Topic 1 Flashcards
What is the affect of humans on biodiversity?
urgency to studying biodiversity
human activity has lead to less biodiversity
just as we are becoming aware of the biological and economical richness of life in oceans, rainforest, and soil human activities are threatening
What are threats to biodiversity?
resource exploitation
conversion of land
pollution
transport of species
global climate change
What are the direct reasons to study biodiversity?
food, resources for drugs, agricultural value
What are the indirect reason to study biodiversity?
ecosystem services, biogeochemical cycles, nutrient cycling, water cycling, prevent soil erosion, regulate climate, carbon cycle, ecotourism
What are theories?
scientists refer to unifying explanations of the natural world as theories
theories (or natural law) have withstood rigorous scientific testing, challenge and debate
What are types of questions?
proximate questions deal with mechanism and do not always require evolutionary explanation
ultimate questions are concerned with evolutionary origins and functions
What are types of science?
observation (discovery science): before we can make hypotheses, we must first observe things
from specific observations, we can make generalizations (induction), inference of a general law from particular instances
What is a hypothesis?
observation/induction —> formulate a hypothesis
hypothesis = possible explanation for an observation
knowledge-based
testable and fallible (via observations + experiments)
What is the scientific method?
dynamic-evidence based inquiry for understanding life
hypothetic-deductive science
predictions use deductive reasoning
What is correlation?
relationship/association between two factors
