Lecture 3

Question 1

What is ecology?

Answer 1

A branch of biology that deals with the relations of organisms to one another and to their physical surroundings.

Question 2

Who coined ecology?

Answer 2

Ernst Hackel.

Question 3

What did ecology historically focus on?

Answer 3

Not on the environment, but on man.

Question 4

Who is Aristotle?

Answer 4

A man from the 4th century that studied with Plato for nearly 20 years and conducted the first systemic and comprehensive study of animals.

Question 5

Who is Theophrastus?

Answer 5

Aristotle’s successor in the 4th century, some consider him the father of Botany and Ecology.

Question 6

What is Arcadian Ecology?

Answer 6

A simple, humble life for a man, where he lives in harmony with nature.

Question 7

What is Imperial Ecology?

Answer 7

It is based in the belief of the establishment of man’s dominance over nature.

Question 8

Who is Carl Linnaues?

Answer 8

He is a man from the 18th century who did taxonomy, named and classified organisms, and was a major supporter of imperialism.

Question 9

Who is Alexander von Humbolt?

Answer 9

A German naturalist from the 19th century who recorded an immense amount of information, and was the first to observe an increase in biodiversity toward the tropics. Also considered a father of ecology and Darwin attributed his work to Humbolt.

Question 10

What was discovered in 1920?

Answer 10

The biogeochemical cycle.

Question 11

What was discovered in 1935?

Answer 11

Ecosystems.

Question 12

Who coined the Niche concept?

Answer 12

G.E. Hutchinson.

Question 13

What is the focus of modern ecology?

Answer 13

1. The negative affects of humans on other species
2. Some think that we are equal and need to save other species
3. Some think that God gave us dominance and we take what we need

Question 14

What are reasons for studying ecology?

Answer 14

1. To conserve and protect natural resources
2. to control and prevent diseases and pests
3. To help adapt and mitigate global processes
4. To innovate and discover new solutions.

Question 15

What are examples of natural resources?

Answer 15

Water, gas, oil, plants, sun, minerals, rocks, air.

Question 16

What are examples of disease and pests discussed in class?

Answer 16

Covid and Mosquitos.

Question 17

What is a major debate that ecology can help decide?

Answer 17

Climate change.

Question 18

What is nature’s medicine cabinet?

Answer 18

Medicine that is found from nature.

Question 19

What are reasons for loss of biodiversity?

Answer 19

1. Pollution
2. Over-exploitation
3. Introduction of invasive species
4. Change of land use
5. Degradation as a result of human activity

Question 20

What are the levels of ecological orginization?

Answer 20

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

Question 21

What is the delicate balance?

Answer 21

Even a small change in any level of hierarchy could effect the biosphere as a whole.

Question 22

What is an example of the delicate balance of ecology?

Answer 22

When sea otter population goes down, sea urchin population goes up (because otters aren’t eating as many), and kelp population goes down (because there are more sea urchins eating the kelp).

Question 23

Describe the order of creation in terms of biotic and abiotic factors.

Answer 23

The first 4 days (light and darkness, atmosphere, dry land and seas and plants, sun moon and starts) were abiotic things and then the biotic things (sea creatures and birds, and land animals and people).

Question 24

What does the sequence of evolution correspond with?

Answer 24

The sequence of creation.

Question 25

What are the days of creation?

Answer 25

1. Light
2. Atmosphere
3. Sea and land
4. moon, stars, sun, and plants
5. sea creatures and birds
6. land animals and people
7. rest

Question 26

Where is most of the water in the sky?

Answer 26

Water vapor (WV) in the troposphere.

Question 27

What is the troposphere?

Answer 27

The layer in the sky that is the largest and closest to the earth.

Question 28

What are clouds made of?

Answer 28

Water vapor and particles.

Question 29

What is humidity?

Answer 29

Amount of water vapor in the air.

Question 30

What is the water cycle?

Answer 30

The way in which water is recycled on the earth.

Question 31

What are all living things dependent on ?

Answer 31

Water.

Question 32

What is another name for the water cycle?

Answer 32

Hydrologic cycle.

Question 33

What are the four primary steps of the water cycle?

Answer 33

1. Evaporation
2. Condensation
3. Precipitation
4. Collection

Question 34

What is evaporation?

Answer 34

When water changes from liquid to gas (a change that is driven by the energy of the sun)/

Question 35

What is condensation?

Answer 35

Rising water vapor cools and changes back into liquid form which condenses onto solid particles (dust, pollen).

Question 36

What is precipitation?

Answer 36

Water molecules condense and collide with each other and grow, causing them to drop because the air can’t support their weight.

Question 37

What is collection?

Answer 37

Rain, hail, snow, and sleet collects in oceans, rivers, lakes, and streams.

Question 38

What are some important effects of the water cycle?

Answer 38

1. It effects the climate, such as, cooling the earth
2. It effects biogeochemical cycles - is how elements move between living and non-living things
3. It cleans the air

Question 39

What is cloud seeding?

Answer 39

When liquid nitrogen, sodium chloride, and dry ice are used to prompt precipitation.

Question 40

What is a prerequisite for cloud seeding?

Answer 40

There must be moisture in the air.

Question 41

What are two of Earth’s primary seed-bearers?

Answer 41

Grass and fruit.

Question 42

What portion of the earth is covered by grass?

Answer 42

1/3

Question 43

What is fundemental to ecology?

Answer 43

The existence and interdependence of air, water, earth.

Question 44

what are circadian rythms?

Answer 44

A change in the photoperiod (day length) that affects physiology and behavior.