NATIONAL OPEN UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA

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

COURSE CODE: BIO 304 (2 CREDIT UNITS)   

TIME ALLOWED: 2HOURS

COURSE TITLE: GENERAL ECOLOGY

CREDIT UNIT: 2

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

1a        Outline any three safety measures for the maintenance of nuclear power plants. (3 Marks)

1b        Outline and describe the causes of Industrial pollution. (12Marks)

1c        Identify the functional components of a named ecosystem, and describe how they interact to form environmental system. (10marks)

2a        Outline the fundamental steps in the operation of the ecosystem (5marks)

2b        Write short notes on each of the following:

1. Primary Succession  (4marks)

ii          Secondary Succession (3marks)

iii         Climax vegetation (3marks)

3a        Explain any four of the following: (8marks, 2 for each)

i           Primary productivity

ii          Gross Primary productivity

iii         Net primary Productivity

iv         Efficiency of energy transfer

v          Pyramid of Energy

3b        List any three unavoidable and obvious problems created by rapid human population growth (3 Marks)

3c        List and explain any two different life processes taking place within the eco-system. (4Marks)

4a        Enumerate the significance of primary productivity in an ecosystem (3 Marks)

4b        Identify the major attributes of a population (4Marks)

4c        List and describe any three ways for the presentation of demographic data (8marks)

5a        Define the different types of population regulation factors, giving clear examples in each case.(4marks)

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

5c        Outline any five human activities that can improve the quality of the ecosystem from conservation point of view (5marks)