Exam Help

Photo by Lee Walker.

Wednesday's Exam will consist of Five Questions. Click on Exam Help Above for added advice.

Here are a number of Exam Questions to assist in your studies. Do not assume that the exam questions will be worded exactly as these are.

As compared to other ecosystems, streams are unique in ways that make them both interesting and difficult to study, understand, and manage. What are the most important unique factors as you understand them? Compare and contrast a local stream ecosystem, such as Craig Creek, with the local Pandapas pond.

Describe the term “Leitbild” as it relates to the process of stream habitat restoration. How do we as stream habitat specialists translate that Leitbild into an operational plan?

What are hydraulic geometry relationships for stream channels? Geometry is one of the oldest components of mathematics concerned with questions of size, shape, and relative positions of shapes. How are these relationships derived for streams and how are they intended to be applied? And what are the major factors that lead to variability in relationships.

We use a lot of strange terms in stream rehabilitation, such as root wads, J hooks, cross vanes, weirs, revetments, W-rocks, K-dam, check dam, and others. Can you classify these terms based on their function as stream rehabilitation techniques and describe they are and what they are intended to do?

What is the significance of the concept of bankful stage or discharge? In the field, how does one approach identifying the bankful stage reliably? What are some procedures and indicators that you recommend be implemented?

Fluvial processes create and maintain stream channels that may or may not provide suitable habitat for fish of interest to the public. Describe the basis for the Montgomery-Buffington systems for classifying stream channels based on fluvial processes. For each channel type, explain the features of the channel that provides habitat for a specific life or ecosystem function.

Science is the search for fundamental principles to help us understand and explain phenomena. Based on your studies thus far, can you describe three to five fundamental physical process principles that help us understand and explain the form (dimension, pattern, profile) of stream channels.

Victor Shelford wrote that ‘the first essential is the locate the animal in the environment’ While this is the first step in understanding habitat use, please expand on the notion of microhabitat selection by describing how a stream ecologist would demonstrate habitat selection by a stream animal. In your elaboration on this idea, think about one cue (based on sensory perceptions) that a fish may use in habitat selection and explain the process of by which a fish displays selection.

The cause and effect diagram is used to explore all the potential or real causes (or inputs) that result in a single effect (or output). Causes are arranged according to their level of importance or detail, resulting in a depiction of relationships and hierarchy of events. Develop a cause and effect diagram that depicts the influence of four major factors that influence the shape (hydrologic response) of a stream hydrograph.

Develop an argument to support your belief of the most important standards and criteria to apply in determining ecologically successful stream restoration.

Phillip Roni and coauthors summarized the results of over 350 studies of stream rehabilitation and organized them into themes of roads, riparian, floodplain, instream structures, and nutrients. What was the central thesis of this paper? In this paper they propose an interim strategy for prioritizing future rehabilitation. Do you agree with their proposed highest priority actions? Why or why not?

Let’s assume your stream habitat management division is considering adopting the stream habitat classification system described by Hawkins et al (1993). What is your opinion about the use of this system? What cautions and concerns would your communicate to your supervisor?

What are the most common motives for river and stream restoration? How does motivation influence the need for criteria for defining success?

In order to fully describe ecologically relevant patterns of variation in stream flow, how would you quantify the stream flow regime for a local stream?

If you have questions or comments, post them here. I will monitor your posts but will be at the FLOW 2008 Conference.