Reading Homework 1: The Biosphere & Population EcologY

1. Summarize the account of the 1950s debate about DDT in the environment.

2. Explain how organisms adapt to abiotic and biotic factors.

3. Describe the effect of our local mountains on precipitation. What is meant by the phrase “rain shadow?”

4. What do the variables referred to as density and dispersion patters attempt to quantify?

5. How do limiting factors relate to the logistic population growth model?

Reading Homework 2:

Community Ecology

1. Name five types of interspecific interactions, note the effect (+/-) on each species involved, and provide an example for each type of interaction.
2. Describe coevolution using an example.
3. Explain the ecological process yielding the pattern shown in Figure 36.6.
4. What do food webs and food chains have to do with each other?
5. List and describe three terrestrial biomes and three aquatic biomes.

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Review Homework 1: Biosphere & Population Ecology

1. Draw a diagram that depicts some effects of intense solar radiation near the equator on global patterns of rainfall and winds. Upload your drawing to canvas for this portion of the assignment.
2. How do ocean currents affect the climate? Provide an example.
3. Draw and label a graph that depicts the boom and bust cycle that often happens as a result of predator and prey interactions. Provide a caption to your diagram that explains what it is showing. Upload your drawing to canvas for this portion of the assignment.
4. Draw and label a diagram for both exponential and logistic growth. Provide a caption explaining the circumstances depicted in each of these growth

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Review Homework 2: Community Ecology

1. 1Read section 37.1 in your text, watch the Yellowstone wolves video, and read the briefing about the effect of the wolves on the Yellowstone ecosystem. Write your own paragraph (5-6 sentences at least) describing the Yellowstone ecological community before and after the wolves were introduced.

2. Read section 37.3 in your text again. Identify and describe one example of interspecific competition, and explain how it affects the Yellowstone community.

3. Read section 37.4 in your text again. Identify and describe one example of mutualism, and explain how it affects the Yellowstone community.

4. Read section 37.5 in your text again. Identify and describe one example of predation, and explain how it affects the Yellowstone community.

5. Read section 37.6 in your text again. Identify and describe one example of herbivory, and explain how it affects the Yellowstone ecosystem.

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Review Homework 10: Evolution

1. What is the biological species concept?
2. List and explain some examples of prezygotic and postzygotic species barriers.
3. What is allopatric speciation?
4. Why are islands considered showcases of speciation?
5. What is meant by the term punctuated equilibrium?

Reading Homework 10: Evolution

1. Explain the significance of fossils as evidence for evolution. What is the relevance of transitional forms?
2. What are homologies? Why are they significant evidence for evolution?
3. Why did Darwin breed fancy pigeons?
4. Why do we say that evolution occurs within populations?
5. Describe the constraints of natural selection.