Ecology - Ch 1

Question 1

What are the hierarchical levels of ecology?

Answer 1

1. Individual
2. Population
3. Community
4. Ecosystem
5. Landscape
6. Biome
7. Biosphere

Question 2

What types of data are used in ecology?

Answer 2

Categorical or Numerical
Qualitative Quantitative
Nominal and ordinal Discrete and Continuous
Nominal: unordered Discrete: Only certain values
categories. are possible.
Ordinal: ordered Continuous: Any value within
categories an interval is theoretically
possible.

Question 3

How is the study of ecology related to other scientific fields?

Answer 3

The complex interactions taking place within ecological systems involve all kinds of physical, chemical, and biological processes. To study these interactions, ecologists must draw on other sciences. This dependence makes ecology an interdisciplinary science.

Question 4

Describe the scientific method.

Answer 4

Observe, Question, Hypothesize, Predict, Test

Question 5

How can data be represented graphically?

Answer 5

Using scatter plots and histograms and constructing frequency distribution.

Question 6

How are models used in ecology?

Answer 6

Models are used to predict some behaviour or response using a set of explicit assumptions, these predictions should be testable through further observation or experiments.

Question 7

Abiotic

Answer 7

The non-living (physical and chemical) component of ecosystems.

Question 8

Biome

Answer 8

The broad-scale regions dominated by similar types of ecosystems, such as tropical rain forests, grasslands, and deserts.

Question 9

Biosphere

Answer 9

The highest level of organization of ecological systems. The thine layer surrounding the Earth that supports all of life.

Question 10

Biotic

Answer 10

The living component of the ecosystem.

Question 11

Community

Answer 11

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

Question 12

Ecosystem

Answer 12

Consisting of interacting components that function as a unit.

Question 13

Hypothesis

Answer 13

An answer to the question is proposed that takes the form of a statement of cause and effect.

Question 14

Model

Answer 14

Abstract, simplified representations of real systems which allow is to predict some behaviour or response using a set of explicit assumptions. They may be mathematical or they may be verbally descriptive.

Question 15

Population

Answer 15

A group of individuals of the same species that occupy a given area. Populations in an ecosystem do not function independently of one another.

Question 16

Scientific Method

Answer 16

The method through which hypotheses are posed and tested

Question 17

Theory

Answer 17

An integrated set of hypothesis that together explain a broader set of observations than any single hypothesis.