Zoology 100/101 Lecture Study Guide
Questions for Exam 1
1. Describe the major steps in the scientific method (process)
2. Describe, in detail, the components and characteristics of an experiment.
3. You wish to determine whether a fertilizer actually improves the yield of corn in your vegetable garden,
so you decide to do an experiment. 50 plants get fertilizer, 50 plants do not get fertilizer, and you weigh
the ears of corn as you harvest.
A. What is the independent variable?
B. What is the dependent variable?
C. Which is the experimental group and control group?
D. What variables must be controlled in the two groups?
E. Why must you have a control group?
4. What does it mean when scientists have a “95% confidence” in experimental results?
5. What do scientists mean when they say there is a “significant difference” between two groups?
6. How do scientists communicate results, and why is it important to do so?
7. Compare inductive and deductive logic.
8. Consider the following scenario: You are not doing well in a class and notice that some of the “good”
students study frequently. You poll fifty students and determine that “A” and “B” students study more
hours per week than “C through F” students. You conclude that the more one studies, the more likely
that person is to get an “A” or “B” grade. What type of logic have you used to reach this conclusion?
9. How is hypothesis different from theory?
10. How is the public’s use of the word “theory” different from the biologist’s use of the word?
11. What are the characteristics of good science?
12. Why does the public have such a difficult time recognizing good science from bad science?
13. Consider the following scenarios and determine the scientific problems with each:
14. You have a pain in your knee. Your doctor says you have either a broken patella (kneecap) or damaged
cartilage. He does an X-ray on your knee and the kneecap is not broken. He tells you it is cartilage
damage and needs to do surgery. Has he made a reasonable scientific conclusion?
15. A back injury has left you are paralyzed from the waist down and suffering from intense pain. You are
considering a treatment in another state that consists of a series of injections of a substance under the
skin along your back, which is purported to reduce pain, and improve mobility. A friend of yours had
the treatment, and feels he is improved. In your consultation with the practitioner, he tells you the
ingredients for the “medication” were revealed to him in a dream by God, and he is convinced that it has
helped dozens of people. He has not done a controlled study. You are impressed with his passion and
faith and decide to have the treatment. Is your decision a scientifically valid one? Explain.
16. Define systematics.
17. What factors are studied in systematics and used to establish evolutionary relationships between types of
organisms?
18. Describe the following: obligate aerobes, obligate anaerobes, faculative anaerobes, faculative
heterotrophs, photoautotrophs, and chemoautotrophs, obligate heterotrophs.
19. Describe cladistic and traditional approaches to classification.
20. Describe the relationship between the following terms: symbiosis, commensalism, mutualism,
parasitism, definitive host, intermediate host, ectoparasite, endoparasite, and accidental host.
21. List the Linnaean taxons in the proper order.
22. How are scientific names derived?
23. Was taxonomy, as devised by Linnaeus, phylogenetic?
24. Describe the relationship between the following: monophyletic and polyphyletic clades; phylogenetics,
clade, cladogram.
25. Describe the Domains of life and the characteristics of each.
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26. What is the evolutionary relationship between the three Domains?
27. What is the justification for three Domains, why not lump the Archaea and Eubacteria together?
28. Define the following terms: ploidy, haploid, diploid, n, 2n, 10n, polyploidy, offspring.
29. Describe the relationship between genes and chromosomes.
30. Describe the relationship between genes and alleles.
31. What is the difference between a genotype and phenotype?
32. If R codes for red fur and r codes for black pigment in an animal, what would be the three possible gene
pairs (genotypes) and the two possible phenotypes an animal could possess?
33. In the previous question, name the dominant allele and recessive allele.
34. List the possible outcomes from the following crosses: AA x AA; AA x aa; aa x aa; Aa x Aa; Aa x AA;
Aa x aa.
35. What would be the expected genotypic outcome of a heterozygous hornless bull mating with a horned
cow? Hornless is dominant to horned.
36. A hornless bull has a horned sire(father) and a hornless dam(mother). What are the genotypes of all
individuals mentioned above?
