Lecture 1

Question 1

Define Ecology

Answer 1

The study of relationships between organisms and their environment, the interaction of organisms with one another, and the pattern/causes of abundance and distribution of organisms in nature

Question 2

Define Primary Research

Answer 2

Gathering new information through experiments or the real world

Question 3

Define Secondary Research

Answer 3

Gathering and summarizing already known information

Question 4

Define Plant Ecology

Answer 4

The relationships, interactions, and patterns of plants based on credible repeatable evidence

Question 5

Explain the Ecology Triangle

Answer 5

Theories explain processes
Processes explain patterns
Patterns explain relationships in the natural world

Question 6

Define Distribution

Answer 6

Organisms are distributed heterogeneously throughout space and time.

Question 7

Define Contingency

Answer 7

The distribution of organisms and their interactions are affected by chance events of the past

Question 8

Define Uniqueness

Answer 8

Variation in characteristics of individuals organisms result in pattern and process variation

Question 9

Define Interactions

Answer 9

Organisms’ interactions with their biotic an abiotic environment

Question 10

Define Environment

Answer 10

Conditions vary over time and space which affect organisms

Question 11

Define Resources

Answer 11

Finite, with heterogenous availability through space and time

Question 12

Define Birth/Death

Answer 12

Consequence of interactions with abiotic or biotic environment

Question 13

Define Evolution

Answer 13

The ecological properties of species are a result of evolution

Question 14

Define Habitat

Answer 14

They type of environment an organism lives in

Question 15

Define Microclimate

Answer 15

Small area within a habitat that differs in environmental conditions

Question 16

Define Unified Theory and give an example

Answer 16

Generalized proposition’s function together to characterize the natural
world.
Ex.) Darwin and Mendel

Question 17

List 3 things Ecologists do

Answer 17

• Test Hypothesis
• Determine Relative Influence
• Develop Theories

Question 18

What does it mean to determine relative influence?

Answer 18

Answer questions of how much and in what ways do a process contribute to the observed patterns.

Question 19

What does it mean to develop a theory?

Answer 19

Reproduce experiments to
test generalizations and accumulate evidence
to produce theories of established knowledge

Question 20

Manipulative Experiment
Pros? Cons?

Answer 20

A researcher purposely alters a system and measures a pattern in the response.
Pros: determining causality, clarity of interpreting evidence.
Cons: costly, time consuming, may not
reflect “real” world situations

Question 21

Natural Experiment
Pros? Cons?

Answer 21

Nature alters a system and a researcher measures patterns in the response. Scientific evidence can support correlation
Pro: high degree of realism
Con: many differences and changes occur together

Question 22

Observational Experiment
Pros? Cons? Example?

Answer 22

Detect and quantify patterns in nature
Pros: Observe what does and doesn’t exist, generalize patterns, and quantify observations, usually works with very large datasets
Ex.) Measuring duration of ice cover on a lake

Question 23

Controlled Variable Effect on Data

Answer 23

Eliminate Variation and Influence

Question 24

Measured/Normalized Variable Effect on Data

Answer 24

Allow Variation, not influence

Question 25

Randomized Variable Effect on Data

Answer 25

Allow Variation and Influence, uses statics

Question 26

Who proposed randomized experiments?

Answer 26

Ronald Fisher

Question 27

Pros and cons of randomized experiments

Answer 27

Pro: incorporates many naturally occurring variables increasing realism and generalization
Con: Requires many replicates,
logistically challenging at large
spatial and time scales

Question 28

What’s an LTER Site?

Answer 28

Long Term Ecological Research Site

Question 29

Define Foundation Species

Answer 29

Large scale vital for ecosystem

Question 30

Define Keystone Species

Answer 30

Small scale vital for ecosystem

Question 31

List 7 Sub-Disciplines of Ecology

Answer 31

-Physiological ecology
*Population ecology
*Community Ecology
*Evolutionary ecology
*Landscape ecology
*Conservation ecology
*Urban ecology