Exam 2A. Principles of Ecology. Mar.10, 2010.

Name ________________________________________

This exam has about 113 points with 8 extra credit points possible. I apologize for not asking questions that you
knew the answers to! Many important topics have been overlooked. Here are some useful equations that might
be referenced in the exam. ANSWERS ARE IN RED.

Nt = Noλt Nt = Noert Nt+1 = Nt + roNt(1-Nt/K) Nt = K/(1 + [(K – No)/No] * e –rt)

dN/dt = rN(1-N/K) Ncaptured and marked initially = Nmarked at recapture
Ntotal Ntotal recaptured
dS/dt = - β SI – dS + γR dI/dt = βSI – vI – dI - αI dR/dt = vI – dR - γR
dH/dt = rH – cHP dP/dt = acHP –dP
dN1/dt = r1N1(K1 – N1 – α12N2)/K1 dN2/dt = r2N2(K2 – N2 – α21N1)/K2 Nt+1 = (so B + sa) Nt

Use the ScanTron for these 12 multiple guess questions (4 pts each,48 pts total).

1. The meaning of the zeros on the main diagonal (from upper left to lower right) in the Leslie matrix above is best
described by which of the following statements?
a. The mortality rate for these individuals is zero.
b. The age classes do not reproduce.
c. Individuals stay the same age with a probability equal to zero.
d. All of the above are consistent with these zeros.
e. None of the above.
2. Assume a population grows according to the above Leslie matrix and begins with the provided age distribution
(No). What is the age distribution time step 3 (N3)? Note that the candidate answers below show numbers of
individuals from youngest to oldest. Choose that answer that is closest to what you calculate. The answers below
have been calculated without intermediate rounding of numbers. Feel free to use the diagram to help you calculate
these values.
a. 90, 45, 17.5
b. 90, 70, 5
c. 140, 20, 5
d. 190, 45, 17.5
e. None of the above is close enough. I calculated this: ______, _______, and _______
3. Which of the following correctly represents the estimated value for λ for N1 -> N2?
a. 0.83
b. 1.00
c. 1.53
d. 2.36
e. lambda varies; all of these are possible.

Principles of Ecology, Exam 2 Page 1 of 7

4. A researcher finds a population to have the following genotype frequencies in a one-locus, two-allele system
A1A1 = 20, A1A2 = 20, and A2A2 = 60. If the population was in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, how many
individuals should they have seen of the A1A1 genotype?
a. 9 (40 + 20)/200 = 0.3. Then p2 = 0.32 = 0.09. With 100 individuals we would expect 9.
b. 10
c. 11
d. 20
e. 25
5. The human population grew from about 600 million people to 900 million people from the year 1700 to 1800.
Which of the following is the closest estimate for “r” on a yearly basis during this 100 year time period,
assuming the population grew exponentially?
a. 0.001
b. 0.0025
c. 0.004
d. 0.150
e. 0.041
6. Which of the following statements is most consistent with Cole’s paradox?
a. Female birds are not as choosy in selecting mates as they should be, according to evolutionary theory.
b. Iteroparity and semelparity are the same reproductive strategies.
c. Iteroparity and semelparity are the same strategies if Nt+1 = (so B + sa) Nt.
d. Iteroparity and semelparity are reproductively equivalent if iteroparous individuals produce one extra
offspring.
e. Iteroparity and semelparity are reproductively equivalent if
semelparous individuals produce one extra offspring.
7. The data from damselfish in the graph to the right suggest that
a. their population is in decline.
b. that some populations are in decline, but not all.
c. that stress might function as an intrinsic, density-independent
regulating factor.
d. that stress might function as an intrinsic, density-dependent
regulating factor.
e. that these fish are maturing at younger ages over evolutionary
time.
8. What is the doubling time of a population that changes from 100 to 200
in two years?
a. 1 year.
b. 1.5 years
c. 2.0 years
d. 50 years
e. 100 years
9. The graph to the right represents which of the following
interactions?
a. interspecific competition.
b. intraspecific competition.
c. mutualism.
d. predator-prey.
e. the ant-acacia interaction.
10. The solid point in the graph to the right will move to which of
the other points on the graph?
a. a.
b. b.
c. c.
d. d.
e. none of the above. It is in equilibrium.

