Answers to most of the questions on this exam can each be answered in a single short paragraph. Answers will be evaluated on the basis of accuracy, completeness, logic, conciseness, synthesis of information, and integration of details with the big picture. Partial credit may be given for answers that are partially correct, show internally consistent logic, or are at least imaginative. Conversely, a technically correct but trivial answer will receive less than full credit. Well-constructed, complete sentences are expected. Answers with serious grammatical and spelling errors or very poor handwriting may result in lowering of the grade.

1. You have sampled a population of trees using a 100m*100m grid. There are 360 trees within the grid. What is the mean number of trees per 10m*10m plot? If the variance (s²)per 10m*10m plot is 1.0, is the distribution of these trees random, regular or clumped? What does this suggest about the interaction between these trees? Bonus: Name two possible causes of this distribution.

2.Pignut hickories are more efficient competitors for light than white oaks. White oaks are more efficient at competing for nitrogen than pignut hickories. In a simple sysem with just these two sets of theoretical interactions, what is the most likely outcome of their competition remembering Tilman's diagrams for competition for 2 resources. Explain your answer. Would you expect a different outcome if pignut hickories had a higher intrinsic rate of increase than white oaks? If so, what sort of difference? Would you expect a different outcome if white oaks were also superior competitors for light?

3.Given the following cohort life table and age vector construct a Leslie Matrix. Then project the age distribution one year into the future. Is this population at an age distribution equilibrium? Is the total population increasing, decreasing or constant? Is this organism semelparous or iteroparous?