lecture 1

Question 1

what is ecology

Answer 1

the scientific study of the interactions between organisms and their environment

Question 2

environment

Answer 2

all factors outside the organisms that influence it

Question 3

environmental factors

Answer 3

abiotic (physical and chemical)

biotic (other organisms)

Question 4

goal of ecology

Answer 4

how do abiotic and biotic factors influence the distribution and abundance of organisms?
-where are the organisms found?
-how many organisms are there?
-what do the organisms do?
Want to explain/understand the ecological processes - most interested in the processes of birth, death and migration

Question 5

2 explanations

Answer 5

• proximal

- ultimate

Question 6

proximal

Answer 6

patterns explained by the present environment

-how did the weather this summer influence plant growth in the region?

Question 7

ultimate

Answer 7

patterns explained by the past environment

-how has the climate over the past 1000 years influenced the plant species present in the region?

Question 8

ecology is a science

iterative process

Answer 8

1. observation/discovery
2. question
3. hypothesis
4. test hypothesis
5. conclusion
6. communicate results

Question 9

observation/discovery

Answer 9

discover patterns and interconnections through observation

Question 10

question

Answer 10

question the pattern and interconnections that are observed
what, why, how

Question 11

what

Answer 11

questions that describe patterns or relationship

Question 12

how

Answer 12

questions whether there are causes of these patterns and relationships
-proximal

Question 13

why

Answer 13

questions why a system functions the way it does; examines the evolutionary basis of the pattern and relationships (ultimate)

Question 14

hypothesis

Answer 14

develop possible answers/explanations to questions and express ideas about how a system works

• a prediction that can be tested
• declarative sentence
• reject or not reject (never accept)

Question 15

null hypothesis

Answer 15

no change or relationship Ho

Question 16

alternate hypothesis

Answer 16

prediction of change or relationship Ha

Question 17

test hypothesis

Answer 17

evaluate hypothesis to determine if it can be rejected

1. sampling/observational
2. experimental studies
3. mathematical modeling

Question 18

sampling/observational testing

Answer 18

-descriptive studies
-collect some measurable features of the natural world
features = variables
-natural experiment = unmanipulated
problem : does not establish cause and effect

Question 19

experimental studies

Answer 19

• natural processes are allowed to proceed under conditions that are controlled (or manipulated)
• experimenter must fully understand the natural history of the organisms under study

Question 20

mathematical modeling

Answer 20

examine the fit of natural processes to mathematical relationships

• high variation in nature
• mathematical models are representations of nature
• the importance of a model lies in its ability to accurately represent the essence of the relationship
• models have heuristic value

Question 21

representations of nature

Answer 21

relationships may be generally but not exactly true

Question 22

heuristic value

Answer 22

-may reveal unexpected patterns or serve as a guide to new discoveries

Question 23

conclusion

Answer 23

draw inferences about ecological processes

• high variation in nature = high uncertainty in results
• statistics = study and analysis of quantitative data
• rely on statistics to provide levels of certainty (or uncertainty)
• without quantifying the level of uncertainty - results are meaningless

Question 24

ecology hierarchy

Answer 24

1. individuals
2. populations
3. communities

Question 25

individuals

Answer 25

– interactions with their biotic and abiotic environment - evolutionary ecology - physiological ecology - behavioural ecology

Question 26

Evolutionary Ecology

Answer 26

individuals are the units of evolution | – Assumes: specializations imposed by evolutionary history

Question 27

Physiological Ecology

Answer 27

individual responses to abiotic environment

Question 28

Behavioural Ecology

Answer 28

individual responses to other individuals (biotic)

Question 29

Populations:

Answer 29

– abundance/distribution patterns of groups of organisms: processes of birth, death, migration – evolutionary change occurs at the population level • Interactions of organisms of the same species • Interactions of two populations of different species

Question 30

Communities:

Answer 30

– interactions of multiple populations of different species • Structure and species interactions - Ecosystem Ecology

Question 31

Ecosystem Ecology

Answer 31

energy, nutrient, chemical pathways

Question 32

Conservation Ecology

Answer 32

– blend of evolution, population, community and ecosystem ecology → apply to conservation issues