37. Determine all genotypes in the pedigree for eye color below. Brown (and hazel) eyes are dominant to
non-brown (green or blue). Shaded individuals have brown or hazel eyes.
38. Describe the relationship between the following: central dogma, DNA, triplet code, nucleotides, amino
acids, protein, protein shape, protein function.
39. Describe some functions of proteins.
40. Compare point and frame shift mutations.
41. How does mutation lead to new characteristics?
42. What is the relationship between mutation, natural selection, and evolution?
43. How are somatic and heritable mutations different?
44. Describe mitosis and its role in nature.
45. Describe meiosis and its role in nature.
46. Describe sexual reproduction and the role of mitosis and meiosis in sexual reproduction.
47. Why does sexual reproduction seem to be important to the survival of species?
48. If a 20n cell (one with 20 sets of chromosomes) underwent mitosis, what would be the ploidy (how
many “n”) of the daughter cells and how many daughter cells would there be?
49. If a 20n cell underwent meiosis, what would be the ploidy (how many “n”) of the gametes, and how
many would there be?
50. In animals, body (somatic) cells are __ploid, and the gametes are __ploid.
51. What two processes ensure that the gametes produced by meiosis are genetically dissimilar?
52. What three areas does the general public tend to lump into the concept of “evolution?”
53. Which of these areas are considered evolution by biologists?
54. What is the name of the book in which Darwin describes his theory of evolution and when was it
published?
55. What insights did Darwin have into characteristics that were common to all species?
56. How would Darwin describe his theory of evolution?
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57. What are the forces of evolution as considered by modern evolutionary theory?
58. How is evolution defined by modern evolutionary theory?
59. How do biologists define species?
60. How do the examples of macaws and salamanders show that some species have a common ancestry?
61. Describe the effects of stabilizing, directional, and disruptive selection.
62. Describe genetic drift, founder effect, and bottlenecks.
63. Can founder effect and bottlenecks be examples of natural selection? Explain.
64. What kind of isolating mechanisms lead to speciation and give examples of each?
65. Describe allopatric, sympatric, and parapatric speciation.
66. Describe adaptive radiation and at least two examples in the fossil record.
67. What is the role of DNA in nature and evolution?
68. Why is a car evidence of intelligent design, yet an organism is not?
69. How is homology different from analogy?
70. What are some examples of morphological homologies that suggest a common ancestry of organisms?
71. Describe whether mutation and natural selection are random or not.
72. How is artificial selection different from natural selection?
73. What evidence is there that nature selects for traits?
74. Why is not accurate to describe humans and other creatures as “accidents” of nature?
75. What evidence is there that genes are shared by broad groups of organisms, even those that appear to be
unrelated?
76. What is the biological explanation for the fact that different organisms share genes (i.e. have genes in
common)?
77. How are shared genes evidence for macroevolution?
78. How are living organisms useful in establishing relationships between organisms?
79. What homology in biochemistry is evidence of a common ancestry of organisms?
80. How would a scientist respond to the charge that fossil record is void of evidence of macroevolution and
lacks intermediate (transitional) forms?
81. Describe punctuated equilibrium.
82. What homology in reproduction and embryology is evidence of a common ancestry of organisms?
83. How would a scientist respond to the charge that speciation events have never been duplicated by
humans?
84. What type of behavioral homology suggest a common ancestry in some organisms?
85. Why would a biologist bristle at the notion that biology is “just a theory” i.e. is unsubstantiated?
Questions for Exam 2
1. Describe the relationship between the following: Protist, protozoan, algae, amoeba, flagellate, ciliate.
2. Describe the characteristics of the following protist kingdoms and, if possible, name examples of each:
Diplomonada, Trichomonada, Kinetoplastida, Hypermastigophora, Rhizopoda, Foraminifera,
Actinopoda, Ciliophora, Opalinida, Apicomplexa, Choanoflagellida/Choanomastigophora.
3. Which of the Kingdoms described above are considered amoebae?
4. Which Kingdom is directly ancestral to animals?
5. How do anterior station and posterior station insect vectors transmit disease?
6. Describe the life cycle of the causative agent of malaria, Plasmodium. Be sure to be familiar with the
role of sporozoites, merozoites, gametocytes, red blood cells, liver cells, schizogony, and Anophales.
