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Sbt 411: Aquatic Botany Question Paper

Sbt 411: Aquatic Botany

Course:Plant And Microbial Sciences

Institution: Kenyatta University question papers

Exam Year:2010

KENYATTA UNIVERSITY
UNIVERSITY EXAMINATIONS 2010/2011
FIRST SEMESTER EXAMINATION FOR THE DEGREE OF BACHELOR OF SCIENCE AND BACHELOR OF EDUCATION
SBT 411: AQUATIC BOTANY

DATE: Tuesday 30th November, 2010 TIME: 2.00 p.m. – 4.00 p.m.
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INSTRUCTIONS
Answer ALL questions in Section A and ANY ONE question in Section B. Answers in Section A should be written in the spaces provided on the question paper.

SECTION A – Short Answer Questions (5 marks each)
1. Explain each of the following observations in ONE sentence only.

i) Liquid water is a liquid crystal rather than a true liquid.

ii) Cold monomictic lakes only mix in summer but not in winter.

iii) Lakes with low amounts of calcium are usually subject to wide changes in pH.

iv) The destruction of thermal stratification in productive lakes can lead to a reduction in the dissolved oxygen concentration of surface water.

v) Thermal stratification rarely occurs in rivers.

2. Describe the environmental problems associated with fish farming.

3. Compare the Cyanophyta and Chlorophyta based on the following attributes. [1 mark each]

a) Food storage

b) Cell motility

c) Reproduction

d) Distribution

e) Dominant accessory pigments

4. a) Illustrate the vertical profile of temperature and light in a thermally stratified lake and identify the following parts: epilimnion, hypolimnion, metalimnion and thermocline. [3 marks]

b) Comment on temperature variation in warm monomictic lakes. [2 marks]

5. State the meaning of each of the following terms: [1 mark each]

a) Fucoxanthin

b) Holomixis

c) Allochthonous food supply

d) Langmuir circulation

e) Chemotrophs

6. a) Distinguish between saline and freshwater lakes on the basis of the following [1 mark each]
i) Freezing point temperature

ii) Biological diversity

iii) Energy needed to breakdown thermal stratification

b) Identify two economic values of the saline lakes of East Africa.

7. a) Describe the extent and major characteristics of the littoral zone. [3 marks]

b) State the meaning and importance of albedo. [2 marks]

8. Explain the contribution of physical and chemical energy subsides to the high productivity of estuaries. [5 marks]

SECTION B – (MAXIMUM MARKS 30)
Write an essay on ANY ONE of the following topics:
1. Dissolved oxygen in lakes.
2. Characteristics and types of running water.
3. Phytoplankton movement in standing waters

Sbt 411: Aquatic Botany Question Paper

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