What is a community? How may terrestrial and marine trophic pyramids differ? What are the principal physical controls on communities. What is the evidence for these factors in the rock record? Describe different community trophic structures and give examples of the types of organisms (modern or ancient) dominating in each. Outline the sequence of changes which typically occur during community succession (recall figure from Walker and Alberstadt). Explain why these changes occur. Do communities evolve? If so, provide examples. Explain and compare the different diversity indices such as S, R, H' and J'. Discuss tiering, community patterns over time and causal mechanisms. Discuss Bambach's data on diversity patterns over time and in different environments. Why are there few high-level suspension feeders in today's oceans? What factors may influence diversity?.