NATIONAL OPEN UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA

UNIVERSITY VILLAGE, PLOT 91, CASDASTRAL ZONE, NNAMDI AZIKIWE EXPRESS WAY, JABI, ABUJA.
FACULTY OF SCIENCES
OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019 EXAMINATION

COURSE TITLE: ANIMAL ECOLOGY
COURSE CODE: BIO 313
CRDIT UNIT: 2
TIME ALLOWED: 2 HOURS
INSTRUCTION: ANSWER QUESTION 1 AND ANY OTHER THREE QUESTIONS

1ai. What does the Figure below signify? 1 mark
ii. Give a brief description the features of the chart. 4 marks

b. Discuss the Four abiotic factors that affect population growth. 6 marks
c. Summarise the main types of symbiotic relationships in a table listing the type of relationship and the expected outcomes. 6 marks
d. Succinctly, write on interspecific competition. 8 marks

2a. Distinguish between the following terms:
i. Ecosystem and Ecology 3 marks
ii. Composition and diversity 2 marks
Food Eaten
Death
Excretion
Egestion
Growth
and
Reproduction
Cellular Respiration
Energy to detritus feeders
Energy to consumers
Heat to environment
iii. Habitat and ecological niche 2 marks
b. Describe any four criteria for determining the number of factors in factor analysis. 8marks

3ai. Define animal population control. 2 marks
ii. What is behavioural ecology? 2 marks
b. Using appropriate graphs (3 marks), explain how competition can lead to:
i. Extinction 4 marks
ii. Resource partitioning 4 marks

4a. What is optimization theory in ecology? (6 marks)
b. Illustrate this concept using a typical ectotherm such as the lizard (9 marks)

5a. What is population ecology? 2marks
b. Environment and human have changed the scope of many animals. Discuss 5marks
c. Concisely, write on the habitat (3 marks) and feeding of olive ridley turtle 5marks