Ecology: The Biology of Interaction. Appendix II. Questions for Credit or Examination
Questions included in examination tickets for the credit test or examination in ecology (bioecology). The questions appear in the tickets in a different order from that given here.
Ukrainian (latest version) / Russian (updates discontinued) Appendix I. Course Syllabus D. Shabanov, M. Kravchenko. Ecology: The Biology of Interaction Appendices Appendix III. Approximate Seminar Programme Appendix II. Questions for Credit or Examination Examination Ticket Questions Examination Ticket Questions Part I. Biosystems. The Biosphere Section I. Biosystems. The Biosphere I-1 Ecology: its definitions. Subject matter and structure of ecology. Lay ecology and scientific ecology. Ecology: its definitions. Subject matter and structure of ecology. Lay ecology and scientific ecology. I-2 Distinction between the concepts of "ecology," "environmental science," and "nature conservation." Distinction between the concepts of "ecology," "environmental science," and "nature conservation." I-3 The concept of structural levels of biosystem organisation; levels studied within ecology. The concept of structural levels of biosystem organisation; levels studied within ecology. I-4 Morphological, physiological, and ecological approaches to the study of biosystems. Holistic and reductionist approaches to their description. Morphological, physiological, and ecological approaches to the study of biosystems. Holistic and reductionist approaches to their description. I-5 Concepts of system and regulation. Stability of biosystems. Concepts of system and regulation. Stability of biosystems. I-6 Positive feedback loops: examples at various levels of biosystems. Positive feedback loops: examples at various levels of biosystems. I-7 Negative feedback loops: examples at various levels of biosystems. Negative feedback loops: examples at various levels of biosystems. I-8 Emergent properties of complex biosystems. Emergent properties of complex biosystems. I-9 Characteristics of Earth as a life-bearing planet. Characteristics of Earth as a life-bearing planet. I-10 Concepts of the biosphere and noosphere and their differing interpretations. Concepts of the biosphere and noosphere and their differing interpretations. I-11 James Lovelock's Gaia hypothesis. James Lovelock's Gaia hypothesis. I-12 Energy sources for biogeochemical cycles and modes of energy transformation. Energy sources for biogeochemical cycles and modes of energy transformation. I-13 Biogeochemical functions of living matter. Biogeochemical functions of living matter. I-14 The hydrological cycle. The hydrological cycle. I-15 The sedimentary rock cycle. The sedimentary rock cycle. I-16 The biogeochemical nitrogen cycle. The biogeochemical nitrogen cycle. I-17 The biogeochemical carbon cycle. The biogeochemical carbon cycle. I-18 The biogeochemical phosphorus cycle. The biogeochemical phosphorus cycle. I-19 The biogeochemical sulphur cycle. The biogeochemical sulphur cycle. I-20 Regulatory mechanisms of biogeochemical cycles. Regulatory mechanisms of biogeochemical cycles. Part II. Biogeocoenoses. Communities. Populations Section II. Biogeocoenoses. Communities. Populations II-1 The relationship between the concepts of "ecosystem" and "biogeocoenosis." Components of ecosystems. The relationship between the concepts of "ecosystem" and "biogeocoenosis." Components of ecosystems. II-2 Biome-based classification of ecosystems. Comparison of different biomes by biomass and productivity. Biome-based classification of ecosystems. Comparison of different biomes by biomass and productivity. II-3 Trophic webs and trophic levels. Ecological pyramids and ecological efficiencies. Trophic webs and trophic levels. Ecological pyramids and ecological efficiencies. II-4 Ecosystem functioning. Matter cycling and energy flow in ecosystems. Ecological balance. Ecosystem functioning. Matter cycling and energy flow in ecosystems. Ecological balance. II-5 Methods for assessing and measures of ecosystem productivity. Methods for assessing and measures of ecosystem productivity. II-6 Successions: autotrophic and heterotrophic, primary and secondary. Successions: autotrophic and heterotrophic, primary and secondary. II-7 Seral and climax communities. Dynamics of species diversity during succession. Causes of successions. Seral and climax communities. Dynamics of species diversity during succession. Causes of successions. II-8 Populations: their static and dynamic characteristics. Demographic characterisation of populations. Pearl's types of survivorship curves. Populations: their static and dynamic characteristics. Demographic characterisation of populations. Pearl's types of survivorship curves. II-9 Exponential model of population growth: examples of its applicability. Exponential model of population growth: examples of its applicability. II-10 Logistic model of population growth: examples of its applicability. Logistic model of population growth: examples of its applicability. II-11 The Lotka-Volterra model: examples of its applicability. The Lotka-Volterra model: examples of its applicability. II-12 Regulation of population size. Fluctuations in population size and their causes. Regulation of population size. Fluctuations in population size and their causes. II-13 Ecological strategies according to MacArthur and Wilson, and according to Ramenskiy and Grime. Ecological strategies according to MacArthur and Wilson, and according to Ramenskiy and Grime. II-14 Classifications of the types of relationships between populations. Classifications of the types of relationships between populations. II-15 Comparison of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Comparison of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. II-16 Forms of exploitation: comparison and examples. Forms of exploitation: comparison and examples. II-17 The significance of different forms of exploitation for the regulation of population size and their influence on biodiversity. The significance of different forms of exploitation for the regulation of population size and their influence on biodiversity. II-18 Commensalism, protocooperation, and mutualism: their significance for the regulation of population size and their influence on biodiversity. Commensalism, protocooperation, and mutualism: their significance for the regulation of population size and their influence on biodiversity. II-19 The ecological niche. Fundamental and realised niches; the influence of competition on niche width. The ecological niche. Fundamental and realised niches; the influence of competition on niche width. II-20 Gause's competitive exclusion principle. Gause's competitive exclusion principle. Part III. Organisms and the Environment Section III. Organisms and the Environment III-1 Classifications of ecological factors and classifications of environmental