Free Response 1
Read through the scenario and the data and then answer the questions below. Please
outline your response using the letters provided. ANSWER IN COMPLETE
SENTENCES!!! BE SPECIFIC.
The Dragonfly Islands are located just off the coast of the mainland. Recently, a massive
hurricane struck, killing off numerous species on the islands, including all of the lizard
inhabitants. Luckily, the lizard populations on the mainland were minimally effected, and
ecologists are confident that the species richness of the islands can be restored.
Population biologists took the opportunity provided by the hurricane to study the population
growth of the lizard species Anolis sagrei on islands B and C. Over 4 years of study, they noticed
significant differences between the two populations, as depicted in the graphs below.
MAINLAND
A
B
C
One mile
Population Growth of A. sagrei
ISLAND B
Population
Size
ISLAND C
1000
1000
500
500
0
0
0
1
2
Year
3
4
0
1
2
Year
a. a. On which island would you expect the lizard species’ richness to return to the highest
level? Using the theory of island biogeography as the basis for your reasoning, briefly
explain why, using at least two pieces of supporting evidence from the theory. (4 pts)
b. b. Briefly explain TWO ABIOTIC factors that might increase the lizard species richness
on any of the islands. (4 pts)
c. c. On which island does Anolis sagrei possess the highest growth rate? Explain. Assuming
that the reproductive characteristics of the lizard remain the same (same average number of
3
4
eggs, frequency of breeding, etc.), give ONE possible explanation for the different growth
rate. (6 pts)
d. d. On which island is the K-value for A. sagrei lower? Briefly describe TWO BIOTIC
factors that might explain this low K-value. (6 pts).
Free Response 2
APES Free Response Question Unit 4
Name______________________
A country called Joyville is tracking its population data. In 1855, the first year vital
statistics were reported for the country, the population was 1.4 million, with a crude birth
rate of 40 per 1000. At that time the population of Joyville was growing quite slowly,
because of the high death rate of 38 per 1000. In 1875 the population began to grow very
rapidly as the birth rate remained at its 1855 level, while the crude death rate dropped
dramatically to 20 per 1000. Population growth continued to increase in the small
country into the late 1800s, even though birth rates began to decline slowly.
In 1895 the crude birth rate had dropped to 35, and the death rate to 10 per 1000. In that
year (1895) a complete census revealed that the population of Joyville had grown to 2.5
million. By 1950 population growth gradually began to decline as the death rate
remained at its 1895 level, while the birth rate continued to decline to 22 per 1000. In
1977 vital statistics revealed that the death rate was 10 per 1000, and that the population
growth had slowed even more to an annual rate of 0.5%. By 1990 Joyville had reduced
its birth rate to that of its now constant, low death rate, and the population transition was
complete.
(a) On the axes below, plot the crude birth rate data from 1855 to 1990. Now plot the
crude death rate on the same axes. Clearly label the axes and the curves.
(b) What was the annual growth rate of Joyville in 1950? What was the birth rate of
Industria in 1977?
(c) Indicate TWO factors that might have accounted for the rapid decline in the death
rate in Joyville between 1855 and 1895. Indicate one specific reason why the
birth rate might have been so high in 1855 and was so slow to decrease between
1855 and 1950.
(d) Determine what the population size of Joyville would have been in 1951 if the
population had continued to grow at the annual rate of growth recorded for
Industria in 1895.
Free Response 3
APES Free Response Unit 4
Name ______________________
The following population age structures represent El Salvador and France.
Figures from:http://www.census.gov/ipc/www/idbnew.html
a. Which nation is most likely to have a higher infant mortality rate? Explain. (5 pts)
b. Describe one method that any government could use to lower its population’s growth
rate.
Also explain one drawback to this method that might make it hard to implement. (5 pts)
c. Imagine that the public health experts in El Salvador predict a damaging epidemic of
malaria. Explain ONE ABIOTIC and ONE BIOTIC change that humans could make to
the
Environment to reduce malaria transmission. (6 pts)
d. Despite your best advice, the malaria epidemic hit the20-35 year old age bracket in El
Salvador especially hard, causing a whopping 20% mortality in all members of the age
group. Redraw the population pyramid for El Salvador, briefly explaining why you
redrew it the way you did.(4 pts)
Free Response 4
Free-response question: (20 pts total)
Read this description of the temperate forest biome:
Well-defined seasons with a distinct winter characterize the temperate forest biome.
Moderate climate and a growing season of 140-200 days during 4-6 frost-free months
distinguish temperate forests.
Temperature varies from -30° C to 30° C.
Precipitation (75-150 cm) is distributed evenly throughout the year.
Soil is fertile, enriched with decaying litter.
Canopy is moderately dense and allows light to penetrate, resulting in well-developed
and richly diversified understory vegetation and stratification of animals.
Flora is characterized by 3-4 tree species per square kilometer. Trees are distinguished
by broad leaves that are lost annually and include such species as oak, hickory, beech,
hemlock, maple, basswood, cottonwood, elm, willow, and spring-flowering herbs.
Fauna is represented by squirrels, rabbits, skunks, birds, deer, mountain lion, bobcat,
timber wolf, fox, and black bear
Excerpt adapted from: http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/glossary/gloss5/biome/forests.html
Answer the following questions on the back of this sheet.
a.
a. Tell a specific location that you would expect to find the biome on Earth. Explain
your reasoning
using your knowledge of weather, global wind patterns, and the Earth’s seasons (6 pts)
b.
b. Using your beautiful mind and the excerpt provided, list and briefly explain two
ABIOTIC factors, aside from temperature and precipitation, which are necessary for the
existence of the temperate forest biome.
(6 pts)
c.
c. Using the flora and fauna listed, draw a simple food web including at least four
species. (4 pts)
d.
d. Hypothesize about the impact global warming would have on the geographic
distribution of the biome.
In two or three sentences, describe how you might go about researching your hypothesis. (4
pts)