1. Describe how the biomass of the earth is organized. You will be able to do this task after reading pg. 793 in your textbook. Also, see figure 40-1. 1 point.

2. Explain why an ecologist must be broadly trained in many areas of biology to be a successful researcher. Use the following example to emphasize your point. As an ecologist, you have been chosen to study the snowshoe hare. List as many aspects about this animal and its environment that you think you would need to know if an in-depth study were funded by the National Science Foundation or the National Geographic Society. 4 points.

3. Except in a few cases, the following statement is true: “Food chains start with a plant.” Why is this true? Describe an exception to this statement. What is the habitate of the exception? 2 points.

4. Use figure 40-4B to answer this question. How can it be possible for there to be less biomass of phytoplankton than zooplankton? Or, asked in another way, how is it possible to have an inverted pyramid of biomass? 1 point.

5. Look at the term “biogeochemical.” What does this composite word mean? 1 point.

6. What about the nitrogen cycle can cause fish to die? 1 point.

7. How can an ecologically dominant species be maintained? How can an ecologically dominant species be replaced? Cite examples other than the ones in the text. 2 points.

8. Explain why exponential growth can occur but cannot be sustained. Use human population growth as an example. What role can the ideas of Thomas Malthus (Chapter 9) play in this answer? 1 point.

9. Examine (figure 40-14). Explain the similarities and differences in the growth curves between ring-necked pheasants and introduced sheep. 1 point.

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