7. Describe the parts of a spermatozoan.
8. Describe the structure of mammalian and echinoderm eggs.
9. Describe fertilization events.
10. Describe the cortical reaction and what does it accomplish? How does it differ in mammals and
echinoderms?
11. Contrast radial and spiral cleavage.
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12. Describe the relationship between the following: morula, blastula, ectoderm, endoderm, mesoderm,
gastrula, blastopore.
13. In which stage of embryonic development mentioned in the previous question does gut and coelom
development (if the animal is to have a coelom) begin?
14. Describe how the following animals are different: acoelomic, Pseudocoelomic, eucoelomic.
15. Describe schizocoelomic and enterocoelomic development.
16. What are ectoderm, endoderm, and mesoderm?
17. What three events take place during gastrulation?
18. Describe tissues, organs, and organ systems. Name the eleven organ systems of mammals.
19. What are the types of symmetry?
20. How are open and closed digestive systems different?
21. Describe the relationship between the following: ectothermic, endothermic, heterothermic,
homeothermic, poikilothermic, warm blooded, cold blooded.
22. Describe the characteristics of the Metazoa.
23. Describe the evolutionary relationships and characteristics of the major metazoan clades
discussed in lecture: know their physical characteristics, know who is related to whom, which
clades are polyphyletic, and which terms designate formal taxons and which are descriptive.
24. When did the metazoa evolve?
25. How do Porifera feed and reproduce?
26. Describe the characteristics and relationships between the following: Metazoa, Parazoa, Porifera,
Calcarea, Hexactinellida, Desmospongidae, Sclerospongidae.
27. Describe the relationship between the following: mesoglea, mesohyl, mesenchyme, amoebocytes,
pinacocytes, choanocytes, spicules, silicon, calcium carbonate, spongin, spongocoele, radial canal, ostia,
asconoid, syconoid, leuconoid.
28. Do Poriferans have tissues? Explain.
29. Describe the characteristics and relationships between the following: Metazoa, Eumetazoa, Radiata,
Cnidaria, Hydrazoa, Scyphozoa, Cubozoa, Anthozoa, Ctenophora, Placozoa.
30. Compare polyps and medusae.
31. Describe the life cycle of a true jelly (Schyphozoa).
32. Describe the characteristics and relationships between the following: Metazoa, Eumetazoa, Bilateria,
Acoela, Platyhelminthes, Digenea, Monogenea, Turbellaria, Trematoda, Cestoda.
33. Describe the relationship between the following: scolex, strobila, proglottid.
34. Describe the life cycles of Opisthorchis, Schistosoma, Taenia, and Dipyllidium.
35. Name and describe the characteristics of the Protostomia, Deuterostomia, Ecdysozoa.
36. Describe the characteristics and relationships between the following: Metazoa, Eumetazoa, Bilateria,
Protostomia, Ecdysozoa, Nematoda, Gastrotricha, Rotifera, Acanthocephala, Nematomorpha,
Onychophora, Tardigrada, Nemertea.
37. Describe the life cycles of the following Nematoda: Trichinella, Enterobius, Ascaris, Ancylostoma
(Necator), Wuchereria.
Questions for Exam 3
1) Be able to describe the characteristics and relationships of the unshaded Mollusca, Annelida, and
Onychophora clades (phylum and classes) discussed in lecture and laboratory, and be able to identify
examples of each, know their physical characteristics, how they reproduce when indicated, know who
is related to whom, which clades are polyphyletic, and which terms designate formal taxons and
which are descriptive.
2) What characteristics are shared by members of the phylum Mollusca?
3) Name the Molluscan classes and examples of each.
4) How do most Molluscs reproduce?
5) What kinds of larva are characteristic of the Mollusca, and Annelida?
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6) What is metamerization and what clades exhibit it?
7) Name Annelid classes and give examples of each.
8) What are nephridia?
9) Describe earthworm reproduction.
10) What is the relationship of the following clades/terms, and of what evolutionary significance are they:
Rhynchocoela, Nemertea, Onychophora, walking worms, proboscis worms?
