicate the progression between
the elements.
4.2. Explain why we refer to the earth as a "system"
(2)
4.3. Discuss the three main factors that affect Namibia's climate.
(6)
4.4. Study the three maps below and answer the following questions:
4.4.1. Which of the three maps below represents the actual distribution of endemism in (1)
Namibia (higher endemism is shown by a darker colour)?
4.4.2. list each factor that could determine the level of endemism and explain how it (7)
could lead to this pattern.
··Map A
MapB
2
Map C
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[20]
QUESTION 5
5.1. Briefly explain why species interactions are important in any ecosystem.
{6}
5.2. Discuss the three possible outcomes of interspecific competition by using (9)
relevant examples. Remember to use relevant ecological terms in your
discussion.
5.3. Interactions between predator and prey species can result in population cycles (5)
of the prey and predator in question. Explainthis statement.
[20]
QUESTION 6
6.1. The population structure of any mammal species is characterized/defined by (10)
various factors. List and explain the five factors that we discussed in class.
6.2. Distinguish between exponential growth and Logistic growth; and which one (5)
between the two growth patterns is more common in nature?
6.3. In nature, population size and growth are limited by many factors. The (4)
environment limits population growth by changing birth and death rates. These
environmental limits include density-dependent factors and density-
independent factors. Discuss any two density-dependent factors in terms of
how they influence population growth.
6.5. Defining age structure in plant populations is one of the key aspects of (3)
population biology. Clearly, explain why characterizing an age structure in
plants is very difficult, especially in Africa.
[22]
QUESTION 7
7.1. You have been appointed as the Warden for Khaudum National Park in MEFT.
Which components would you use to measure species diversity in the park? (2)
7.2 Khaudum National Park conducted an annual full-moon game count during October
2021 for 72 hours at three different waterpoints. Examine the data presented in
the table below and answer the questions that follow.
3
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Species
Blue
wildebeest
Eland
Elephant
Gemsbok
Waterhole
1
84
Waterhole
2
164
Waterhole
3
486
20
104
200
167
246
789
73
145
280
7.2.1. What is the Simpson's Index (D) of the three waterholes (show your
(15)
calculations) 1 __ 2 __ 3 __ ?
7.2.2. Interpret the results of the Simpson's Index {D) obtained from your calculations
above.
(3)
[20]
QUESTION 8
8.1. Not all organic matter decomposes at the same rate. Discuss this statement? (5)
8.2. Place/Rank the following Namibian ecosystems from the highest to lowest (1 (6)
- 3) Primary productivity and provide the reasons for your ranking (motivate).
In other words, which ecosystem is expected to have the highest, moderate
and lowest primary productivity and why?
• Namib Desert
• Woodland Savanna in the Zambezi Region (north-eastern part of
Namibia)
• Highland Savanna (central Namibia, including Windhoek)
8.3. Ecologists are mainly interested in the Net Primary Production (NPP) of an
(4)
ecosystem. Explain the reasons why?
[15]
QUESTION 9
9.1. Landscape connectivity is defined as the degree to which a landscape facilitates (10)
or impedes the movement of organisms among patches through corridors.
What are the advantage and disadvantages of connectivity between patches?
9.2. How do metapopulation dynamics differ from normal population dynamics?
(4)
4
[14]
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QUESTION 10
10.1. Define the theory of island biogeography
(2)
10.2. As is evident in the decrease in the Living Planet Index (LPI), the majority of (4)
species are currently in decline among a range of higher taxa. Discuss. Include a
definition of what the LPI means.
10.3. Name three ways in which climate change has already affected biodiversity.
(3)
[9]
TOTAL: 150 marks
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