department of animal and plant sciences …/file/level2exam... · illustrate your answer with named...

APS 206

APS206

DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL AND PLANT SCIENCES Autumn Semester 2013-2014

BIOTECHNOLOGY AND FOOD SECURITY 1 Hour 30 Minutes

Answer TWO questions. Write your answer to each question in a separate blue answer book. Write the appropriate question number on the front of the blue answer book. Your answers should include named examples, and diagrams where appropriate.

1. Can crops meet the need for both food and biofuels required by an expanding

global population?

2. Discuss the factors that affect light interception by crop plants. How has light

interception changed in crop plants in the past and how might it possibly be

manipulated in the future?

3. Why has the development of Golden Rice been so difficult? Critically assess the

biological and social issues that have arisen and how these might be overcome.

4. How might the risk of GM crops to human health or the environment differ from

that of conventionally grown varieties? Your answer should be based on a critical

assessment of evidence.

5. Outline the major biological control strategies and critically assess their

advantages and limitations for the control of weeds and insect pests.

END OF QUESTION PAPER

APS216

APS216 END OF PAPER

DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL AND PLANT SCIENCES Spring Semester 2013-2014

PLANT, CELL AND ENVIRONMENT 1 Hour 30 Minutes

Answer TWO questions. Write your answer to each question in a separate blue answer book. Write the appropriate question number on the front of the blue answer book.

Your answers should include named examples and diagrams where appropriate.

1. Discuss the role of the vacuole in allowing plants to survive different environmental stresses.

2. Discuss some of the structural (i.e. physical not biochemical) changes that allow plants to

survive in desert environments.

3. How do plants tolerate chilling and freezing conditions? How do these adaptations affect the

landscapes that we see?

4. How do plants sense their internal and external environments so that they flower at an

appropriate time?

5. Phytochrome is a sophisticated photoreceptor. How do plants use phytochrome responses

to control seed germination and seedling development in response to environmental cues?

END OF EXAMINATION PAPER

APS209

APS209 1 TURN OVER


ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR 1 Hour 30 Minutes

DATA PROVIDED Computer cards PLEASE LEAVE THIS EXAM PAPER ON YOUR DESK. DO NOT REMOVE IT FROM THE HALL.

Read the following section carefully Answer ONE question from SECTION A and ALL of the multiple choice questions from SECTION B. Section A and section B are worth equal marks. Write your answer to SECTION A in a blue answer book and write the question number on the front. Your answers to SECTION B should be marked on the computer card. Ensure that you have written your candidate number on the computer card and filled in the box underneath. In SECTION B each correct answer is worth 1 mark. A guessing correction will be applied of minus one third of a mark for each incorrect answer. If you have no idea of the answer fill in box E to abstain; the guessing correction will not then be applied. YOU MUST FILL IN A BOX (A, B, C, D OR E) FOR EACH QUESTION. In each case, only one answer is correct. SECTION B contains 25 questions. Check now to ensure that all 11 pages are printed. Candidate number from U-Card (9 digits) – to be completed by student

APS209

APS209 11 END OF PAPER

SECTION A Answer ONE question only

Answer ONE question in essay format. Your essay should provide evidence of a thorough

understanding of the appropriate special readings and the ability to synthesise and compare and to

relate to the wider picture as discussed in lectures and the course book. Your essay must answer the

question as written and may include diagrams, equations etc. if appropriate.

1. Vallin et al. (2005) conducted an experimental study to explore predator avoidance behaviour in

peacock butterflies, while Hunter et al. (2000) employed an observational study to investigate

sperm competition in Adélie penguins. Describe these studies and comment on the suitability of the

experiments/observations for the particular questions being addressed. Put these studies into a wider

context by discussing, with reference to other behavioural research, the relative merits and failings

of an experimental versus an observational approach to studies of behaviour.

Vallin, A., Jakobsson, S., Lind, J., Wiklund, C. (2005). Prey survival by predator intimidation: an

experimental study of peacock butterfly defence against blue tits. Proc. R. Soc. (Lond.) B. 272:

1203-1207.