11) Be able to describe the characteristics and relationships of the unshaded Arthropod clades (subphyla,
classes, and orders) discussed in lecture and laboratory, and be able to identify examples of each.
12) What is LAL, where does it come from, and what is its purpose?
13) What are characteristics of the lophophorate phyla, and name them?
14) What are characteristics of the Echinodermata and its subclades?
15) What is the relationship between Echinoderms, lophophorates, and chordates?
16) What is the relationship between the Hemichordata and the Chordata?
17) Be familiar with the characteristics and evolutionary relationships (and relative time of appearance)
of the unshaded chordate clades (subphyla, classes, and suborders and orders in some cases)
discussed in lecture and laboratory.
18) When do the Chordata first appear in the fossil record?
19) Describe the relationship of the following terms to one another: oviparous, ovoviviparous, and viviparous.
Give examples of animals that practice each.
20) Compare how the Chondrichthyes and Osteichthyes manage the problem of buoyancy.
21) Describe the characteristics, functions, and relationships between the following; capillaries, veins, venules,
arteries, arterioles, atrium, ventricle, heart.
22) Describe blood flow in a two-chambered heart, a three-chambered heart, and a four-chambered heart.
23) What is the relationship between hearts, blood pressure, body size, and endothermy?
Questions for Exam 4
24) Describe the structures found within the amniote egg and know the function of each.
25) How are reptiles specifically adapted to life on land, in a way that amphibians are not?
26) What is keratin?
27) Describe the relationship between the following: Amphibians, Reptiles, Anapsids, Synapsids, Diapsids,
Chelonia, Squamata, Archosauria, Crocodilians, Dinosaurs, Ornithischia, Saurischia, Theropods, Sauropods,
Ankylosaurs, Hadrosaurs, Therapsids, Mammalia, Insectivora, Birds, Permian, Triassic, Permian Extinction,
Cretaceous-Tertiary Extinction, K-T Extinction.
28) What is irony concerning dinosaur evolution and extinction?
29) What is a bird?
30) Describe the relationship between the posterior air sacs, lungs, and anterior air sacs.
31) What are the roles of the avian crop and gizzard?
32) What is a cloaca?
33) How do fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals eliminate nitrogenous waste?
34) Compare gas exchange in fish, amphibians, reptiles, and birds.
35) Be able to describe the characteristics and relationships of the unshaded Mammalian clades
(subclasses, orders, suborders, superfamilies, and families) discussed in lecture and laboratory, and
be able to identify examples of each.
36) Describe the evolutionary relationship between the Monotremes, Marsupials, and Eutherians, and how their
radiation and distribution was influenced by plate tectonics.
37) Why do anthropologists consider Austalopithecus an intermediate between simian ancestors and modern
humans (Homo)?
38) Describe the evolutionary relationship between Homo erectus, Homo neanderthalensis, and Homo sapiens.
39) When did morphologically and culturally modern humans evolve?
40) What evidence is there that some behavior is genetic, and that some behavior is learned?
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41) What is ethology?
42) Describe sign stimuli and give examples.
43) What are innate releasing mechanisms (irm’s)?
44) Describe and give examples of the following types of learning: habituation, conditioning, classical and
operant conditioning, generalized and discriminating conditioning, latent learning, insight learning,
imprinting.
45) What is the relationship between memory, engram, retrieval, and long-term memory, short-term memory.
46) Describe the role of the following in communication: coloration, tags, posture, ee contact, sound,
pheromones, and chemicals.
47) How is behavior related to the genetic isolation that forms a species?
48) Describe the role of aggression between and among species.
49) Give examples of social behaviors.
50) Describe and give examples of the following: intraspecific and interspecific cooperation, altruism.
51) What evidence is there that animals possess emotions and culture?
52) Describe the abiotic factors in an ecosystem.
53) Describe the biotic factors in an ecosystem.
54) Define the word ecosystem, and what is the ecosphere?
55) What does the term niche mean?
56) What is competitive exclusion?
57) Be familiar with the regions/zones in marine and lentic ecosystems.
