CONFIDENTIAL 4 AP/JAN2014/AAR454

UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA

FINAL EXAMINATION

COURSE : ENVIRONMENTAL ECOLOGY AND SUSTAINABILITY

COURSE CODE : AAR454

EXAMINATION : JAN 2014

TIME : 2 HOURS

ANSWER
SCHEME

DO NOT TURN THIS PAGE UNTIL YOU ARE TOLD TO DO SO

 This examination paper consists of 2 printed pages ​
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CONFIDENTIAL 4 AP/JAN2014/AAR454

QUESTION 1

Ecosystem is a complex set of relationships among the living resources, habitats and
residents of a defined area. Explain the two (2) components that make up the ecosystem.

ANSWER

The two components that make up the ecosystem are abiotic and biotic.
Abiotic - non-living components (physical components) that makes up the environment
such as air, water, climate, minerals, soil, temperature,sun, etc
Biotic - the living components that makes up the environment such as bacterias, fungi,
insects, trees, animals, man, etc
Total:10 marks
5 marks each answer

QUESTION 2

In the haste for development, ‘man’ has robbed the homes of other living things by polluting,
degrading and depleting resources. Give ten (10) ways how nature can be balanced and
thus reduce the ill effects to the environment.

ANSWER

The ten ways are:

1. Stop illegal logging - Forests acts as carbon sink thus uncontrolled logging removes
huge areas of carbon sink leaving large amounts of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
Logging also causes topsoil removal and landslides which will pollute rivers/streams.
2. Ban use of CFC – CFC destroys the ozone layer which filters UV rays
3. Ban on open burning – Open burning produces CO, CO₂ and other pollutants which
causes global warming.
4. Use public transport / carpool– Helps in reducing the number of vehicles on the road
thus reducing pollutants produced by the vehicles.
5. Proper disposal of garbage – reduce pollution
6. Plant trees – trees absorbs CO₂ during photosynthesis thus removes CO₂ from the
atmosphere
7. Use hybrid vehicle – runs on batteries therefore produces less pollution
8. Practise 3R – Reduce, reuse and recycle
9. Harness energy from nature as much as possible – Solar, wind etc
10. Adopt green design for sustainability
Total: 20 marks
2 marks each answer

QUESTION 3

One of the principles of sustainable architecture as enlisted by United Nation is Healthy

Interior Environment. With the aid of sketches:

i. explain this principle

ii. how it can be achieved in the building of your design.

ANSWER

i. Healthy Interior Environment – This principle pledges that the interior of buildings to be
comfortable and healthy for the occupants without the aid of mechanical methods such as
airconditioning etc. Building materials and systems used are to be ensured that they do not
emit any toxic substances or gas into interior environment through the usage of asbestos,.
paints, aerosols. Ensure there is good lighting, ventilation and air exchange with
plantings/greens surrounding the building.
10 marks

ii. In order to achieve this principle, buildings must be designed with the following:
a) as much openings as possible to allow for natural lighting and ventilation
b) the width and depth of the building determines the efficient use of day lighting and
natural ventilation
c) use green building materials and finishes which do not emit toxic substances and
. gases which do not cause sick building syndrome.
. d) go for open plans or use less of full height partitions to promote good air circulation
e) plant trees around building, besides providing shade also acts as filter to dust, noise
and providing abundant supply of O₂.
f) openings located on opposite side of walls to allow for cross ventilation
3 marks each for any 5 answers
Sketches: 5 marks
Total: 20 mrks
Overall total: 30 marks
QUESTION 4

Biosphere 2 is an experiment conducted by a group of scientists in an attempt to emulate

the Earth. With the aid of sketches describe the following:

i. The seven (7) biomes created by the scientists.

ii. The building structure

iii. Five (5) outcomes of the experiment.

ANSWER:

i. The seven (7) biomes include an ocean, a desert, a savannah, a rainforest, a marsh, a
thornscrub, a human habitat and an area of intensive agriculture.
7 marks
Sketches : 3 marks
Total : 10 marks

ii. a) structure covers approx 3.15 acres (1.28 hectares) size of three football fields
b) volume is seven million cubic feet (204,000 cubic meters)
c) up to 91 feet at its highest point (23 meters high
d) glass-and-steel superstructure is designed to be leak-free
e) r.c. substructure is lined with up to four inches of stainless steel - welded and tested
for air tightness.
f) steel struts are covered with a finish that ensures against corrosion from inside or
outside the biosphere
12 marks each answer
 Sketches : 8 marks
Total : 20 marks

iii. a) an annual air leak rate of under 10% (100% air-tight structure?)
b) External weather conditions can affect the internal carbon cycle. El-niño - CO₂
levels rose
c) Dark cloudy periods - photosynthesis was greatly reduced
d) Research showed that increase in CO₂ affect the coral reefs ecosystem more than
the tropical rainforest.
e) Biosphere 2's tightly closed system exposed an unpredicted oxygen decline of about
0.3% of oxygen/month
f) Oxygen was added to biosphere 2 to bring its atmosphere level back to 19%.
g) The crew members lost an average of 16% of their pre-entry body weight due to the
low-fat, low-calorie diet.
h) The crew had produced approximately 80% of their food
i) The other 20% was drawn from a three month supply of food that was grown inside
the facility before the experiment began and from seed reserve
j) Nearly all the birds and animals were dead
k) Increase in cockroaches and ants as pests
2 marks for any 5 answers
Total : 10 marks
Overall total: 40 marks

END OF QUESTION PAPER

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