Prof Ruxton

Question 1

Describe stromatolites.

Answer 1

The oldest fossils: Mounds of sediment and Cyanobacteria which grew and multiplied over a huge amount of time.

Question 2

Give 3 examples of triggers for dramatic change on Earth.

Answer 2

Extra-terrestrial collisions, volcanic activity and life-induced changes.

Question 3

What was the life-induced change during the Cambrian explosion.

Answer 3

High oxygen levels allowed much more life to appear.

Question 4

True/False: Evolution = Progress

Answer 4

False!

Question 5

What is radiant flux density?

Answer 5

The rate of energy passing through unit area perpendicular to the beam.

Question 6

Give 4 causes of lost sun energy.

Answer 6

UV absorption by the ozone, IR absorption by greenhouse gasses, scattering and cloud reflection.

Question 7

How much radiation from the sun is photosynthetically active?

Answer 7

50%

Question 8

What is the maximum efficiency of photosynthesis?

Answer 8

12.5%

Question 9

What is the usual efficiency of photosynthesis?

Answer 9

1% - 3%

Question 10

Why is so essential for there to be so much water in soil for plants?

Answer 10

They must lose huge amounts of water to gain even small amounts of CO2.

Question 11

Which type of waters are most productive?

Answer 11

Temporate

Question 12

Why have lions not evolved to be faster?

Answer 12

Because they have evolved to be effective ambush predators.

Question 13

What is an honest way for zebras to signal detection of a predator?

Answer 13

Using alert posture.

Question 14

What is a way for zebras to signal detection of a predator that can be fake?

Answer 14

Foot stamping.

Question 15

Why do vultures eat cheetah poo?

Answer 15

Cheetahs have a very ineffective metabolism meaning they don’t get all the nutritional or calorific value for their food.

Question 16

What are the costs of cheetahs being so fast?

Answer 16

Small prey only, half of food stolen abc inefficient digestion.

Question 17

How do leopards avoid competition?

Answer 17

Nocturnal hunting and variable diet.

Question 18

What makes African wild dogs such good long distance runners?

Answer 18

Inflexible shoulders, large heart and large lungs.

Question 19

What is an advantage of African wild dogs excellent stamina?

Answer 19

They are able to exhaust large prey.

Question 20

Give 3 advantages of hyenas’ powerful jaws.

Answer 20

Large prey can be disable with one bite, any carcass can be eaten and lions are scared away through fear of being bitten.

Question 21

Give a reason there may be no sabre tooth cats currently.

Answer 21

There is a lack of giant herbivores in the current ecosystem.

Question 22

Requiring water for thermoregulation, low aerobic scope and high lactate tolerance are all characteristics of what type of predator?

Answer 22

Ectothermic predators

Question 23

What is a cost of excellent visual skills in avian predators?

Answer 23

Poor performance at low light levels.