Biosdocumenten[]
Opgeloste examenvragen[]
Document gemaakt in 2022-2023 - mag aangepast worden!
24/01/2023[]
Stoks
- What is a funnel analysis? How does it work and what are the conclusions? (Give figure and associated statistics)
- Formula of Qb is given, explain the variables, what does it mean (use figures)? How can you calculate if it is significant? What does a significant Qb mean?
- Questions from the Nelson article “Predators reduce prey population growth by inducing changes in prey behavior” (figure 1 is given):
- Describe the experimental setup. Which treatment was not included? What would this extra treatment have learned?
- How were the data analyzed?
- Describe the results of the main experiment and interpret them in the light of non-consumptive effects.
- What may have caused the NCE?
- What may be the implications of NCEs for a) the discussion of bottom-up vs top-down control and b) predator-prey dynamics?
- What would be a better title for the article?
Jacquemyn
How can matrix populations be used for invasive species? Illustrate with an example.
De Meester/Souffreau
- Explain isotopic baselines. Why are they important?
- Give the four paradigms of metacommunity ecology. What are their limitations?
- Describe the metabolic theory. How does it help us better understand the impacts of climate change?
02/09/2022[]
Stoks
- What is a funnel analysis? Give associated statistic.
- Statement, true or false: Evolutionary trajectory pattern between direct and risk effects is always negatively correlated
- Questions of the Nelson article
Jacquemyn
- How do you calculate sensitivity matrix?
- How used in prospective and retrospective perturbation analysis?
- Different interpretations of prospective and retrospective perturbation analysis?
De Meester (Souffreau)
- Stoichiometry and link life histories
- Isotopic baselines in aquatic ecosystems, explain.
- In variation partitioning, how would you interpret the 'unxplained variance'?
25/01/2022[]
Stoks
- Table from a meta-analysis that you have to interpret (seen in class, the one with TMI,DMI, two versus three level food chain). You have to answer the questions that are also on the lecture slides: the same ones.
- Explain the relative importance of direct and risk effects. Use figures.
- Questions on the Preisser article (some about the statistics!)
Jacquemyn
- How can you use stochastic projection modelling for management interventions? Give an example.
- How do you calculate the stochastic growth rate?
- Why are the predictions based on stochastic projection modelling often inaccurate? How could this be improved?
De Meester (Souffreau)
- Bacteria can be different on spatial and temporal scale from macro-organisms, discuss.
- Explain 3 examples from isotope-analysis, with a clear hypothesis.
- Why do organisms differ in their C:N:P ratios? What does this have to do with life histories? And predator-prey interactions?
06/01/2022[]
Stoks
- Formula of Qb is given, explain the variables, what does it mean (use figures)? How can you calculate if it is significant? What does a significant Qb mean?
- Statement, true or false: Evolutionary trajectory pattern between direct and risk effects is always negatively correlated
- Article from Trussel: all questions, only figures given
Jacquemyn
- Describe the differences between prospective and retrospective perturbation analysis. Illustrate with a clear example.
- How can prospective perturbation analysis be used to directly calculate the predicted consequences of management intervention against invasive species? Illustrate with an example.
- Could this also be done with a retrospective perturbation analysis? Explain.
De Meester (Souffreau)
- Temperature - Global change. Explain from first principles
- Question about meta-communities and combination with bacterial communities: how kan this differ along trophic levels
- Examples of studies using microorganisms in ecological research, three approaches
13/08/2021[]
Stoks
- What is a funnel analysis? How does it work and what are the conclusions? (Give figure and associated statistics)
- Formula of Qb is given, explain the variables, what does it mean (use figures)? How can you calculate if it is significant? What does a significant Qb mean?
- 5 questions about the Nelson article, graph of results of the two experiments was given:
- What was tested in the experiment? How did they test CE and NCE? What extra experiment could they have done to make the experiment stronger and why?
- How were the data of the experiment analyzed?
- Describe the results and interpret them in the light of CE and NCE.
- What may have caused the NCE?
