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Set 523: Environmental Ecology Ii Question Paper
Set 523: Environmental Ecology Ii
Course:Bachelor Of Information Technology
Institution: Kenyatta University question papers
Exam Year:2010
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KENYATTA UNIVERSITY
UNIVERSITY EXAMINATIONS 2008/2009
INSTITUTE OF OPEN LEARNING (IOL)
EXAMINATION FOR THE DEGREE OF BACHELOR OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
SET 523: ENVIRONMENTAL ECOLOGY II
DATE: Monday, 15th February, 2010 TIME: 2.00 p.m. – 4.00 p.m.
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INSTRUCTIONS:
(i) Answer any three questions
ii) All the other questions carry 20 marks each
QUESTION 1
The life of organisms in fresh water systems is governed by:-
(1) The high density of the medium;
(2) The lack of salt in the medium;
(3) The high solubility of water for inorganic and organic materials;
(4) The development of vertical profiles in the water
Explain in detail how each of the reference affects the life of organisms in fresh water.
QUESTION 2
Figure Question 4 below shows the sub-divisions of the lake habitat.
Briefly describe each of the sub-divisions.
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Figure Question2: Sub-division of the lake habitat
QUESTION 3
Two consumer chain schemes are shown below.
Explain the differences and provide the appropriate name for each of the scheme.
SCHEME 2
SCHEME 1 SCHEME 2
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QUESTION 4
(a) What is the meaning of environment?
(b) Using schematic illustrations, describe the factors of three sub-complexes of environment and show various interaction among them
(c) Energy radiated from the sun reaches the earth mainly as short-wave radiation in the
visible spectrum with a mean wavelength of about 0.5 µm. Some of this is scattered
back into space and some absorbed by the atmosphere. About 40% reaches the earth’s
surface, either directly or indirectly by scattering in the atmosphere. The energy
absorbed by the ocean is lost in three ways. Name them and explain briefly.
(d) The figure below shows air movement over half of the earth’s surface.
Briefly explain the causes of differences in air movements’ directions.
QUESTION 5
From the physical angle, water exhibits some unique properties which derive from the structure of the water molecule and its tendency to form aggregates. Table 5 summarizes some of the most important properties.
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Table Question 2- Physical properties of water
Density (25 °C) in kg/rn3
997.075
Maximum density in kg/rn3
1000.000
Temperature of maximum density °C
3.940
Viscosity in Pascal/sees (25 °C)
0.890X 10-3
Kinematic viscosity in m2fs (25°C)
0.89 x10-6
Melting point °C (at 101 325 Pa)
0.0000
Boiling point °C (at 101 325 Pa)
100.00
Latent heat of ice in kJ/mol
6.0104
Latent heat of evaporation in kJ/mol
40.66
Specific heat capacity (15°C) in J/kg°C
4.186
Thermal conductivity (25 C) in 3/cm s °C
0.00569
Surface tension (25°C), N/rn
71.97 x 10-3
Dielectric constant (25 °C)
78.54
From the biological viewpoint, all these specific properties of the aqueous - medium can affect the existence of single organisms and the ecological habitat.
All aquatic communities are adaptive communities with specific connections with their native physical environment. Their entire life cycle in natural water systems is influenced by these properties especially the density, density anomaly and the thermal properties.
Describe each of the physical properties of water listed above and explain the significance with respect to the aquatic life.
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