Fundamentals of Ecology - Bio  220

Assignment Description:

For class on 2/7:  On paper, draw a simple conceptual model of a forest ecosystem, using arrows to indicate carbon flow.  Be sure to include all of the biological (& physical) processes you can think of that influence carbon flow.  Bring two copies to class – 1 to turn in, 1 to use in class for discussion.  Individual assignment. 
Be prepared to address the following questions in class:

1. Where does the majority of biomass gained by plants as they grow come from?

2. What are the different pathways a carbon atom can take once it is inside a plant?

3. Predict how increasing atmospheric CO₂ would change carbon abundance in various pools on your ecosystem model.

4. Will increased CO₂ affect forest productivity? How/why?

5. Why is atmospheric CO₂ an "environmental paradox?"

2/21

Read Willette et al. article on climate & physiology in turtles.

Be able to respond to these questions, & come to class prepared for an individual quiz followed by a group quiz & discussion.  Individual assignment.

1. What is the main question being addressed in this article?

2. How are water and temperature likely to affect hatchling size & residual yolk size?

3. What are the 2 critical life-history stages for turtles discussed by the authors?

4. What are the implications of temperature for turtle nestlings, since they are ectotherms?

5. What is "empirical" documentation? (p.846)

6. Be prepared to discuss biology & ethics in light of this study.

7. What are the climatic variables the authors studied?

8. What phenotypic measurements did they make?

9. What were their main results?

10. Which hypotheses could they reject, & which did they not reject?

11. What is the influence of climatic variables on turtle physiology?

12. How might climatic change affect a population like this one?  How generalizable do you think their results are?

13. Would you expect changing climate to affect endotherms in the same way?

Read Sillett et al. article on climate & population dynamics in warblers.

Be able to respond to these questions, & come to class prepared for an individual quiz followed by a group presentation & discussion.  Individual & Group assignment.
Individual questions:

1. Define ENSO.

2. What demographic rates could the authors measure? (1st paragraph)  What demographic data were collected?

3. What is meant by "the species...exhibits strong site fidelity" (2nd par.)?

4. Define "mesic."

5. Describe what is summarized by the SOI, and what does it tell us?

6. What is the effect of El Nino on local climate in Jamaica?

7. What do the authors mean by variables being positively correlated?

8. What aspects of warbler population dynamics are affected by climatic variation in Jamaica?

9. What aspects are affected by climate variation in their summer breeding grounds?

Group questions/discussion:

1. What is the SOI value for this month (Feb.'10)?  this winter?  (see reference 4)

2. Each group should come prepared to explain & summarize one set of figures from the paper (Fig. 1, Fig. 2, Fig.3 or Fig.4).  I'll assign a group to each figure in class.

3. What is the connection of this study to issues of global climate change?  Be able to explain/discuss points made in the final paragraph of the paper.

Assignment Description:

Reading Questions for Articles on Yellowstone Ecosystem Predator-Prey Interactions & Other Effects

Read the article chosen/assigned to you (1 article/person/group) (found in Dr. Dott’s O: drive, Bio 320 folder, Yellowstone Readings folder).  Bring a PRINTED COPY to class for discussion.

Answer the following general questions about your article, and bring 2 copies of your responses to class on Tuesday – one copy to turn in, one to keep for discussion.

Come prepared to discuss your article with a group of others who also read it, and then be prepared to present the key points from your article to the rest of your group, who have not read it.

Questions:

1)      What question(s) or hypotheses were the authors seeking to address in this study?

2)      Briefly describe some of the main measurements they made/data collected in order to address the question.

3)      What conclusions were they able to draw from this research?  Were their original hypotheses supported, or not?

4)      Which figure from their results do you think is most important in supporting those conclusions?  Why?

5)      Okay, one figure might not be enough.  What is the second most important figure, and why?

6)      What are the broader implications of this research?  Or if you prefer, what do you think are the key take-home points from this reading?

7) What is a "trophic cascade"?