Principles of Ecology, Exam 2 Page 2 of 7

11. The data to the right are kind of hard to see. I
showed these in lecture. They represent the
number of wolves in Wisconsin from 1980 –
2007. Considering only these data and knowing
what you know about wolves (and dogs) what
would you tell a wildlife manager is the best
model to approximate their growth rate over this
period?
a. geometric growth.
b. exponential growth
c. Leslie matrix.
d. logistic growth.
e. Lotka-Volterra predator-prey model.
12. Aposematic coloration in animals is a sign to
a. potential mates of willingness to mate.
b. potential mates of reproductive
immaturity (leave me alone!).
c. predators from potential prey, warning of a threat.
d. all of the above.
e. none of the above.

Short Answers

1. The model on the left defines how a population of wolverines changes over time. Analyze the graph on
the left (6 pts). On the right graph provide lines for where each of the four initial starting populations
(dots) goes over time (follow to equilibria if appropriate) (4 pts). Note that the dots on the left graph are
the same starting populations as those on the right graph. (10 pts)

Principles of Ecology, Exam 2 Page 3 of 7

2. In the each of the eight panels to
the right create a single bar graph
for the performance (e.g., # seeds
produced) for these species (e.g.,
Species A = SA) that you would
expected to see from an
experiment that tested and found
interspecific competition
occurring. The two examples on
the right show what you might
provide in the panels (just a
single vertical bar, higher
meaning more seeds, empty
meaning not present). In this test
all plants produce some seeds, if
present. (10 pts, 1 pt each, 2 pts
for free)

3. SIR Model. (10 pts)

a. Draw the compartment model for the SIR model shown as equations on page 1.

b. Derive mathematically ST. Circle your equation for ST. (6 pts)

ST = (d + a + v)/B

c. Provide one ethically responsible recommendation to reduce the prevalence of the disease based
only on this model. (2 pts)

a and B are ethical considerations.

Principles of Ecology, Exam 2 Page 4 of 7

I. ANALYZE THE GRAPH. (20 pts)

1. The segment from point a to b represents ____Allee Effect________ (1 pt) for species __H_ (1 pt).

2. What do the points represent? (1 pt each)

a. point a: ____LSE___________________________________________________
b. point b: ____USE_________________________________________________________
c. point c: ____Not an EQ______________________________________________
d. point d: ___USE____________________________________________________
e point e: ___USE_____________________________________________________

3. What do the following lines represent (provide an equation or written description)? (1 pt each)

f. line f: ____dH/dt = 0__________________________________________________________

g. line g: ____dH/dt = 0______________________________________________________
h. line h: ____dP/dt = 0_______________________________________________________
i. line i: ____dP/dt = 0_______________________________________________________

4. Provide the entire trajectory of the big, solid point on left to it’s equilibrium, assuming it adheres to the
model. (5 pts)

5. Draw the numbers of P and H on the right graph to their equilibria, assuming they start at the big, solid
point in the left diagram. Assume the scales for P and H are the same. (2 pts each, 4 pts total)

Principles of Ecology, Exam 2 Page 5 of 7

1. Describe the four easily observed characteristics of natural selection. (5 pts, -2 pts for first wrong)

a. see syllabus

b.

c.

d.

2. Draw a graph of data that would be consistent with (support) the Herbivore Optimization Hypothesis. Be
sure to label the axes (2 pts each), provide and identify the null hypothesis (2 pts), and provide data as
five vertical bars (for five different levels tested on the x-axis) (4 pts). (10 pts total)

Principles of Ecology, Exam 2 Page 6 of 7

Extraa Credit (2 ptss each)

1. What poppulation biolog gist, whose work

w we discuussed at lengthh in
lecture, diied within thee last two weeeks?

2. What’s thhe biggest problem we disccussed regardiing this graphh?

3. What entiity was seen messing

m up a pot
p of plants in a competittion
experimennt in a lecturee slide?

4. Based on the analysis of

o the data froom the last exxam, who did better?
Men or women?
w

Principles of Ecologgy, Exam 2 Page 7 of 7