Hunter F.M., Harcourt R., Wright M. and Davis L.S. (2000). Strategic allocation of ejaculates by

male Adélie penguins. Proc. R. Soc. (Lond.) B 267:1541-1545.

2. Males and females are often in conflict over mating. This can lead to an arms race with each sex

battling to gain control. Crudgington and Siva-Jothy (2000) found that male Callosobruchus beetles

inflict damage on females during mating and that females attempt to limit the damage by kicking

the male off after sperm transfer is complete. While Pizzari and Birkhead (2000) showed that

female feral fowl eject the sperm of subordinate males. Compare and contrast the reproductive

strategies of male and female Callosobruchus beetles to those of male and female feral fowl to

show both similarities and differences and discuss the findings in terms of which sex is currently in

control. Finally, put these results into a wider context by discussing, with reference to other studies,

how the evolutionary approach to animal behaviour enables scientists to understand conflict

between individuals.

Crudgington, H. S., Siva-Jothy, M. J. (2000). Genital damage, kicking and early death. Nature 407:

855-856.

Pizzari T. and Birkhead T. (2000). Female feral fowl eject sperm of subdominant males. Nature

405: 787-789.

3. Recognition systems play a critical role in the evolution of social behaviour because individuals

need to recognise individuals with whom it is evolutionarily beneficial to cooperate. In particular,

since kin selection has played such a pivotal role in the evolution of cooperative behaviour, it will

often be beneficial to discriminate kin from non-kin. Sharp et al. (2005) studied the kin recognition

mechanism in a cooperatively breeding bird, the long-tailed tit Aegithalos caudatus, and showed

that they use vocal recognition cues that are learned during early development for kin

discrimination. Keller & Ross (1998) described a different recognition mechanism, dubbed a ‘green

beard’ gene, in the red fire ant Solenopsis invicta. Describe the principles underlying these two

recognition mechanisms and discuss their advantages and disadvantages.

Keller L. & Ross K.G. (1998) Selfish genes: a green beard in the red fire ant. Nature 394: 573-575.

APS209


Sharp S.P., McGowan A., Wood M.J. & Hatchwell B.J. (2005) Learned kin recognition cues in a

social bird. Nature 434: 1127-1130.

SECTION B

Answer ALL 25 questions

APS 211

APS211

THIS PAPER MUST NOT BE REMOVED FROM THE EXAMINATION HALL


INSECTS 1 Hour 30 Minutes

Answer TWO questions. The question in SECTION A (Student Centred Learning Exercise) and ONE of the questions from SECTION B. Write the appropriate question number on the front of the blue answer book. Your answers should include named examples, and diagrams where appropriate.

SECTION A (Student Centred Learning Exercise) 1) Write an essay on an aspect of the biology of a named insect taxon.

SECTION B 2) The transition from an aquatic to a terrestrial habitat early in the evolutionary

history of insects was achieved by moving through a bridging habitat. Discuss the important adaptations that arose from and facilitated this transition.

3) Why are beetles so diverse? 4) Before the Carboniferous, insects are represented by a few apterygote species.

After a gap in the fossil record insects reappear as a diverse winged taxon. Discuss current ideas about the evolution of flight in insects.


APS 220

APS220



EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY 1 Hour 30 Minutes

Answer TWO questions (one from Section A and one from Section B). Write your answer to each question in a separate blue answer book. Write the appropriate question number on the front of the blue answer book. Your answers should include named examples, and diagrams where appropriate.

SECTION A (answer ONE question)

1. What constrains adaptation?

2. Discuss how mechanisms of natural and sexual selection can interact to lead

to speciation.

3. Discuss the significance of frequency-dependent selection.

SECTION B (answer ONE question)

4. What are the evolutionary costs and benefits of sex?

5. Evolution is influenced by genotype by environment (GxE) interactions and

thus fitness can be considered a property of such interactions. Abiotic environments certainly influence individual fitness but biotic environments are also critical. Discuss how evolutionary responses are influenced by the biotic environment of either: a) the opposite sex, or b) other species.

6. Discuss the role of evolutionary developmental biology in our understanding

of the evolution of animal diversity, using examples of particular genes to support your argument.


