SANParks.org Forums

Well done to everyone who took part Here are the results for Round 1


Jungle junkie +26
Toko +27
ecojunkie +27
Nungu +20
Klipsprringer +25
Koedoe +10 ( Very well done considering you had access to no extra resources )
Pantera leo +19

I Will edit the questions with the answers I was looking for and Round 2 will be up sometime today.

Thanks Ods...looking forward to round 2.

The one that I didn't get was the dung diggers.... but what I did find during my research was that in South America there are owls that dig in dung middens for beetles Obviously no rhino in South America - so I left that one out... learned something new about almost every question asked.

Interesting Nungu! Never heard of that before now.

, That's because you are such an intelligent bunch!

No problem

You got +5 points for question 1, 2 and 5. Then I gave you one for the bonus question (5x3+1=16) and then you got two questions wrong so -6 gives you the 10. Im sure you will catch up on this round

January: Round 2

Bonus Question: (worth up to 5 points)
Why do herbivores form groups ?(herds etc), think about the advantages and disadvantages.

1:
Animals are territorial due to some perceived benefit to the fitness of that animal, whether it is access to mates (reproductive fitness) or high quality resources (survival fitness). Whether to be territorial or not involves the animal weighing up the costs and benefits (instinctively). If they defend a territory they may have access to mates or high quality food but they then face the costs of a decreased amount of time that they can spend feeding as well as there being the risk of injury. Knowing this now imagine a scenario where there exists high quality and highly concentrated resources (hot spots), such as fruiting trees and carcass, what is the best strategy for the animal to maximise benefits for itself? (think of scavengers, birds or primates).

2: There are two main types of digestive physiology, ruminants and hind gut fermenters (non-ruminants). A ruminant would be like a buffalo or waterbuck for example and non-ruminants are animals like rhino, elephant and zebra. In the dry season the quality of the food declines (less nutrients and sugar and an increase in fibre) how will these two different groups respond in terms of their feeding behaviour (how long) and intake (how much)?

3: What two main purposes does a snakes venom serve?

4:Crocodiles have what is known as temperature sex determination (TSD). At what temperature would you expect females or males to be born?

5:
What is a sodic site and why are they important?

enjoy

Answers Submitted so far for round 2:

Nungu
Bishop3006

After looking at my questions for this round I realise that there is for some of them no simple right or wrong answer especially with long questions. There may be a part of your answer that deserves merit and so I am going to add a new rule.

If part of the answer is correct, but not exactly what I am looking for then you can still score, 2/3/4 out of 5 without receiving negative points. If the answer is completely wrong then the negative 3 points will still apply

Any more answers for round 2?

(I like the reading )
I may be the one asking the questions but I really learn too, It is always interesting to get someone elses viewpoint


No problem EJ, I will leave it open till saturday morning to give everyone who wants to play a chance

he was quite miserable about his broken glasses so had to think of something quick or face grumpy for the rest of the trip
they can be tricky little things! and seem to find the strangest places to make themselves at home. Hopefully he/she found more suitable accomodations outside?

Thanks to everyone who has submitted so far for round 2

Nungu
Pantera Leo
Bishop3006

Thanks to everyone who has submitted so far for round 2

Nungu
Pantera Leo
Bishop3006
ecojunkie

Next round will probably be open for quite a bit longer , because Im away from the 18th to the 25th on a field trip with the university doing projects on bats or puff adders, not decided which Im going to choose yet

Well done everyone!!

Points for round 2:

Toko: 30
ecojunkie:29
Nungu:27
Klipsprringer:25
Koedoe:7
Pantera leo:25
Jungle junkie:15
Bishop:26

Im so glad everyone is enjoying it

Im away from tomorrow so round 3 will be open until January 26th (next week Wednesday). Seeing as you have a bit more time im going to try come up with some questions that make you think a little bit more

[January: Round 3]

1:
In nature reptiles and other ectothermic animals have to regulate their body temperatures by making use of external energy sources and through physiological and behavioural regulatory responses. Why do you think that a Southern African Python would be found with its body submerged in the water early in the morning having been there the entire nigh?t, and secondly during what time of the year would you expect this to happen?

Bonus for up to 5 points:
Following on with question 1. What are the differences in appearance and behaviour between a brooding and a non brooding python?

2:
Im sure you have all heard of corridors between natural areas being important for maintaining species persistence, but why is that? and then why is a reserve that is round in shape in terms of boundaries more likely to benefit species persistence (so that they do not go extinct) than a reserve that is square or oblong in shape?

3:
Which will benefit from global warming more and why, trees (woody plant material) or grasses?(herbaceous plant material)

4:
Why are termite mounds important in Savannas?

5:
You are lucky and you get to go on a guided walk in kruger. You happen to come across a river/stream and are forced to cross it. You stumble on a rock upending it and notice these little creatures stuck to the rock and swimming away from it. You immediately know they are stoneflies. Later on in the walk you cross another stream only this time you see tons of dragon fly nymphs ontop of the water.

From this what can you tell me about the difference in the water quality between the two rivers and about the rivers themselves (speed , depth )

Hope I have not gone overboard with the questions ENJOY and ill "see" you all next week

No answers submitted for this round , everyone must have had a very busy last week and a half and I completely understand

Ill have the answers up for interest sake sometime tomorrow

We can keep this round going until sunday night so all who want to participate can. Time is not really a problem just so long as everyone can enjoy the quiz