BIO 102 - Review for Final Exam  

Chapter 22

1. Compare broad spectrum to narrow spectrum pesticides. What are the pros and cons of each? Which type is the most common? Why?

2. Compare inorganic to botanical pesticides. Which are used most today?

3. Describe at least two benefits of pesticides. Why are they necessary in agriculture (in terms of community ecology concepts)?

4. Describe five problems associated with pesticide use.

5. Discuss seven alternatives to widespread use of pesticides.

Chapter 23

6. What type of trash makes up a majority of our municipal solid waste? What is the fastest growing component? Why are discarded tires a problem?

7. Compare the pros and cons of the four methods of solid waste disposal.

8. Discuss the "3 R's" of waste prevention.

9. Where do dioxins and PCB's come from?

10. What government organization deals with currently produced hazardous waste? What about abandoned and illegal toxic waste sites?

Chapter 4 (pt.)

11. List and define the six types of energy. Provide an example of each. Which are forms of potential energy and which are forms of kinetic energy?

12. State the two laws of thermodynamics. Why is heat considered "lost energy"? What relevance do these laws have to living organisms and the study of ecology?

13. Compare photosynthesis to respiration. Know the general chemical equation for both. In what kinds of cells does each reaction occur? Why is energy important to living cells?

14. Describe the flow of energy through the ecosystem. When is heat produced? Why do we need constant input of energy from the sun?

15. Compare the three ways in which organisms extract energy from the environment. What kinds of organisms are in each group? Include the subgroups of consumers and "decomposers". Why is each group important for the stability of the ecosystem?

16.Why is "food web" a more accurate term than "food chain"? What limits the length of a food chain?

17. Discuss the pyramid of numbers, pyramid of biomass, and pyramid of energy. Why is the pyramid of numbers often not useful? How do the pyramids explain biological magnification and the value of a vegetarian diet?

18. Compare gross primary productivity to net primary productivity. What factors affect these variables in a given ecosystem? How does productivity affect diversity?

Chapter 6(pt)

19. Be able to discuss the steps of each of the four major biogeochemical cycles. Know the importance of each of the four elements/compounds for living organisms. Which steps represent "sinks" for the element/compound?

Chapter 7

20. Compare and contrast the six major biomes with respect to global location, climate (including temperature, precipitation, limiting factors, and seasonality), soil characteristics, and characteristic plants and animals (including adaptations of both to the climate.)

21. Compare the important factors affecting a terrestrial ecosystem vs. an aquatic ecosystem.

22. Compare the characteristics of headwaters to downstream rivers.

23. What types of organisms are frequently used as an indicator of water quality? What are the factors that affect aquatic insect diversity?

24. Discuss the three zones of a lake (mentioning location, productivity, and organisms present).

25. Discuss thermal stratification and fall/spring turnover. What is the value of turnover?

26. What are two benefits provided by wetlands?

27. List three reasons why estuaries are so productive?

Comprehensive Review

1. Review the scientific method. What makes science a self-correcting process?

2. Review the causes and effects of acid deposition, global warming, and ozone depletion.

3. Review the causes and effects of the eight types of water pollution.

4. Review the five steps associated with solving environmental problems.

5. Review the four human activities that have increased the likelihood of flooding.

6. Review the two major soil problems.

7. Review the pros and cons of organic vs. inorganic fertilizers.

8. Review the theory of evolution by natural selection. Define macro- vs. microevolution. What kinds of evidence support macoevolutionary ideas?

9. Review the problems associated with human population growth. Where are these problems most critical?

10. Review the factors that affect human fertility rate.

11. Review the safety and environmental concerns associated with the use of coal and oil.

12. Review the pros and cons of nuclear energy and other alternative forms of energy.

13. Review the three components of biodiversity. Why should we care about biodiversity?

14. Review the ways in which human activities are decreasing biodiversity.

15. Review the pros and cons of the three types of current agriculture.