What is Ecology Flashcards
Explain Einstein quote it is the theory that decides what we observe
This means that we are not born scientists therefore we are not objective and look at everything with the societal lines that we are raised with
This causes all science to be biased despite the claims to be objective
Define ideology and explain Lewontins concepts of biology as an ideology
- Is a comprehensive vision used to understand the world together with devices like put it in operation
- Lewontin studied the molecular DNA and saw the rise of DNA explaining biology he realized that these views were against his own
Lewontin sates that his objective is to “encourage The readers not to leave science to the experts, not to be mystified by it, but to demand a sophisticated scientific understanding in which everyone can share.” According to Lewontin what is the risk in ignoring this objective
- by ignoring this objective we continue these ideals that science should be left to the scientist
- Buy more people being engaged in science provide many benefits for science
- A disengage society allows for political and economic interests to be tied into science
When using the scientific method what are three steps between observations and test
Suggested cause of pattern, create an answerable question, create testable Null hypothesis an alternate hypothesis
How does Thomas Kuhn define normal science
When we have a paradigm where this is seen as true until another paradigm proves it to be untrue
-Accumulating information consistent with an established broad theory but not challenging the underlying assumptions of the theory
In Kuhns The Structure if Scientific Revolutions, how are “crisis” and “punctuated equilibrium” related?
A crisis is a prerequisite to a paradigm shift which typically occur in a punctuated fashion
Three examples of a paradigm shift
- The world is not flat
- We are not the centre of the universe
- We are not made from God but rather evolution
Define Ho and Ha
- Ho it’s a no hypothesis and this is when there are no changes in what you predicted (no relationship between two or more phenomena)
- Ha is when the bull hypothesis is false and there is a relationship or outcome is different (logical alternative)
In a scientific experiment what is tested
The null hypothesis is tested (predictions that are a function of Ho)
What is meant by the term in science you cannot prove you could only disapprove
We can never truly say that some thing is proven because there is no way to know that it could never be disproven. You can only except or reject the null hypothesis which does not mean that it is proven and the same for the alternative hypothesis
The term balance of nature implies a concept of providential ecology explain
To think that there is a balance of nature implies that there is a divine being that creates balance in the world. many see this as a way to keep conditions good for humans
Ecology is a mixture of math and natural history. Explain
Natural history is the observational study of organisms. Ecology focuses on the relationship between orgs and orgs and environ. Ecology uses scientific method and yields predictive knowledge (study organisms and use statistics to apply to these observations)
Why is reproductive isolation from others of same species the defining char of population
Because this is the mechanism in which adaptation and evolution occur. Therefore is a group is separate it is a single evolutionary unit. But two potentially diverging evolution. Only populations evolve
Common theme for four defs of ecology
Relationship. Study of relationships not the components but the properties that are product of their relationships and interactions
Arrange in Decreasing order: community, ecosystem, species, biosphere, population
Biosphere, ecosystem, community, population, species
