EEB 2244 CORE MAIN EXAMINATION 2026
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS SURE A+
✔✔Natural selection - ✔✔- One of the mechanisms
behind evolution
-Survival (and
reproduction) of the
fittest (individual)
✔✔Genotype - ✔✔the genes determining the
attribute
✔✔Phenotype - ✔✔physical characteristics of an organism
✔✔Producers - ✔✔or autotrophs—convert
light/chemical energy into resources.
✔✔Consumers - ✔✔—or heterotrophs—obtain their
energy from other organisms.
✔✔Scavengers - ✔✔consume dead animals.
✔✔Detritivores - ✔✔break down dead organic
,matter (i.e., detritus) into smaller particles.
✔✔Decomposers - ✔✔break down detritus into
simpler elements that can be recycled.
✔✔predation - ✔✔+/-
✔✔parasitism - ✔✔+/-
✔✔herbivory - ✔✔+/-
✔✔competition - ✔✔-/-
✔✔mutualism - ✔✔+/+
✔✔commensalism - ✔✔+/0
✔✔niche - ✔✔the range of abiotic and biotic conditions an organism can tolerate
✔✔Scientific method - ✔✔
✔✔Observational studies - ✔✔- Correlations
- No control ->No clear
conclusion
✔✔Manipulative field
experiments - ✔✔- Control and treatment(s)
✔✔Microcosm experiments - ✔✔- Manipulative
- control and treatment(s)
✔✔Laboratory experiments - ✔✔- Manipulative
- control and treatment(s)
✔✔Mathematical models - ✔✔- Simulative
- control and treatment(s)
✔✔Currently discovering species at rates of ______________ new species
a year
-______________ new mammals since 1993 - ✔✔20,000
>400
✔✔Weather: - ✔✔• Describes current conditions
• Irregular & largely
, unpredictable
✔✔Climate: - ✔✔• Describes long
-term patterns
• based on averages and
variation measured over
decades
✔✔Spatial climate patterns depend on: - ✔✔1. Unequal heating with latitude and
season
2. Air circulation and Coriolis effect
3. Ocean currents
4. Miscellaneous other impacts of land and water
✔✔Greenhouse effect facts - ✔✔• Joseph Fourier (1768-1830) "discovered" the
greenhouse effect
• Solar radiation, alone, not enough to warm Earth
• Earth's thick atmosphere (100x that of Mars) acts as an insulator
✔✔Greenhouse effect - ✔✔: the process of solar radiation striking Earth, being
converted to
infrared radiation, and being absorbed and re-emitted by atmospheric gases.
✔✔Near the equator (low
latitudes) solar rays: - ✔✔− strike at 90° angle, energy
spread over a smaller area
− travel a shorter distance, lose
less energy
✔✔Near the poles (high
latitudes) solar rays: - ✔✔- strike at wider angle, same
energy spread over a larger
area
− travel further, lose more
energy
✔✔Solar equator: - ✔✔latitude receiving the most
direct rays of the Sun
✔✔Properties of air: - ✔✔- Warm air is less dense -> rises!
- As air rises and expands, it cools (adiabatic
cooling) and holds less water vapor
- Cold air is more dense -> sinks
- As air sinks and condenses, it warms again
(adiabatic heating) and holds more water
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS SURE A+
✔✔Natural selection - ✔✔- One of the mechanisms
behind evolution
-Survival (and
reproduction) of the
fittest (individual)
✔✔Genotype - ✔✔the genes determining the
attribute
✔✔Phenotype - ✔✔physical characteristics of an organism
✔✔Producers - ✔✔or autotrophs—convert
light/chemical energy into resources.
✔✔Consumers - ✔✔—or heterotrophs—obtain their
energy from other organisms.
✔✔Scavengers - ✔✔consume dead animals.
✔✔Detritivores - ✔✔break down dead organic
,matter (i.e., detritus) into smaller particles.
✔✔Decomposers - ✔✔break down detritus into
simpler elements that can be recycled.
✔✔predation - ✔✔+/-
✔✔parasitism - ✔✔+/-
✔✔herbivory - ✔✔+/-
✔✔competition - ✔✔-/-
✔✔mutualism - ✔✔+/+
✔✔commensalism - ✔✔+/0
✔✔niche - ✔✔the range of abiotic and biotic conditions an organism can tolerate
✔✔Scientific method - ✔✔
✔✔Observational studies - ✔✔- Correlations
- No control ->No clear
conclusion
✔✔Manipulative field
experiments - ✔✔- Control and treatment(s)
✔✔Microcosm experiments - ✔✔- Manipulative
- control and treatment(s)
✔✔Laboratory experiments - ✔✔- Manipulative
- control and treatment(s)
✔✔Mathematical models - ✔✔- Simulative
- control and treatment(s)
✔✔Currently discovering species at rates of ______________ new species
a year
-______________ new mammals since 1993 - ✔✔20,000
>400
✔✔Weather: - ✔✔• Describes current conditions
• Irregular & largely
, unpredictable
✔✔Climate: - ✔✔• Describes long
-term patterns
• based on averages and
variation measured over
decades
✔✔Spatial climate patterns depend on: - ✔✔1. Unequal heating with latitude and
season
2. Air circulation and Coriolis effect
3. Ocean currents
4. Miscellaneous other impacts of land and water
✔✔Greenhouse effect facts - ✔✔• Joseph Fourier (1768-1830) "discovered" the
greenhouse effect
• Solar radiation, alone, not enough to warm Earth
• Earth's thick atmosphere (100x that of Mars) acts as an insulator
✔✔Greenhouse effect - ✔✔: the process of solar radiation striking Earth, being
converted to
infrared radiation, and being absorbed and re-emitted by atmospheric gases.
✔✔Near the equator (low
latitudes) solar rays: - ✔✔− strike at 90° angle, energy
spread over a smaller area
− travel a shorter distance, lose
less energy
✔✔Near the poles (high
latitudes) solar rays: - ✔✔- strike at wider angle, same
energy spread over a larger
area
− travel further, lose more
energy
✔✔Solar equator: - ✔✔latitude receiving the most
direct rays of the Sun
✔✔Properties of air: - ✔✔- Warm air is less dense -> rises!
- As air rises and expands, it cools (adiabatic
cooling) and holds less water vapor
- Cold air is more dense -> sinks
- As air sinks and condenses, it warms again
(adiabatic heating) and holds more water
