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CSE511S - CONSERVATION ECOLOGY 1 - 1ST OPP - JUNE 2023 |
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nAm I BI A u n IVE RSITY
OF SCIEnCE Ano TECHnOLOGY
FACULTYOF HEALTH, NATURAL RESOURCESAND APPLIEDSCIENCES
SCHOOL OF AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCE SCIENCES
DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES SCIENCES
QUALIFICATION: BACHELOR OF NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT
QUALIFICATION CODE: 07BNRS
COURSE CODE: CSE511S
LEVEL: 7
COURSE NAME: CONSERVATION ECOLOGY1
DATE: JUNE 2023
DURATION: 3 HOURS
MARKS: 150
FIRSTOPPORTUNITY EXAMINATION QUESTION PAPER
EXAMINER(S) Prof. T.D. Wassenaar, Mr. J. Amutenya and Mrs. C Ntesa
MODERATOR: Mr. H. Tjikurunda
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Answer ALL the questions.
2. Write clearly and neatly.
3. Number the answers clearly.
PERMISSIBLEMATERIALS
1. Examination question paper
2. Answering book
3. Calculator
THIS QUESTION PAPER CONSISTS OF 4 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
(2)
1.2. Competitive exclusion principle
(2)
1.3. Population
(1)
1.4. Life history
(1)
1.5. Ecology community
(1)
1.6. Trophic cascade
(2)
1.7. Species richness
(1)
1.8. Nutrient cycling
(2)
[12)
QUESTION 2
Explainthe difference between the following pairs of terms.
2.1. Autogenic vs. Allogenic Ecosystem Engineers
(2)
2.2. lnterspecific vs. lntraspecific competition
(2)
2.3. Food Chain vs. Food Web
(2)
2.4. Crude density vs. Ecological density
(2)
2.5. Ubiquitous species vs Endemic species
(2)
[10)
QUESTION 3
3.l. Fill in the missing words:
(2)
Ecologists study pattern and a) _____
at many b) ___
_
3.2. Who wrote the book called "The Origin of Species"?
(1)
3.3. list the hierarchy of components or elements in the realm of ecology, in their order of (4)
scale from small to large. Use arrows to indicate the progression between the elements. ½a
mark
each
3.4. (a) Is this statement correct: "The earth is a system"? (1).
(7)
(b) If your answer is no, why do you think it is not a system? If your answer is yes, what
does it mean when you say the earth is a system? (Start your answer with a basic general
definition of a system) (6).
3.5 list the four cycles that are important for ecology.
(4)
[18)
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QUESTION 4
4.1. List the three possible outcomes of interspecific competition.
(3)
4.2. Predation is one of the forms of exploitative interactions, involving predator and prey (10)
species and it can affect the abundance of the prey population, serve as agents of natural
selection and influence the evolution of both predator and prey. However, prey species
have evolved a wide range of characteristics to avoid being detected, selected, and
captured by predators. These are categorised as either chemical or behavioural defenses.
List and explain any five (5) chemical predator defense mechanisms that were discussed in
class.
[13)
QUESTION 5
5.1. Distinguish between fundamental niche and realised niche.
(4)
5.2. Study the graph below and describe the two species in terms of:
(8)
(a) Niche width
(b) Extent of niche overlap
(c) Degree of competition
(d) Generalist species vs. specialist species
(e) Potential of becoming extinction if environmental conditions change
Timo 1
[12)
QUESTION 6
6.1. Based on studies of survival by a wide variety of organisms, Population Ecologists have (10)
proposed that most survivorship curves fall into three major categories.
Draw a graph illustrating the three survivorship curves and explain each one of them.
6.2. Population growth is illustrated by population growth curves that are used to describe (7)
growth patterns. Describe and compare the two basic patterns of population growth based
on mathematical models. Also indicate which of the two growth patterns is more common
in nature.
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6.3. Differentiate between r-strategist/selection species and k-strategists/selection species. (8)
Given an example of each.
[25]
QUESTION 7
7.1. You have been appointed as the Warden for Khaudum National Park.
(2)
Which ecological measurement would you use to measure Species diversity in the park?
7.2. Provide a detailed explanation of why areas around the equator have higher
(4)
biodiversity, compared to areas north or south of the equator.
7.3. Dispersal limitation is one of the key factors that shape and affect community (5)
organisations. Name five factors that affect/prevent the movement of a species from the
community in which they were born to another community, where they will settle and
reproduce.
[11]
QUESTION 8
8.1. African savannas are complex systems, however, they are prone to disturbances. Name (4)
four different disturbances that can affect the structure of the community.
8.2. Expand on what the Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis predict.
(4)
[8]
QUESTION 9
9.1. Ecologists are mainly interested in Net Primary Production (NPP) of an ecosystem. Explain (4)
the reasons why.
9.2. Decomposition is a complex process that recycles essential elements to the ecosystem. (11)
Discussthe process of decomposition in an ecosystem by clearly listing all the four stages
of decomposition and provide a detailed explanation of what each stage involves.
[15]
QUESTION 10
10.1. Name and explain the four-element that make up the structure of a landscape.
(8)
10.2. Explain the three levels of dispersal among patches.
(6)
10.3 Name the two important factors that drive meta population dynamics.
(2)
[16]
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QUESTION 11
11.1. Trueor false: "macro-ecology is the study of relations among organisms and between
(1)
organisms and their environment, as these play out at global scale."
11.2. list three patterns that form part of the sub-discipline called "macro-ecology" that are (3)
important for natural resource managers.
11.3 Study these two graphs, then answer the questions below.
(4)
Extinction
Small
;";;'
<J)
<ii
a:
a:
Large
ss
(a)
Number of species --+-
-~
(b)
Number of species --+-
(a): Which of the three macro-ecological patterns are described by these two graphs?
(b): Explain the basic theoretical functional relationship that is illustrated by graph a.
11.4 list two of the six ways in which climate change is impacting biodiversity.
(2)
[10]
TOTAL: 150 marks
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