Ecology and the Scientific Method

Question 1

What are the 4 key words for the definition of ecology?

Answer 1

• Relationships
• Interactions
• Species
• Environment

Question 2

What are some abiotic factors to consider when studying the ecology of a species?

Answer 2

Possible answers:

• climate
• habitat
• soil content
• amount of sunlight
• structure of the landscape

Question 3

What are some biotic factors to consider when studying the ecology of a species?

Answer 3

Possible answers:

• competitors
• vegetation/food
• disease/parasites
• predators
• behaviour of the species

Question 4

Why is ecology important to study? (4 reasons)

Answer 4

• understanding how populations became the way they are
• understanding our environment and our impacts
• explaining species interactions
• to understand how to improve our environment, manage natural ressources, and protect human health

Question 5

What are some approaches to studying ecology?

Answer 5

Large scale experiments 
Observations
Field work
Lab work
Manipulation of variables 
Studying interrelationships of organisms and the environment 
Treating all organisms as equal
Environment 
Interaction of abiotic factors

Question 6

What is global ecology?

Answer 6

Studying ecosystems on a global scale

Question 7

What is landscape ecology?

Answer 7

Studying the structure, function, and changes in a heterogenous landscape that is composed of interacting ecosystems

Question 8

What is ecosystem ecology?

Answer 8

Studying a natural system, including looking at energy and nutrient flow.

Question 9

What is community ecology?

Answer 9

Studying the interaction of species and processes at a community level

Question 10

What is a community?

Answer 10

A group of many different populations of different species in a particular region.

Question 11

What is population ecology?

Answer 11

Studying the interaction of organisms at a population level.

Question 12

What is a population?

Answer 12

A group of individuals of the same species living in a certain area at a certain time.

Question 13

What is the difference between autecology and synecology?

Answer 13

Autecology studies environmental factors from a single species perspective. Synecology studies environmental factors from a multi species perspective.

Question 14

What are the steps of the scientific method?

Answer 14

1. An observation -> a tree is found in a valley, but not on the mountain nearby
2. Ask a question about the observation -> why is the tree here but not there?
3. Formulate a hypothesis -> the tree is not on the mountain because it can’t grow in that soil
4. Test the hypothesis -> plant a tree in a pot of soil from the mountain and see if it grows without changing the altitude
5. Evaluate the hypothesis -> the tree didn’t grow, which is consistent with the hypothesis
6. Repeat the test

Question 15

Why can’t we make a large variety of conclusions from a single tested hypothesis?

Answer 15

We can only make conclusions for the conditions tested in.

Question 16

What is a model and how can it be presented?

Answer 16

Is an abstract, simplified representation of a real-life phenomenon that is developed from the scientific method. The goal is to explain that phenomenon.
Can be verbal or a computer simulation