First exam
The Individual and its Environment
1. We are the primary cause of one of the most rapid periods of environmental
change in history. There is strong evidence that we have altered substantially the
global carbon cycle, increased temperatures, and shift rainfall patterns
(seasonality and intensity). These changes will affect most living organisms.
Select one plant community that you are familiar with and, based on the
information reviewed in the last weeks, write a one page essay describing some
predictable (hypothetical) changes at community (e.g. species composition, etc)
and individual (e.g. plastic responses, adaptation, etc) level that may happen as
result of this environmental changes.
2. This hurricane season of 2005 in central Florida was very intense and produced
large changes in community structure and environmental characteristics of plant
associations. Write a one page essay describing soil changes and belowground
and aboveground plant responses that were triggered by these disturbances.
In both answers you should mention photosynthesis and light environment, water
relations and energy balance, soils and mineral nutrition.