- What may the implications of NCEs for a) the discussion of bottum-ups vs top-down control of food webs and b) predator-prey dynamics?
Jacquemyn
3 questions about stochastic matrix models: one of them was how to calculate stochastig growth rate.
De Meester
- Give three different applications of stable isotopes. What are isotopic baselines and why are they important?
- Temperature - Global change. Explain from first principles
- Question about meta-communities and combination with bacterial communities...
19/01/2021[]
Stoks
- Explain the importance of direct effects and risk effects on the population dynamics of elk and wolves (figure is given with post-birth rates and winter rates).
- What is a funnel analysis? How does it work and what are the conclusions? (Give figure and associated statistics)
- 4 questions about the Preisser article.
Jacquemyn
- Describe the differences between prospective and retrospective perturbation analysis. Illustrate with a clear example.
- How can prospective perturbation analysis be used to directly calculate the predicted consequences of management intervention against invasive species? Illustrate with an example.
- Could this also be done with a retrospective perturbation analysis? Explain.
De Meester
- Explain 3 examples from isotope-analysis, with a clear hypothesis.
- Give 2 examples of how micro-organisms can be used based on different ecological theories. (or something like that) Illustrate each with an experiment.
- Stoichiometry: How do organisms maintain their elemental composition? Why does stoichiometry differs among organisms? Can you link this to life history?
22/01/2020[]
Stoks (oral)
- Table from a meta-analysis that youo have to interpret (seen in class, the one with TMI,DMI, two versus three level food chain.
- Fail-safe number
- Questions from the Nelson article (same questions as in class
Jacquemyn
- show how you can calculate a sensitivity matrix
- how is a ssensitivity matrix used/important in prospective and retrospective perturbation analysis
- difference between pro-and retroperturbation analysis in terms of interpretation
De Meester
- Temperature - global change, based on first principles.
- patch dynamics
- Explain 3 examples from isotope-analysis, with a clear hypothesis.
- Microbial metacommunity view, and how to link with the four paradigms from Leibold et al.
23/01/2020[]
Jacquemyn (oral)
- Describe the differences between prospective and retrospective perturbation analysis. Illustrate with a clear example.
- How can prospective perturbation analysis be used to directly calculate the predicted consequences of management intervention against invasive species? Illustrate with an example.
- Could this also be done with a retrospective perturbation analysis? Explain.
Stoks
- Lotka-Volterra is given. How can you (a) increase direct effects and (b) increase indirect effects.
- What is the expected pattern between direct and risk effects when the predation pressure increases. What evolutionary trajectories can be expected within one prey population.
De Meester
- How can you interpret a significant spatial signal.
- Micro-organisms can be different on spatial and temporal scale from macro-organisms, explain.
- Metabolic theory and how does this help us better understand the impacts of climate change.
- Give three different applications of stable isotopes
10/01/2020[]
Stoks (oral)
- Explain the relative importance of direct effects and risk effects on the population dynamics of elk and wolves (figure is given with post-birth rates and winter rates).
- The formula rN = (b((E/t)tf - X) - m - e)N - i is given. Define each term and explain how predation risk might affect it. Also give examples for each term
- Four questions about Preisser et al. 2007
De Meester
- Metabolic theory. A) Define metabolic theory. B) Discuss the relationship between metabolic rate and body mass. C) Discuss a prediction of the metabolic theory.
- Discuss the species-area curve for microbial organisms.
- Briefly sketch the four paradigms of metacommunity theory, and explain how they differ from each other.
Jacquemyn
- Describe the differences between prospective and retrospective perturbation analysis. Illustrate with a clear example.
- How can prospective perturbation analysis be used to directly calculate the predicted consequences of management intervention against invasive species? Illustrate with an example.
- Could this also be done with a retrospective perturbation analysis? Explain.
24/01/2019[]
Stoks (oral)
- How to detect file drawer problem?
- 7 questions about the paper 'The fear of being eaten reduces energy transfer in a simple food chain'
Jacquemain
- How to calculate a sensitivity matrix?
- Sensitivity matrix are used in different ways in prospective and retrospective perturbation analysis, explain.
