2015 Essay Questions - Biology printable pdf download

Tropical Biology — San Salvador 2015

The list of questions that follows this introduction is intended to provide you with a focus

in keeping field notes and in writing your papers for the tropical biology course. Your field notes

should include coverage of both terrestrial and marine ecosystems as the course progresses.

Naturally, you may include appropriate phenomena not directly addressed by the questions when

answering them. You will not be penalized for evidence of thinking or for speculation! Please

note that library research is expected but we are also looking for your in-person observations of

ecosystems on San Salvador.

In this course you must turn in three papers. All students will write one essay on

terrestrial ecosystems and one essay on marine ecosystems. All students must also submit a

transect survey field report (see additional handouts). Each of these papers must follow the

guidelines. Failure to submit the required papers at college-level quality, will result in a grade of

"F" for the course.

In grading your papers, the instructors will take into consideration your major, your class-

level, and the science courses that you have taken (including Tropical Biology-Belize/Costa

Rica). It is expected that seniors with much experience will submit focused, insightful, synthetic,

and well-written papers. The expectations for underclassmen are adjusted to account for less

experience. The attached cover sheet must accompany your papers to assist the grading process.

Finally, keep in mind that the instructors' observations of your attitude and attention during the

field section of this course also contribute to your final course grade.

Terrestrial Ecosystem

In your first paper, respond to the following:

In what ways have San Salvador's geographic location, geologic origin and climate

influenced its terrestrial flora and fauna? In answering this question, you should consider:

• the native terrestrial flora and fauna present at the time Columbus landed and the flora

and fauna present now; and

• how the plant communities presently inhabiting San Salvador compare with those of

the continents and other islands in the region (e.g., Caribbean; Bermuda) with regard

to taxonomic diversity (e.g., species genera, families, etc.) and relative abundance

(predominant versus rare plants), and

• the reasons for the observed patterns in the distribution, diversity and abundance.

Marine Ecosystem

In your second paper, respond to the following:

In what ways have San Salvador's geographic location, geologic origin and climate

influenced its marine flora and fauna? In answering this question, you should consider:

• the native marine flora and fauna present at the time Columbus landed and the flora

and fauna now; and

• how the coral reef communities (i.e., algae; corals and other invertebrates; fish) of

San Salvador compare to those of other islands in the region (e.g., Caribbean;

Bermuda) with regard to taxonomic diversity (e.g., species, genera, families, etc.) and

relative abundance (predominant versus rare organisms), and

• the reasons for the observed patterns in the distribution, diversity and abundance.

2015 Essay Questions - Biology