Duration: One hour and fifty minutes to complete the exam.
Preparation: Review lab manual, lab reports (including homework), and post-lab questions at the end of each chapter for potential exam questions.
Safety and Dress Code:
- Closed-toed shoes
- Shirt with sleeves
- Long pants
Prohibited Devices: No electronic devices (cell phones, smart watches, laptops, etc.) allowed. Use of prohibited devices will result in a score of 0.
Permitted Items: Only a pen/pencil and a four-function calculator.
Absentee Policy: Make-up exams require an excuse from the DOS office, documented properly.
Scheduling: Must submit a Notification to Faculty Request form and schedule with the lab instructor. Last day to reschedule is May 5th.
SARC Accommodations: Schedule tests for the same lab day/time as your section. Contact SARC at least one week in advance for arrangements.
Contact for Questions: Lab instructor or lab supervisor, Dr. Lara.
Study Guide Items
Intro Lab: Laboratory Safety Rules
Familiarity with laboratory rules, regulations, and procedures, including:
- Proper laboratory attire
- Eating and drinking guidelines
- Location of laboratory emergency equipment
- Proper disposal of biohazard waste.
Lab 1: Scientific Tools and Techniques
SI Units: The International System of Units.
Conversion: Ability to convert between metric and US customary units.
Calculating Averages: Understand how to calculate means or averages.
Length:
- Definition: Basic unit of length, types of linear measurement (length, width, distance, diameter).
- Instruments used: Examples provided.
Mass:
- Definition: Basic unit of mass.
- Instruments used: Examples provided.
Volume:
- Definition: Basic unit of liquid volume.
- Instruments used: Examples provided.
Meniscus: Importance of reading the meniscus correctly.
Temperature:
- Definition: Basic unit of temperature.
- Instruments used: Examples provided.
Diameter at Breast Height (DBH):
- Definition and calculation methods.
Accuracy vs. Precision:
- Definitions and distinctions made between accuracy and precision.
Lab 2A and 2B: Scientific Investigation and Writing
Scientific Investigation Defined: Steps involved in a scientific investigation:
- Observation
- Questions
- Literature Review
- Hypothesis
- Prediction
- Experiment
- Conclusion
Limitations of the Scientific Method.
Formulating Hypotheses: How to formulate testable hypotheses and predictions.
Experimental Design Factors: Importance of independent, dependent, controlled variables, continuous and discrete variables, experimental group vs. control group, and concepts of replication and sample size.
Data Presentation: Creating simple graphs (line graphs, histograms, bar graphs) and tables from collected data.
Conclusions from Data: Developing reasonable conclusions based on the collected data.
Scientific Method Application Example: Investigation on whether sunscreen protects from UV radiation.
Parts of a Scientific Paper:
- Title
- Authors
- Keywords
- Abstract
- Introduction
- Materials and Methods
- Results
- Discussion
- Conclusion
- Acknowledgment
- References
Differentiation of Each Part of a Scientific Paper.
Lab 3: Allelopathy: A Plant-Plant Interaction
Allelopathy Defined: Understanding plant competition and species interactions.
Allelochemicals: Definition and effects on seed germination and seedling development.
Disadvantages of Using Allelochemicals: Their use as bioherbicides.
Essential Oils: Purpose of testing essential oils concerning invasive plants.
Control of Invasive Plants: Strategies for controlling invasive species that exhibit allelopathy.
Building Green Definition: What it means to build with sustainability in mind.
Sustainability Concept: Understanding sustainability in the context of buildings.
LEED Certification: Criteria for obtaining LEED certification for green buildings.
Energy Calculations:
- Energy composition, annual energy use, and costs involved.
- Cost of different types of lighting.
Environmental Impact Recommendations: Practices to minimize impact on the environment.
Online Module: Bioplastics
Bioplastics Overview: Environmentally friendly alternatives to plastics.
Role in Societal Solutions: Actions individuals can take regarding plastic pollution.
Composition of Bioplastics: What they are made from and their potential benefits.
Biodegradability: Conditions for composting bioplastics and their effects on the environment.
Impact of Ocean Plastic Pollution on Marine Life: Exploration of how plastics affect marine ecosystems.
Solutions to Plastic Problems: How to address plastic waste and its consequences.
Lab 5: Invasive Species, Biological Control, and Microscopy
Introduced and Invasive Species Defined: Differences between introduced species and invasive species.
Control Methods for Invasive Species:
- Mechanical, chemical, and biological controls; advantages and disadvantages.
Biological Control Agents: Understanding natural enemies used to enhance biological control.
Entomopathogenic Nematodes (EPN): Their role in controlling invasive species.
Pesticides Defined: Types, including inorganic, botanical, and microbial pesticides.
Mechanism of Action: Types of mechanisms including stomach, contact, systemic poisons, and desiccants.
Diatomaceous Earth (DE): Uses for biological control.
Microscopy
Compound vs. Dissecting Microscopes: Identification of parts and their functions.
Total Magnification Calculation: Understanding how to determine total magnification.
Field of View and Photomicrographs: Definitions and significance.
Microscope Protocols: Proper methods for putting away a microscope and preparing wet mounts.
Lab 7: Water Quality and Waterborne Pathogens
Importance of Water Quality: Impact on human health.
Contamination of Water Resources: Understanding point source vs. non-point source pollution.
Pathogens and Bacterial Colonies Defined: Roles in water quality.
E. coli Standards: Maximum allowable colonies in drinking water (specifically, for 100 ml).
Indicators of Water Quality: Use of coliforms.
Colony Forming Units (CFUs): Calculation methods.
Water Purification Methods Tested: Effectiveness of UV sterilization, chemical sterilization, and filtration.
Coliscan Medium: Purpose in detecting coliform presence, enzymes galactosidase vs glucuronidase, and color colony guide for identification (E. coli: dark blue/purple, other coliforms: pink/red).
Lab 8: Aquatic Ecosystems
Ecology Definition: Differentiation between abiotic and biotic components.
Evaluated Abiotic Components: Units and parameters measured (temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, etc.).
Health of Water Habitat: How abiotic components determine health.
Eutrophication and Algal Blooms: Process explanations.
Trophic Levels and Structures Defined: Food chains and webs, differentiating producers, consumers, herbivores, carnivores, omnivores, and detritivores.
Autotrophs vs Heterotrophs: Definitions and implications.
Biotic Components Studied: Plants, macroinvertebrates, and plankton assessments.
Lab 9: Population Ecology
Population Ecology Overview: Definition and key concepts including:
- Exponential and logistic growth explanation.
- Carrying Capacity (K): Definition and implications for population dynamics.
- Density-dependent vs. density-independent limiting factors.
Predator-Prey Population Cycles: Patterns and reasons for this occurrence.
Isle Royale Study Case: Initial animal studies, population impacts, and carrying capacity observations.
Ecological Community Effects: How moose interactions affect vegetation and overall population health.
Impact of Climate Change: Potential effects on populations and communities.
Lab Equipment Knowledge
Tools: Understanding and using various laboratory equipment:
- Measuring tape, measuring wheel, balances, thermometers, serological pipettes and pumps, transfer pipettes, graduated cylinders, rulers, Petri dishes, parafilm, fixed pipettes, pipette tips, meters (UV, power, dissolved oxygen, pH, conductivity).
Nitrate and Phosphate Tests Setup: Procedures and outcomes.