58) Describe eutrophic, mesotrophic, and oligotrophic lakes.
59) Describe how eutrophication can lead to a “dead” lake.
60) Describe characteristics of lotic ecosystems, and estuaries.
61) What factors influence vegetation in biomes?
62) Describe general characteristics, including diversity and soil quality, of the following biomes: deciduous
forests, coniferous forests, chaparral, temperate grasslands, tropical grasslands (savannah), desert, tundra,
tropical rain forest, riparian habitats, wetlands.
63) Describe net primary productivity of an ecosystem.
64) What is meant by total biomass of an ecosystem?
65) What is a quadrat sample, what is it used for, and what is its relationship to a transect?
66) What are some of the concerns of capture-recapture techniques of population estimation?
67) What are techniques and advantages of using DNA fingerprints for population analysis?
68) Describe the first and second laws of energy.
69) Describe a fusion reaction.
70) Why is it considered a nuclear reaction rather than a chemical reaction?
71) What happens to some of the mass of the particles in a nuclear reaction?
72) Where is fusion occurring in our solar system?
73) What is the overall equation for photosynthesis?
74) What can plants do with solar energy that animals cannot?
75) What can plants do with carbon dioxide and water that animals cannot?
76) Why are plants considered producers in food chains?
77) What are consumers, and why do they “consume?”
78) Label the members of the following food chain as producers, and the appropriate consumer, i.e. primary,
secondary, tertiary, etc: flower nectar is eaten by a butterfly, which is eaten by a frog, which is eaten by a
snake, which is eaten by a red tailed hawk.
79) What are higher order consumers in the example above?
80) What is a food web?
81) Describe what the terms herbivore, carnivore, and omnivore mean, and give examples of each.
82) Describe an energy pyramid, and what is a trophic level.
83) What is the “10% rule” of nature?
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84) How much energy in an ecosystem goes from one trophic level to the next, and what happens to the rest of
the energy?
85) What fraction of the energy originally in grain is held in human tissues if we do the following: grain is fed
to chickens, when chickens die they are ground up in cattle feed and fed to cattle, and the cattle are eaten by
humans.
86) What fraction of the energy originally in grain is held in human tissue if we do the following: grain eaten by
humans.
87) Explain the statement: matter recycles in ecosystems.
88) Describe how the following are related: succession, pioneer species, equilibrium species, seral species,
climax species, primary succession, secondary succession, allogenic succession, autogenic succession.
89) How do the following change between early and late succession: nutrient storage, biomass, species
diversity, stability, species reproduction and longevity.
90) What are keystone species?
91) What factors influence the cycling of prey populations?
92) Why are predators and prey considered coadapted?
93) Why are hunters a poor substitute for natural predators, and why do ecosystem managers try to reintroduce
natural predators?
94) Describe and give examples of the following: positive feedback, negative feedback, positive synergism,
negative synergism, biological magnification, and threshold concentrations.
95) How has increased human population put pressure on ecosystems?
96) Describe the difference between threatened and endangered species.
97) What are some characteristics that put species at risk of becoming extinct, and how many of these must a
species have to be considered “at risk” of extinction?
98) What is the greatest cause of extinction worldwide?
99) Of what value is wildlife according to the Endangered Species Act?
100) What agency has primary jurisdiction over regulation of endangered species?
101) How does the Endangered Species Act define “critical habitat” and why is it so important to the success
of the Act?
102) Why do biologists consider the Endangered Species Act a tremendous success?
103) Describe albedo and emissivity.
104) What is greenhouse warming and what is its cause?
105) What are potential dangers of global warming?
106) What are common greenhouse gases?
107) What are possible effects of global cooling?
108) Why be concerned about global temperature changes?
109) What is ozone and why is it important?
110) What are common ozone depleting gases?
111) How does ozone depletion occur?
112) Why be concerned about ozone depletion?
113) What evidence is there for both greenhouse warming, and ozone depletion?
114) Why is food more scarce, even though food production increases worldwide each year?
115) What is the major cause of hunger and malnutrition?
116) Why is depletion of energy resources a threat to humanity?
117) What kinds of problems are we experiencing with our water resources?
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