- Difference between pro- and retrospective.
De Meester
- How to improve spatial model
- Global change, and function of oxygen in this
- Stoichiometry: How do organisms maintain their elemental composition? Why does stoichiometry differs among organisms? Give three consequences?
23/01/2019[]
Jaquemyn (Oral):
- How can you use stochastic projection modelling for management interventions?
- How do you calculate the stochastic growth rate?
- What are some problems with stochastic projection modelling?
Stoks:
- Formula of Qb is given, explain the variables, what does it mean (use figures)? What does a significant Qb mean?
- What is the relative importance of direct effects and risk effects?
- 5 questions of the (2004, Nelson) paper.
De Meester:
- What are the differences between bacterial communities and macro organisms on a spatial and temporal scale?
- Explain the spatial signal
- What is the metabolic theory and what are its key predictions?
17/01/2019[]
Jacquemyn (Oral):
- What is the difference between retrospective and prospective perturbation analysis? Explain with an example.
- How can you use perturbation analysis to check if management interventions on an invasive species are effective?
- Can you also use retrospective perturbation analysis to check this?
Stoks:
- Explain the importance of direct effects and risk effects on the population dynamics of elk and wolves (figure is given with post-birth rates and winter rates).
- What is a funnel analysis? How does it work and what are the conclusions? (Give figure and associated statistics)
- 4 questions about the Pleisser article.
De Meester:
- Give the four paradigms of meta-community ecology. Relate this to the microbial community composition. How does this relates to the "everything is everywhere" hypothesis in microbial ecology
- Explain isotopic baselines. Why are they important? Give three examples of research where isotopic baselines can be used.
- Temperature is important in determining species abundance and dispersal. Explain from first principles.
30/08/2018[]
Stoks
- How to detect file drawer problem?
- 7 questions about the paper 'The fear of being eaten reduces energy transfer in a simple food chain'
Jacquemain
- How to calculate a sensitivity matrix?
- Sensitivity matrix are used in different ways in prospective and retrospective perturbation analysis, explain.
- Difference between pro- and retrospective.
De Meester
- Interpretation of spatial signal.
- Temperature is important in determining species abundance and dispersal. Explain from first principles.
- Stoichiometry: How do organisms maintain their elemental composition? Why does stoichiometry differs among organisms? Can you link this to life history?
25/01/2018[]
Stoks (written)
- Explain Qb
- Explain figure about decrease in elk calves and wolf presence
- Questions about article 3
Jacquemyn (oral)
- Give 2 examples of inference
- Explain statistical tools to counter inference (randomization : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zIaY2EwzN4)
De Meester (oral)
- Metabolic theory and effect of climate change
- Interpretations of significant spatial signal
- Examples of isotopic applications. Explain isotopic baselines
- Bacterial community explained by strong local factor
18/01/2018[]
Jacquemin (written)
- biotic interaction - influences on population dynamics. Give two examples
- matrix population models - determine importance of these interactions (perturbation analyse)
Stoks (oral)
- QB (formula is given)
- relative importance of risk and direct effect (linear and curved trade off curves)
- article of damsel bugs and pea aphids (three treatments, statistics, fecundity, bottom up and top down, prey-predator interaction,...)
De Meester (oral)
- Patch dynamics (trade-off between dispersal and competiton)
- Difference between micro and macro-organisms (spatial and temporal)
- Three application of isotopes (migration, food web and euthropication)
- Stoichometry and life history (P content- growth rate - RNA)
06/09/2017[]
Stoks (oral)
- Which two methods can be used to detect a file drawer problem?
- Questions about paper 'fear of being eaten...'
De Meester (written)
- How to interpret a spatial signal?
- Temperature is important in determining species abundance and dispersal. Explain from first principles
- How do organisms maintain their elemental composition? Can you link this to selection strategies?
Jacquemin (written)
- Plants interact with many different species. Examples? Interactions?
- How can matrix population models be of use in determining the impacts of different interactions?
27/01/2014[]
Stoks (oral)
- Which two methods can be used to detect a file drawer problem?
