Ecology: Theory and Applications
Gaytha A. Langlois, Ph.D.
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 Ecology - Final Exam
Readings: Textbook Chapters assigned for Weeks 8-13
(There will not be a heavy emphasis on the chapters on Air Pollution, Energy Sources, and  Population Growth, however, you should use these text chapters as reference for
terminology and concepts listed below, and for preparing your Special Questions)
Topics
Biomagnification of chemicals in the environment  (e.g., pesticides, heavy metals,
mercury, chlorinated hydrocarbons, radionuclides)
Biodiversity (species diversity, population interactions; exotic species)
Hydrological Cycle (role of transpiration, precipitation,  percolation,
stormwater runoff, groundwater aquifers)
Types of water pollution (e.g., sewage, pathogens, nutrients, organic and inorganic chemicals)
Sewage treatment technology (types of treatment; municipal treatment
facilities (POTWs); ISDS units; stormwater runoff problems)
Land use issues (wetlands protection, drinking water quality, building practices,
drainage runoff, eutrophication, infrastructure costs, etc.)
Problems associated with pesticide use (hormone disrupters; IPM; see questions below)
Chemical toxicants (PCBs, mercury, dioxins, chorinated hydrocarbons, radionuclides)
 Air Pollution problems (major air pollutants; Clean Air Act; sources of emissions;
health effects; acid deposition problems; CFCs; greenhouse gases)
Global environmental issues (e.g., deforestation, toxic chemicals, biodiversity losses,
human overpopulation, stratosphere ozone depletion, global warming, etc.)
Waste management problems (solid waste disposal; toxic wastes, federal laws-RCRA,
TSCA and CERCLA/Superfund; recycling; bioremediation)
Wetlands protection (wetlands regulations for land development; watershed protection programs)
Organisms:  (why?) Pfeisteria piscicida, Homo sapiens, three-toed sloth, zebra mussels, manatees,
bald eagle, Siberian Tiger, brown tree snake, Kudzu)
Important locations (Matunuck, RI; Pamlico estuary, NC; Chernobyl, Ukraine;
Harrisonburg, PA; Minamata Bay, Japan; Davis landfill site, Smithfield, RI;
Bhopal, India; Love Canal, Niagara Falls, NY; Prince William Sound, Alaska)

Special Questions: Prepare ahead of exam; one or more of these will be asked on the final exam. (Do not bring written answers, because you cannot use your notes during the exam)

(1) Identify a common pesticide (by name); describe the pesticide and its use; note any hazards associated with its use; know at least one alternative to using that particular pesticide.
(2) Why doesn't the "average person" know more about toxic compounds in the environment?
(3) What are some of the long-term consequences of the Chernobyl nuclear accident?
(4) Describe one of the "River" Websites prepared by previous Ecology students (see Team Projects); characterize the river's location and note any specific problems presently affecting the river.
    Special Questions II: Prepare ahead of exam. (Bring a word-processed copy of this
    question with you to the exam)
(1) Using the Populations Data Sheet provided with your textbook, or an Internet search engine to find a  "developing" country (i.e., fast-growing).  Characterize the country's population growth rates.  Include a commentary on any complicating circumstances.  What is that country doing to compensate for rapid growth rates?  Include references for sources of information used.  Only word-processed documents will be given full credit.

(2)  Identify one type of "renewable" energy technology and describe how it works, what possible applications one might find available currently, and note any limitations to expansion of this energy source beyond present utilization (including pollutants, excessive costs, mindsets, etc.).  Only word-processed documents will be given full credit.

Specific Terms: Know the term and its context
 Acid Deposition
Belarus
Biodiversity
Biotic Potential
BOD (Biochemical Oxygen Demand)
Bog
Carrying Capacity
Chernobyl
CFCs
Chlorinated Hydrocarbons (e.g., pesticides, dioxins, PCB's)
Chrysotile Fibers
Clean Air Act
Clean Water Act
CSOs
Construction Grants Program
Cultural Eutrophication
Deforestation
Demethylating Bacteria
Dioxins
DO (Dissolved Oxygen)
Effluent
Emission
Endangered Species (know one example)
Endangered Species Act
EPA
Environmental Resistance
Estuary
Eutrophication
EV and Hybrid Vehicles
Exotic Species
Growth Rates of Populations
Imhoff Tank
Immigration/Emigration Rates
IPM
ISDS
J-curve Population Growth
Mediating Receptors in Cells
Mesothelioma
Methane
Methyl Mercury
Mortality Rates
NAAQS
Nitrogen oxides
NPDES
Nuclear Reactor
Oil Pollution Control Act (1990)
100 Year Floodplain
Particulates
Pathogen
PCBs
pH
Pilot Whales
Point Source/Non-point Source
Population Doubling Times
RI-DEM
S-Curve Population Growth
Saltwater Intrusion
Stratospheric Ozone Depletion
Sulfur dioxide
Survivorship Curves
208 Water Quality Plan
Trickling Filter
Trustom Pond
VOCs
Watershed
Wetlands Alteration Permit (R.I.)


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