Study Guide for Quiz 1

Time and format:

• starts Thur Oct 29 at 10 am, ends at 11:15 (the proctor will walk out of the room)
• multiple choice and short written answer
• no "green" book or scantron required
• if you finish early you must leave very quietly

Value and scoring:

• The quiz covers the first 8 lectures
• The quiz will be worth 25 points
• There will be four types of questions (and number on quiz)
  • simple definition of vocabulary terms (7 one-point questions)
  • multiple choice answers on concepts (3 two-point questions)
  • multiple choice answers on details of the three viewers (3 two-point questions)
  • short answer on using different perspectives to address environmental problems (2 three-point questions)
• unreadable answers will not get points

Material you are responsible for:

• Lectures, especially as represented by the lecture notes on the web
• Readings that were assigned in Wikipedia or Encyclopedia Earth
• Chapters on multiple perspectives

Example questions:

Vocabulary questions will be pulled from the list below. They will be in a format such as "Define primary producer".

Multiple choice on the concepts will be very similar to those on the mini-quizzes. The main concepts are the ones that I devoted time to in class. These questions are not meant to be tricky, but you are to choose the best, most complete answer. An alternative answer may be true but not correct because it is not as complete as one of the alternatives.

For example: What is the difference

Multiple choice on details of the viewers will be similar to what was asked on the mini-quizzes. The difference in these questions is that you should focus you answer on the chapter readings. The answer should be very straightforward.

Example 1: What is the best example of a "steady state" system is:

a. Water flowing into a tub.
b. Water flowing out of a tub through a slight leak.
c. Water dripping into a tube and building up until it flows out the overflow.
d. Telling your butler to turn off the water in the tub when it reaches 102 degrees.

"c" is the best answer because it is the most complete. a and b are just part of a steady steate.

Example 2: The resilience of a network is determined by:

a. How far the network can be perturbed and yet still stay intact.
b. The stability of a network under stress.
c. One of multiple-possible steady state conditions for a system.
d. How fast the network bounces back from a destructive event.

"a" is the best alternative, although the others are all related.

 

Short answer essays will address how well you can bring together vocabulary, concepts and the viewers. You will be expected to answer a question using specific vocabulary.

Example: Describe the importance of understanding the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere and controlling factors when proposing solutions.

There are many ways to address this question, but they would hit the following points:

steady state or reservoir of CO2 in atmosphere
possible feedbacks control
choices to reduce input or process output

You should think about how you can use one of the views (or more than one) to analyze (take apart) the problem and then focus on what that analysis tells you. The questions will not be asking for "the correct solution" to a problem, but more about how to address these problems.

 

Vocabulary List - by lecture

Lecture 1: wicked problems, adaptive management, scientific paradigm, world views (cornucopian, industrial ecologist, committed environmentalist, deep ecologist), problem based science, curisoity based science	Lecture 2: CPR problem, modernism (with respect to science), traditional view of science vs. emerging view (dynamic)
Lecture 3: "solve in the pattern", patterns of interaction, metaphor, likelihood vs. proof of cause, precautionary principle, risk, uncertainty	Lecture 4: logistic model, landscape process, mosaic, cellular automata,
Lecture 5: metabolism, closed system, open system, mass and energy balance, steady state, positive or negative feedback, trophic levels (primary producers, first level consumers, secondary consumers, detritivores, omnivores) population, community, ecosystem	Lecture 6: photosynthesis, carbon dioxide fixation, co-flow model, competition, predator-prey, energy or biomass "pyramid"
Lecture 7: hydrologic cycle, evapotranspiration, C,Nor P cycle, Haber-Bosch process, fast-slow processes, tipping point or threshold	Lecture 8: boom & bust, irruptions, food webs, food chain, keystone species, stability from week links