Ecology - Dr. D.

Some study help for Exam #2

Also, there will be 2 or 3 questions from the following article: "The Tragedy of the Commons”

Some study help for Exam #3

Study Guide #2

The Final Exam is comprehensive and also includes new material (about a third of the final). Material covered on the old exams will come from the questions on the old exams. Some questions will be the exact same, some will be 're-worked' (i.e. be sure you understand why you missed or got correct each question).

Also, there will be 2 or 3 questions from the following article: "It's a Jungle in There"

An extra credit question on the final based on the following table. The table is Dr. D’s view on the dichotomy of related ideas in ecology. The ideas in the left column tend to emphasize the importance of chance and the abiotic environment on ecological systems, the ideas in the right column emphasize the importance of biotic interactions on ecological systems.

Disturbance is important and change is normal	Disturbance is not important and systems are stable because biotic interaction “balance out” disturbance effects.
Density independent processes predominate	Density dependent processes predominate
Most species tend toward being r-selected, generalist, fugitives	Most species tend toward being K-selected, specialist
Non-equilibrium, open system processes explain coexistence of species	Equilibrium, closed system processes explain coexistence of species
Community organization tends to be organized by stochastic processes based on chance colonization and predetermined abilities to respond to the physical environment	Community organization tends to be organized by deterministic processes based on species interactions (assembly rules)
Ecosystems respond to “bottom up” effects	Ecosystems respond to “top down” effects
Each system is different requiring unique, system-specific explanations	All systems can be understood by universal principles that apply across all systems