Chapter 1-

Question 1

Scientific method

Answer 1

1. ask a question
2. construct hypothesis
3. test using experiments
4. analyze results
5. formulate a conclusion

Question 2

Observational methods

Answer 2

quantitative monitoring of ecological phenomena
+vital to developing hypotheses
+detects patterns in nature
-patterns are correlations, but just because things are correlated does not mean one thing causes the other

Question 3

Experimental methods

Answer 3

measures the effect of changing one variable on another variable (response, and control variable)

1. lab
2. field
3. semi-field
4. Lab

Question 4

Experimental method-lab

Answer 4

\+high control, and low variation
\+lots of replicates
-low realism
-restricted to small sized species
-small spatial scale

Question 5

How do ecology and environmentalism differ? How does environmentalism depend on ecology?

Answer 5

Environmentalism is activism focused on protecting nature. Ecology is a science studying relationships between organisms and their environment.

Question 6

Population

Answer 6

A group of individuals of the same species occupying the same environment at a given time.

Question 7

Community

Answer 7

All populations of all species living and interacting within an ecosystem.

Question 8

Ecosystem

Answer 8

Biotic and abiotic organisms interacting in a given area at a given time.

Question 9

Landscape

Answer 9

An area of land composed of a patchwork of ecosystems.

Question 10

Biome

Answer 10

Broad scale regions in which landscapes are dominated by similar ecosystems.

Question 11

Biosphere

Answer 11

Narrow interface of Earth’s surface that contains and supports life.

Question 12

Habitat vs. Environment

Answer 12

The habitat is the surroundings in which the organism lives. The environment is the habitat as well as the abiotic and biotic surrounding. Environment = larger scale than habitat.

Question 13

Relationship between hypotheses and models?

Answer 13

Hypotheses and models compliment each other.