Graduate Take-Home Exam
This exam is open-book, open-notes. Please do not collaborate on your
responses, but let us know if clarification is required.
Submit your responses by 9 April 1999 at 1:00 p.m. Please type your
answers (double-spaced). Adhere strictly to the indicated length limits.
- Design a realistic role-playing exercise that can be used to
illustrate concepts associated with ecosystem management (e.g.,
cooperation, ethics, adaptive management). The exercise should be based
on an actual event, and you should indicate key decisions that were made.
The event need not be based on recent events. [50 points]
In-Class Exam
For multiple-choice questions, circle the letter associated with the
single best answer.
- Determine site index of two sites, each of which has height of
ponderosa pine (feet) shown at age 20 years, 40 years, 60 years, 80
years, 100 years, 120 years, and 140 years, respectively. [6 points]
- Site 1: 16, 26, 36, 48, 60, 66, 72
- Site 2: 16, 25, 34, 45, 56, 61, 66
- Select one animal species with which you are familiar. Can you
determine which of the above two sites (1, 2) is capable of producing more
of the species? Why or why not? [5 points]
- List the habitat type of the two sites described on the attached
sheets. [14 points]
- Use the same animal species you selected above (question 1b). Can you
determine which of the two sites (A, B) is capable of producing a higher
density of the species? Why or why not? If so, identify the site which
is capable of producing the highest density of your selected animal. [7
points]
- List the general classes of plant control we discussed in class. List
one advantage and one disadvantage of one of the general classes, relative
to the other classes. [6 points]
- A wildland fire requires an ignition source; historically, lightning
served as a primary source of ignition. What two other constraints must
be alleviated for wildland fires to occur? List threshold values for
alleviation of these constraints. [6 points]
- What factor constrained fire occurrence in the Sonoran desert before
Anglo settlement? Briefly describe how this factor has changed since
Anglo settlement. [6 points]
- List 4 reasons that prescribed fires are employed relatively
infrequently in vegetation management. [4 points]
- Which of the following is not an appropriate ignition source for
prescribed fires? Circle the letter associated with the single best
answer. [2 points]
- matches
- aerial ignition device
- drip torches
- lasers
- all of the above are appropriate
- In humid woodlands (e.g., southeastern pine savannas), fire
suppression causes a reduction in the probability of fire. In semi-arid
woodlands (e.g., ponderosa pine savannas), fire suppression contributes to
increased flammability of the vegetation. Why do these two systems--which
appear to be structurally similar--respond differently to fire exclusion?
[5 points]
- In shrublands characterized by a grassy understory (e.g., Arizona
mesquite shrublands), fire suppression causes a reduction in the
probability of fire. In other shrublands (e.g., chaparral, heath, fynbos,
scrub, fire suppression contributes to increased flammability of the
vegetation. Why do these two systems respond differently to fire
exclusion? [5 points]
- List two objectives of ecosystem management that differ from
objectives of traditional (pre-1990) management. [4 points]
- List two of the organizations represented in the role-playing exercise
used in class (Dome fire), and list an objective of each of the two
organizations. [5 points]
- Forest stands on Mt. Lemmon are in terrible condition from the
standpoint of timber production: trees have poor form and spacing. The
only viable option for genetic improvement of these stands is
clearcutting. Why isn't the Forest Service administering extensive
clearcuts on the mountain? [5 points]
- Which of the following harvest-regeneration systems employs a series
of
tree removals near the end of the rotation? [2 points]
- coppice (without standards)
- clearcut
- seed-tree
- shelterwood
- single-tree selection
- Which of the following harvest-regeneration systems has the least
potential for genetic improvement of trees? [2 points]
- coppice (without standards)
- clearcut
- seed-tree
- shelterwood
- single-tree selection
- Which of the following harvest-regeneration systems has the most
potential for genetic improvement of trees? [2 points]
- coppice (without standards)
- clearcut
- seed-tree
- shelterwood
- single-tree selection
- Which of the following harvest-regeneration systems can be used to
produce even-aged stands of shade-tolerant species? [2 points]
- coppice (without standards)
- clearcut
- seed-tree
- shelterwood
- single-tree selection
- Which of the following harvest-regeneration systems produces
uneven-aged stands? [2 points]
- coppice (without standards)
- clearcut
- seed-tree
- shelterwood
- single-tree selection
- Which harvest-regeneration system is rarely used on conifers, but
commonly used with angiosperms? [2 points]
- coppice (without standards)
- clearcut
- seed-tree
- shelterwood
- single-tree selection
- What do you believe is the most important attribute a natural resource
manager can possess? Briefly defend your choice. [8 points]