chapter 3

Question 1

what is ecology?

Answer 1

studying interactions between organisms and their environment

Question 2

what is the biosphere?

Answer 2

part of planet in which all life exists (land, water, air)

Question 3

what is a species?

Answer 3

group of organisms that are similar enough to breed and produce offspring

Question 4

what are populations?

Answer 4

groups of individuals that belong to the same species and live in the same area

Question 5

what are communities?

Answer 5

groups of different populations that live in the same area

Question 6

what is an ecosystem?

Answer 6

collection of all organisms that live in a particular place together with nonliving environment

Question 7

what is a biome?

Answer 7

group of ecosystems that have same climate and similar dominant communities

Question 8

what ecological methods do scientists use?

Answer 8

observing, experimenting, modeling

Question 9

describe the first step in the ecological process

Answer 9

observation - first step in asking ecological questions (eg what species live here?)

Question 10

describe the second step in the ecological process

Answer 10

experimenting - setting up or using similar conditions as the ecosystem being stu

Question 11

describe the second step in the ecological process

Answer 11

experimenting - setting up or using similar conditions as the ecosystem being studied to answer questions

Question 12

describe the third step in the ecological process

Answer 12

modeling - using data collected through observation and experimentation to gain insight or make predictions for complex problems

Question 13

how many levels of organization do ecologists study?

Answer 13

six

Question 14

what are the levels of organizations that ecologists study in order?

Answer 14

individual/species; populations; communities; ecosystems; biomes; biosphere

Question 15

if you wanted to know whether the water in a stream was safe to drink, which ecological method would you use and why?

Answer 15

experimentation

observation may not tell you if there is anything harmful in the water, and modeling will not help understand what is in the water.

experimentation through testing for harmful chemicals will determine if the water is safe.

Question 16

give an example of an ecological phenomenon that could be studied by modeling.

Answer 16

anything that takes place at a large scale or over a long period of time