- Five questions about the paper on damselbugs and aphids (figure 1 was given)?
De Meester (oral)
- How to interpret a spatial signal?
- Three applications about stable isotopes and explain isotopic baseline
Honnay (written)
- How can you close the yield gap using the components of aggrobiodiversity?
Jacquemyn (written)
- Isolation barriers: pre- and postzygotic mechanisms
- which calculations do you need for total, absolute and relative contributions + give an example
23/01/2014[]
Jacqemyn (oral):
- The orchids are a very large family, explain the different models of speciation we have seen and give an example for each.
Stoks (oral):
- Explain, using figures (!), the relative importance of direct and risk effects.
- Questions about the paper on active and sit-and-pursue predators (hypothesis, how did they test it, conclusions, fail-safe number, ...)
De Meester:
- Different paradigms of metacommunity theory, how does this relate to body size. How can you apply this to microbial communities?
Honnay:
- Definition of Crop Wild Relatives and give two examples.
- Discuss extensively: 'The in situ preservation of Crop Wild Relatives is to be preferred because of the free aspect of evolution" (or something like that)
24/01/2013[]
Jacqemyn (oral): + Honnay
- orchid mycorrhizal fungi how do they act as post-zygote reproductive barriers (bit more explanations but this what I can remember). also give an example. (vb. orchids)
Stoks (oral):
- equation of QB: explain and what is it for.
- explain the relative importance of direct and risk effect (draw the graphs and explain)
- questions about the article with the meta-analysis
De Meester:
- what can isotopes learn for ecology and what are isotopic baselines
- describe the 4 metacommunity paradigms and how does this relates to the "everything is everywhere" hypothesis in microbial ecology
26/01/2012 am[]
Jacqemyn (oral):
- Due to invasive species, the native population of an organism decreases. How can you use matrix models to give good guidelines on how to stop the decrease of the native species and halt the fast expansion of the invasive species.
Stoks (oral):
- Define: Meta-analysis & fail-safe number
- What is the relative importance of direct killing and risk effects?
- 7 questions about one of the papers (variables? how analysed?...)
De Meester
- Define the 4 metacommunity paradigms.
- How are they in microbial communities and how does this relate to 'everything is everywhere'
- How are the different isotopes distributed in the life cycle of an ecosystem. Highlight the importance of the distribution on ecology.
Honnay
- Give 2 examples of nature management where genetic differentiation/erosion can be present.
- Clearly explain the mechanics of the genetic differentiation & erosion.
26/01/2012 pm[]
Jacquemyn (oral):
- What is the difference between prospective and retropective perturbation analysis? How can you apply this to exotic species?
Honnay (written):
- What are the problems with ex situ conservation?
De Meester (oral):
- Evolution can take place on a short time scale. What are the implications to ecology and how does this change the classic view on conservation. (tell him a summary about what he told us during his class on 'eco-evolutionary dynamics')
- What is the isotopic baseline in relation to research on food webs?
Stoks (written):
- Explain:
- Sequential Bonferroni test
- Hedges' d
- Formule N(t+1) = (rNt / 1+bNt^c) - aNtPt is given. How can you similate (a) a stronger consumptive effect and (b) increasing risk effects?
- Give 2 methods to detect a file-drawer problem?
30/01/12[]
Stoks (written):
- Explain density mediated indirect effect and another term I've forgotten
- Formule of Qb : what does this mean and if it is significant, what does it indicate ?
- Graphic of Elks and wolves in Yellowstone, you have to give the complete explanation as given in the course
Jacquemin (oral) :
- What are randomization tests and how do they function in demographic analysis, give two examples (Bootstrap and Permutation)
De Meester (oral)
- Draw the relation between habitat connectivity and trait adaption and relate to evolution and species sorting
- Give the three fundamental principles on which general ecological predictions can be made and how does temperature relate to these ? (Metabolic theory, stochiometric stuff and O2)
Honnay (writtten) :
- What are the pro and contra's of ex situ conservation? Discuss shortly.