BIOLOGY 1110 ONLINE - FINAL EXAM REVIEW Just a few notes to help you prepare for the comprehensive,

closed book final exam. In regard to the composition of the exam, you should expect a combination of objective and essay questions. These may include multiple choice, matching, true and false, etc. Although the exam is closed book, you will have some choice of which essay questions you wish to answer, so that should give you some flexibility. The essay questions are similar in structure to those you experienced on previous exams, and the level of completeness for essay answers will be evaluated in the same way as on previous exams and assignments. You can be confident of success if you use the same level of clarity and completeness that we have been practicing this entire semester. You should prepare yourselves for questions on the following topics, concentrating on the points I've emphasized in the chapter study guides, articles in the Blackboard classroom, and previous class assignments. The final will be checking your knowledge of the basic, most important principles underlying environmental biology, so please focus on the main topics we've studied. Look over the list and please let me know if you need some help with any of these concepts. 1. 2. 3. What is sustainable development? What are the principles of sustainability? What are the biotic and abiotic components of ecosystems? Be able to give examples. Why are detritus food chains (with scavengers, detritus feeders, and decomposers) so important? What two very important functions do these types of food chains perform in ecosystems. What would happen if you removed the decomposers from an ecosystem? What does a trophic pyramid show? How much energy is lost when you go from one level to another in a food chain? What significance does this have for feeding the human population of earth? What are renewable resources? Nonrenewable? Give examples. Why is the level of resource available important? How does photosynthesis work? Cell respiration? Why is each important? Which types of organisms perform each? How do the two processes work together? What are the fast and slow pathways of the carbon cycle? Be able to explain the factors that contribute to each. How do humans affect the carbon cycle? What does the carbon cycle have to do with global warming? How does use of fossil fuels affect atmospheric carbon dioxide? How does the nitrogen cycle work? Why is it important? Give examples. How are various types of bacteria involved? No need to know the steps of the cycle in detail, just have a general idea of how it works. How are the nitrogen and phosphorus cycles related to the health of aquatic ecosystems (for example, the Chesapeake Bay)?

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What is carrying capacity? What does it have to do with human population growth? What is a population profile? What information does it give us about the population of a country? If a population profile is shaped like a triangle, at what rate is the population growing? How are age groups distributed? What consequence does this have for economic development in these countries? What is biodiversity? Be able to define the term and explain why it is important. What benefits do wild species (plants, microorganisms, animals) bring to the planet? Why can't we do without them? What problems arise as species disappear from ecosystems? Why are wetland ecosystems valuable? Be able to list several benefits and give examples. Do we have as many acres of wetlands in the U.S. are formerly? If not, what problems has this loss caused? What are the basic principles of sustainable agriculture? What sustainable methods can you suggest to prevent erosion? What is organic farming? What are the benefits of using organic methods (to farmers, to the environment, to consumers). What is nitrogen fixation? How is it related to crop rotation? How can crop rotation help reduce the use of chemical fertilizers? What are some alternatives to chemical pest control? Explain the different options. How have these methods been used successfully in the U.S. and other countries (such as Indonesia)? What is integrated pest management (IPM)? Explain and give examples. What is coal primarily used for? How is that related to the homework assignment you did on energy use? What about air pollution issues? How is U.S. energy usage related to smog, acid rain, global warming, etc.? How are fossil fuels formed? Why does this make them a nonrenewable source of energy? (Keep in mind the special definition of nonrenewable that is used for natural resource availability.) Review the carbon cycle information in unit one. List and explain several sustainable energy options that have the potential to help with the energy crisis in the next decade . What can YOU as an individual, do to help address energy issues? Think through and be able to explain your views on a viable energy policy for the U.S. and the world over the next decade.

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