APS 223

APS223



WORLD ECOSYSTEMS 1 Hour 30 Minutes

Answer TWO questions (ONE from SECTION A and ONE from SECTION B). Write your answer to each question in a separate blue answer book. Write the appropriate question number on the front of the blue answer book. Your answers should include named examples, and diagrams where appropriate.

SECTION A (answer ONE question)

1. What changes do you expect to see in Arctic environments and ecosystems in 100 years’ time?

2. Discuss the feedbacks between deforestation and climate at the global and

regional scales. Draw on examples from tropical rainforest and Mediterranean ecosystems to illustrate your answer.

3. Using named examples, describe how conifers are adapted to the boreal

forest environment?

SECTION B (answer ONE question)

4. Discuss the responses of wetland structure and composition to current and future environmental change. Illustrate your answer with named case studies.

5. Outline the adaptations of mediterranean plant species to climate and fire. To what extent have these been shaped by convergent evolution in geographically isolated mediterranean-type climate regions?



Data Provided Computer cards THIS PAPER MUST NOT BE REMOVED FROM THE EXAMINATION HALL


PALAEOBIOLOGY 1 Hour 30 Minutes

READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY

1. Answer ONE of the three essay questions in Section A (write your answer in a blue answer book) and all of the multiple choice questions in Section B (mark your answers on the computer card supplied.

2. Make sure that you write your U-Card number on the computer answer sheet.

3. Marks are allocated equally between Section A and Section B.

4. Section B contains 25 questions. Check now to ensure that all 8 pages of the

paper are printed.

5. When completing the computer card use an HB pencil. DO NOT USE A PEN. Mark only one answer and make sure that any mistakes are erased completely. Do not write additional comments on the card. If you have spoiled the card, ask the invigilator for a new card.

6. In SECTION B each correct answer is worth 1 mark. A guessing correction will be applied of minus one third of a mark for each incorrect answer. If you have no idea of the answer fill in box E to abstain; the guessing correction will not then be applied. YOU MUST FILL IN A BOX (A, B, C, D OR E) FOR EACH QUESTION.

7. Fill in your candidate number in the box below. Candidate number from U-Card (9 digits) – to be completed by student

Section A – Essay question

Answer ONE question

1. Discuss the different sources of evidence used to reconstruct environments of the

geological past?

2. Why is it important to consider palaeontological evidence when attempting to

understand the modern biota?

3. How are fossils analysed in order to discover how extinct dinosaurs and hominoids

moved?

Section B – Multiple choice questions

25 questions. Answer all questions.

APS271 1 TURN OVER



CONSERVATION PRINCIPLES 1 Hour 30 Minutes


1. Answer ONE of the three essay questions in part 1 (write your answer in a blue answer book) and all of the multiple choice questions in part 2 (questions 1-20). Mark your answers on the computer card supplied.

2. Marks are allocated equally between Part 1 and Part 2.


4. When completing the computer card use an HB pencil. DO NOT USE A PEN. Mark only one answer and make sure that any mistakes are erased completely. Do not write additional comments on the card. If you have spoiled the card, ask the invigilator for a new card.

5. Each question in the multiple choice/multiple completion section is worth one

mark. Of the possible options in the multiple choice/multiple completion section - A,B,C or D - only one is correct.

6. A guessing correction will be applied of minus one third mark for each incorrect answer. If you have no idea of the answer fill in box E to abstain; the guessing correction will not then be applied. YOU MUST FILL IN A BOX (A, B, C, D or E) FOR EACH QUESTION.

7. Fill in your registration number in the box below.

Your registration number will begin with 013 if you commenced your studies in 2013.

Do NOT enter your library card number by mistake.

Registration number from U-Card (9 digits) – to be completed by student

APS271 2 TURN OVER

Part 1 – Essay question Answer ONE question

1. You have been employed to assess the magnitude of exploitation of the fish Hilsa ilisa in Bangladesh. It forms the basis of a commercially important local and export fishery. It is an anadromous fish of the Clupeid family occupying rivers, estuaries and marine environments but very little is known about its ecology. What data do you need to collect, how and why?

