NATIONAL OPEN UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA

UNIVERSITY VILLAGE, PLOT 91, CASDASTRAL ZONE, NNAMDI AZIKIWE EXPRESS WAY, JABI, ABUJA.
FACULTY OF SCIENCES
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018 EXAMINATION

COURSE CODE: BIO 304 (2 CREDIT UNITS)   

TIME ALLOWED: 2HOURS

COURSE TITLE: GENERAL ECOLOGY

INSTRUCTION: Answer question ONE (1) and any other THREE (3) Questions only

1a        What is the significance of primary productivity? (3marks)

1b        Outline and discuss the major biotic components of an ecosystem  (9 Marks)

1c        Identify the functional components of a named ecosystem, and describe how they interact to form environmental system. (9 Marks)

1d        In a single sentence describe how living organisms use energy (4 Marks)

2a        Identify the principal steps in the operation of an ecosystem (5marks)

2b        List and describe any three ways for the presentation of demographic data (10 Marks)

3a        Outline any three human activities that can improve the quality of the ecosystem from conservation point of view (3 Marks)

3b        Briefly, explain each of the following

i           Habitats (2 Marks)

ii          Niches (2 Marks)

iii         Food chain  (2 Marks)

iv         Web (2 Marks)

v          Trophic levels (2 Marks)

vi         Pyramid of numbers (2 Marks)

4a        What is primary productivity (4 Marks)

4b        List and explain the different life processes taking place within the eco-system (6 Marks)

 4c       Briefly describe how the unidirectional energy flow in eco-system takes place (5 Marks)

5a        Enumerate the significance of primary productivity in an ecosystem (4 Marks)

5b        List any two positive and negative Interactions between biotic communities (6 Marks)

5c        List the major steps required to address environmental problems of concern (5 Marks)