Below are ten sample prompts that you may be asked to address on the final exam. 5 of
the short answer questions and 1 of the essays will be on the test.

Describe the trophic levels in a typical ecosystem. Discuss the flow of energy
through the ecosystem, the relationship between the different trophic levels, and
the factors that limit the number of trophic levels.

If global warming increases average temperatures on Earth by 4 degrees Celsius
in this century, predict which biome is most likely to replace tundra in some
locations as a result. Explain your answer.

Explain why a constant rate of increase for a population produces an exponential
growth curve. Also, explain why this growth could not continue indefinitely and
must be replaced by a logistic growth curve. Describe or Draw the shapes of
these graphs

Living organisms play an important role in the recycling of many elements within
an ecosystem. Discuss how various types of organisms and their biochemical
reactions contribute to the recycling of either carbon or nitrogen in an ecosystem.
Include in your answer one way in which human activity has an impact in the
nutrient cycle you have chosen.

Describe two hypotheses that explain why food chains are usually short, and state
a key prediction of each hypothesis.

Summarize key differences between allopatric and sympatric speciation. Which
type of speciation is more common, and why?

Describe the process of speciation. Include in your discussion the factors that may
contribute to the maintenance of genetic isolation.

Explain how the following statement is inaccurate:
“Antibiotics have created drug resistance in MRSA”
Write an essay responding to the following:
Charles Darwin proposed that evolution by natural selection was the basis for the
difference that he saw in similar organisms as he traveled and collected specimens in
South America and on the Galapagos Islands.
a. Explain the theory of evolution by natural selection as presented by Darwin.
b. Each of the following relates to an aspect of evolution by natural selection. Explain
three of
the following.
i. Convergent evolution and the similarities among species (ecological
equivalents) in a particular biome ( for example, tundra, taiga, etc)
ii. Natural selection and the formation of insecticide resistant insects or antibiotic
resistant bacteria.
iii. speciation and isolation
Write an essay responding to the following:
Compared with other terrestrial biomes, deserts have extremely low productivity.
(a)
Discuss how temperature, soil composition, and annual precipitation limit productivity in
deserts. (b) Describe a four-organism food chain that might characterize a desert
community, and identify the trophic level of each organism.
52.
Explain why a constant rate of increase for a population produces an exponential
growth curve. Also, explain why this growth could not continue indefinitely and must be
replaced by a logistic growth curve. Describe or Draw the shapes of these graphs.
53.
Describe two hypotheses that explain why food chains are usually short, and state
a key prediction of each hypothesis.
54.
Summarize key differences between allopatric and sympatric speciation. Which
type of speciation is more common, and why?
55.
Explain how the following statement is inaccurate:
“Antibiotics have created drug resistance in MRSA”
56.
Write an essay responding to the following:
Charles Darwin proposed that evolution by natural selection was the basis for the
difference that he saw in similar organisms as he traveled and collected specimens in
South America and on the Galapagos Islands.
a. Explain the theory of evolution by natural selection as presented by Darwin.
b. Each of the following relates to an aspect of evolution by natural selection. Explain
three of
the following.
i. Convergent evolution and the similarities among species (ecological
equivalents) in a
particular biome ( for example, tundra, taiga, etc)
ii. Natural selection and the formation of insecticide resistant insects or antibiotic
resistant
bacteria.
iii. speciation and isolation