2. You are in charge of protected areas in a tropical country. These have been established in a largely unplanned manner taking advantage of opportunities as they arose. The World Bank promises to give the country major investment in developing its infrastructure if it devises a strategy to improve this network of protected areas with the aim of maximising their contribution to conservation now and in the future. Describe the plan of action that you would propose to the World Bank and how you would collect the data required to implement the plan?

3. A migratory songbird that used to be common and widespread across its European breeding grounds has declined by 70%. It breeds in woodland and scrub, and winters in more open woodland in West Africa south of the Sahara. You have been given 5 years to identify the main courses of population decline. Describe and justify the research programme that you would conduct to achieve this.

APS271 3 TURN OVER

Part 2 Multiple choice questions 20 questions.

APS272 1 TURNOVER



ANIMAL DIVERSITY 2 Hours


1. Answer TWO of the five essay questions in part 1 (write the answer to each question in a different blue answer book) and all of the multiple choice questions in part 2 (questions 1-25). Mark your answers on the computer card supplied. Check now to ensure that all 8 pages are printed.

2. Marks are allocated equally between the first essay question, the second essay question and Part 2.


4. When completing the computer card use an HB pencil. DO NOT USE A PEN.

Mark only one answer and make sure that any mistakes are erased completely. Do not write additional comments on the card. If you have spoiled the card, ask the invigilator for a new card.

5. Each question in the multiple choice section is worth one mark. Of the

possible options in the multiple choice section - A,B,C or D - only one is correct.

6. A guessing correction will be applied of minus one third mark for each incorrect answer. If you have no idea of the answer fill in box E to abstain; the guessing correction will not then be applied. YOU MUST FILL IN A BOX (A, B, C, D or E) FOR EACH QUESTION.

7. Fill in your candidate number in the box below.

Your registration number will begin with 013 if you commenced your studies in 2013.

Do NOT enter your library card number by mistake.

Registration number from U-Card (9 digits) – to be completed by student

APS272 2 TURNOVER

Part 1 – Essay question Answer TWO questions

1. The Chondrichthyes is a successful group. Discuss.

2. Compare and contrast the marine, freshwater and terrestrial environments as habitats for animals.

3. The molluscs are a morphologically diverse group. Discuss.

4. The cnidarians are simple animals. Discuss.

5. Feathers evolved in dinosaurs prior to birds and not necessarily for flight

initially – why would dinosaurs be covered in feathers and how did flight evolve during the evolution of birds from theropod dinosaurs?

APS272 3 TURNOVER

Part 2 Multiple choice questions 25 questions.


SYMBIOSIS 1 Hour 30 Minutes

DATA PROVIDED Computer cards PLEASE LEAVE THIS EXAM PAPER ON YOUR DESK. DO NOT REMOVE IT FROM THE HALL.

Read the following section carefully

Answer ALL of the multiple choice questions in section A and answer ONE question in section B. Section A and section B are worth equal marks. Your answers to SECTION A should be marked on the computer card. Ensure that you have written your candidate number on the computer card and filled in the box underneath. Write your answer to SECTION B in a blue answer book and write the question number on the front. In SECTION A each correct answer is worth 1 mark. A guessing correction will be applied of minus one third of a mark for each incorrect answer. If you have no idea of the answer fill in box E to abstain; the guessing correction will not then be applied. YOU MUST FILL IN A BOX (A, B, C, D OR E) FOR EACH QUESTION. In each case, only one answer is correct. SECTION A contains 25 questions. Check now to ensure that all 8 pages are

printed. Candidate number from U-Card (9 digits) – to be completed by student


Section A Answer ALL 25 questions.

Section B Answer ONE question. Your answer should include named examples and diagrams where appropriate.

1. Using named examples, explain how host community structure is influenced by

symbionts.

2. Using named examples, discuss the mechanisms through which parasites manipulate host behaviour.

3. Using named examples, compare and contrast the structure and function of plant adaptations that facilitate plant-ant symbioses.

END OF EXAMINATION PAPER

department of animal and plant sciences …/file/level2exam... · illustrate your answer with named...

Documents