Bio 260 Exam 1 Content

Ecology

Scientific study of interactions of organisms and environmental factors and how these interactions determine the distribution and abundance of organisms

ex Ecology looks at the hydrology and the chemistry of the environment

Abiotic Factors

Abiotic Air

non-living aspects of an ecosystem.

Example Air Birds

Biotic

Living aspects of the ecosystem

Plants, animals, and Fungi

Ecologic Levels of organization

Landscapes

Individuals

Populations

Communities

Ecosystem

Landscape Ecology

The matrix that connects populations communities and ecosystems

Population ecology

Group of interbreeding individuals

Community ecology

Groups of interacting populations

Ecosystem ecology

Communality Interactions with abiotic components of the environment

Which one of these two factors abiotic or biotic can structure the most ecological system?

Both abiotic and biotic factors contribute to structuring ecological systems. When looking at their importance it is context and scale based answer. A lot of times it can be challenged both ways.

What is Science?

What does it use to complete its definition?

Learning the nature of the observable universe- What can be observed from the earth

Natural Laws or rules to explain patterns

The Scientific Method

1) Observation

Create observe a problem and create a question

2) Hypothesis

an explanation that can be tested

(then accept or reject/falsified)

NEVER PROVEN

3) Experiment to test hypothesis

4) Create a theory then retest

How to recognize a testable Hypothesis

1) At least one response (dependent) variable

2) Predictor (Independent) variables

3) the Link (direction and Strength) between the response and predictor variables

4) the underlying mechanisms of the relationships

4 Common ways to accumulate knowledge

1) Descriptive (observational)

2) Manipulative experiments

3) Mathematical Methods

4) Meta-analyses

Controlled experiments

Experimental groups compared with a control group that lacks the factor being tested

Modeling

breaks down components of a system into variable and parameters that can be manipulated

Meta-analysis

A method for combining pertinent study data form several selection studies to develop a single conclusion that has greater statical power.

On a scientific paper what variable is on the x-axis?

Independent or predictor

On a scientific paper what variable is traditionally on the y axis?

Dependent or response variable

List 4 methods used by ecologists to test hypotheses and accumulate knowledge?

Observation

Experiment

Modeling

Meta-analysis

What is the most fundamental component of the physical environment?

Climate

Foehn effect

Causes warming and drying of air on leeward side of cross mountain wind from the windward side

Why is half of the US dry and how does it affect it affect human settlement?

The Chinook "Snow eater" is a foehn wind occurring in the Rocky Mountains

Through which process do you expect temperature to affect organism distribution?

Temperatures determine rates of biochemical reactions and organism's physiology

Longwave or shortwave

1) Energy entering from the sun

2) Energy (radiation) exiting after reflecting off the earth

1) Shortwave

2) Longwave (What greenhouse gasses trap inside clouds)

Where is the most solar energy received per unit area?

The Tropics

Why does the tropics receive the greatest amount of precipitation?

Warm air is less dense and can hold more moisture then cool air

Rising air expands and cools and water vapor condenses to form clouds

Even within the same latitude temperatures very why?

This pattern is altered by ocean currents continental topography and the distribution of land and water masses.

Upwelling

Occurs where deep ocean waters rise to the surface

How do you think the process of upwelling will affect ocean productivity?

Upwellings are the most productive areas in the open oceans