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Szl 103: Fundamentals Of Ecology Question Paper

Szl 103: Fundamentals Of Ecology

Course:Fundamentals Of Ecology

Institution: University Of Nairobi question papers

Exam Year:2013

UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI
FIRST SEMESTER EXAMINATIONS 2012/2013
(Chiromo campus)
FIRST YEAR EXAMINATIONS FOR THE DEGREE OF BACHELOR OF SCIENCE
SZL 103: FUNDAMENTALS OF ECOLOGY
Date: SEPTEMBER 6, 2013
Time: 2:00 p.m- 4:00 p.m
Instructions:
ANSWER ANY TEN (10) QUESTIONS. EACH 7 MARKS

1. Compare the temperate and tropical grasslands using the following ecological attributes:
i. Primary productivity
ii. Large herbivore community
iii. Human use
2. Distinguish between density dependence and density independent factors of population regulation
3. Describe the turbidity experience carried out on river Msongawai.
4. Discuss briefly Gause’s experiments that contributed to the competition exclusion principle.
5. Giving examples, explain how the following chemical chemical reactions contribute to the balance of nature:
i. Precipitation reactions
ii. Reduction- oxidation
iii. Hydrolysis reactions
6. Briefly discuss the three types of ecological pyramids and laws governing energy flow in an ecosystem.
7. Define the following terms:
a. Heterotrophy
b. Food web
c. Eutrophication
d. Detritivore
e. Productivity
f. Green house gases
g. Trophic level
8. Describe the process of denitrification in the nitrogen cycle
9. Define ecological succession and explain how livestock grazing and browsing can initiate ecological succession in a range- land.
10. Discuss briefly the ecological importance of studying food chains.
11. A) illustrate diagrammatically, thermal stratification
a. Define the following terms:
i. Amictic
ii. Oligomictic
iii. Holomictic
iv. Meromictic
v. Dimictic
12. In order to determine variability in temperature, six temperature readings were taken and results are shown in the following table.
Pond site temp (0c)
1 15.3
2 17.8
3 13.2
4 14.0
5 19.9
6 14.9
i) Find the mean and median temperature in the fish pond
ii) Calculate the standard deviation of the temperature data.
iii) Display the data in a line plot and interpret it.
13. Define the following terms:
a. Realized niche
b. Biotic potential
c. Clutch size
d. Iteroparous species
e. Opportunistic species
f. Cohort
g. Cmmensalism
14. A) outline the importance of shear forces in rivers
a. List the characteristics of organisms inhabiting ‘spaces between rocks’ microhabitat in rivers
15. A) describe the formation of soil humus
a. Briefly describe the marine wetland ecosystem.

Szl 103: Fundamentals Of Ecology Question Paper

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