factors. Classifications of ecological factors and classifications of environmental factors. III-2 Liebig's law of the minimum. Cases in which Liebig's law does not apply. Liebig's law of the minimum. Cases in which Liebig's law does not apply. III-3 Shelford's law of tolerance. Shelford's law of tolerance. III-4 Stenoecious and euryoecious organisms. Concepts characterising organismal tolerance. Stenoecious and euryoecious organisms. Concepts characterising organismal tolerance. III-5 Size classes of organisms and their differing interactions with various ecological factors. Allometric growth of organisms and its causes. Size classes of organisms and their differing interactions with various ecological factors. Allometric growth of organisms and its causes. III-6 The greenhouse effect. The greenhouse effect. III-7 Solar radiation: spectral composition and atmospheric absorption. Solar radiation: spectral composition and atmospheric absorption. III-8 Solar radiation and the various biological effects produced by its action. Adaptations of organisms to interaction with solar radiation. Solar radiation and the various biological effects produced by its action. Adaptations of organisms to interaction with solar radiation. III-9 Photoperiodism: its causes and manifestations. Photoperiodism: its causes and manifestations. III-10 Temperature and its effects on organisms. Temperature and its effects on organisms. III-11 Thermobiological types of organisms. Heat balance and the various means of its regulation. Thermobiological types of organisms. Heat balance and the various means of its regulation. III-12 Bergmann's, Allen's, and Gloger's rules and the limits of their applicability. Bergmann's, Allen's, and Gloger's rules and the limits of their applicability. III-13 The concept of effective temperatures. The concept of effective temperatures. III-14 Regulation of the water balance of organisms. Ecological significance of humidity and salinity. Regulation of the water balance of organisms. Ecological significance of humidity and salinity. III-15 Characteristics of the terrestrial-aerial habitat compared with other habitats. Characteristics of the terrestrial-aerial habitat compared with other habitats. III-16 Characteristics of the aquatic habitat compared with other habitats. Characteristics of the aquatic habitat compared with other habitats. III-17 Characteristics of the soil habitat compared with other habitats. Characteristics of the soil habitat compared with other habitats. III-18 Characteristics of other organisms as a habitat compared with other habitats. Characteristics of other organisms as a habitat compared with other habitats. III-19 "Interaction" of ecological factors (responses of organisms to the simultaneous action of different factors). "Interaction" of ecological factors (responses of organisms to the simultaneous action of different factors). III-20 Adaptations of organisms to unfavourable environments: their types. Life forms. Adaptations of organisms to unfavourable environments: their types. Life forms. Part IV. Humanity Section IV. Humanity IV-1 Unique ecological characteristics of Homo sapiens Linnaeus, 1758 as a species. Unique ecological characteristics of Homo sapiens Linnaeus, 1758 as a species. IV-2 Comparison of genetic and cultural inheritance. Comparison of genetic and cultural inheritance. IV-3 Energy sources of modern humanity. "Alternative" energy. Energy sources of modern humanity. "Alternative" energy. IV-4 The principal contemporary problems in the relationship between humanity and the biosphere. The principal contemporary problems in the relationship between humanity and the biosphere. IV-5 The global character of modern humanity: its positive and negative consequences. The global character of modern humanity: its positive and negative consequences. IV-6 The human being as a biosocial entity. The relationship between the biological and social nature of the human. The human being as a biosocial entity. The relationship between the biological and social nature of the human. IV-7 Biological prerequisites for the social behaviour of humans. Biological prerequisites for the social behaviour of humans. IV-8 Common and unique features in the mechanisms regulating the size of human populations. Common and unique features in the mechanisms regulating the size of human populations. IV-9 The principal stages in the development of the relationship between human populations and their habitats. The principal stages in the development of the relationship between human populations and their habitats. IV-10 Dynamics of human population size. Hyperbolic growth of the human population and its causes. Dynamics of human population size. Hyperbolic growth of the human population and its causes. IV-11 The demographic transition in human populations. The demographic transition in human populations. IV-12 The problem of greenhouse gases and global warming: possible approaches to its resolution. The problem of greenhouse gases and global warming: possible approaches to its resolution. IV-13 The problem of ozone layer depletion: possible approaches to its resolution. The problem of ozone layer depletion: possible approaches to its resolution. IV-14 The problem of acid rain: possible approaches to its resolution. The problem of acid rain: possible approaches to its resolution. IV-15 The principal problems of modern agriculture: possible approaches to their resolution. The principal problems of modern agriculture: possible approaches to their resolution. IV-16 The problem of anthropogenic environmental pollution: possible approaches to its resolution. The problem of anthropogenic environmental pollution: possible approaches to its resolution. IV-17 The principal resources used by humanity: renewable and non-renewable resources. The principal resources used by humanity: renewable and non-renewable resources. IV-18 Concepts of the rational use of natural resources, nature-centrism, and sustainable (non-depleting) development. Concepts of the rational use of natural resources, nature-centrism, and sustainable (non-depleting) development. IV-19 The instability of the current state of the relationship between humanity and the biosphere. Possible futures: scenarios of depletion and flourishing. The instability of the current state of the relationship between humanity and the biosphere. Possible futures: scenarios of depletion and flourishing. IV-20 The search for an optimal course of action for the individual, for human groups, and for humanity as a whole at the current stage of our development. The search for an optimal course of action for the individual, for human groups, and for humanity as a whole at the current stage of our development. Appendix I. Course Syllabus D. Shabanov, M. Kravchenko. Ecology: The Biology of Interaction Appendices Appendix III. Approximate Seminar Programme