Intro to science and ecology

Question 1

what is science?

Answer 1

• a process of inquiry that includes repeatable observations and testable hypothesis
• process used to investigate the world around us
• a systematic approach to understand the universe

Question 2

what is a hypothesis?

Answer 2

-an explanation that is based on testable observations and experiments

Question 3

what is an experiment?

Answer 3

it is one way we can test a hypothesis

Question 4

what is a theory?

Answer 4

• a hypothesis that is supported by a great deal of evidence

Question 5

what is pseudoscience?

Answer 5

untested or biased ideas presented as sound science (it’s fake science essentially)

Question 6

what is the scientific method? and what is the order?

Answer 6

• an empirical process that allows us to better the world around us

1. observation
2. question
3. hypothesis
4. prediction
5. test: experimental or additional observation

Question 7

what is a model?

Answer 7

an approximation or simplification of the natural world

Question 8

what are earths 3 systems and what do they include?

Answer 8

• natural systems: air, water, soil and rocks
• biological systems: life or biosphere
• sociocultural systems/human culture sphere: the big part of the natural and biological systems

Question 9

what are earths major components?

Answer 9

• lithosphere: the upper zone of the earths mantle and the inorganic (non-living) mixture of rocks in the earths crust
• hydrosphere: earths supply of moisture in all its forms. Involves liquid, gaseous and frozen parts of water
• atmosphere: the thin layer of gases that completely surrounds the solid and liquid earth

Question 10

what are the sub categories in the atmosphere?

Answer 10

1. Troposphere: lowest layer of the atmosphere (most weather occurs here)
2. Stratosphere: the layer above the troposphere. Contains the ozone layer. It protects life on earth and absorbs most solar radiation (UV radiation)
3. Ozone Layer: the part of the stratosphere that filters out harmful UV radiation affected by trioxide and impacted by pollution

Question 11

What is the biosphere/ecosphere?

Answer 11

• the part of the environment that is inhabited by living organisms
• includes interactions b/w the other components of the planet

Question 12

what is matter?

Answer 12

it is anything that has mass and takes up space (solid, liquid, gas)

Question 13

what is energy?

Answer 13

it is the ability or capacity to do work

Question 14

what is the first law of thermodynamics (first law of energy)?

Answer 14

energy is neither created nor destroyed, but converted from one form to another

Question 15

what is the second law of thermodynamics (second law of energy)? and what is the equation?

Answer 15

• in any transformation of energy, some amount will be degraded to a more dispersed, less usable form
• energy = work + heat

Question 16

explain solar radiation

Answer 16

it uses heat and light which is used in photosynthesis by plants

Question 17

what is gross primary production (GPP)?

Answer 17

the total amount of photosynthesis

Question 18

what does Net primary productivity (NPP) mean?

Answer 18

• the component of the GPP that is available for growth and reproduction
• it is what is available to other organisms

Question 19

what is a food chain?

Answer 19

how energy moves through an ecosystem

Question 20

What are the 3 types of consumers?

Answer 20

1. Herbivores (plants)- eating plants
2. Carnivores (meat)- eating consumers
3. Omnivores (both)- eating consumers and producers

Question 21

what is the 10% trophic transfer rule?

Answer 21

organisms in each trophic level pass on 10% of the original energy available to them