Ecology Reading Quiz 1

ad hoc fallacy

ad hoc fallacy

A story or narrative that explains an observed pattern or process without any proof and that is believed to be correct because it seems logical

alternative hypothesis

A statement proposing that the focal explanatory or factors in an experiment do have an effect on the system of interest

analytical model

A model that can be solved mathematically or for which the relationships among the variables can be interpreted through mathematics

Anthropocene

The current geological epoch that is characterized by the large and influential effect humans have on the planet

anthropogenic effect

An impact on Earth’s ecology that is caused by human actions

conceptual model

A theoretical construct that specifies how various components of a system fit in relation to each other

control

An unmanipulated unit of an experiment; generally used for comparison to detect the effect of a treatment in a manipulated unit of an experiment

data

Individual facts, statistical results, or items of information that are often (but not always) numerical

ecology

The study of the interactions that determine the distribution and abundance of organisms

ecosystem

A group of interacting organisms (biotic components) along with their physical environments (abiotic components)

extraneous factor

An aspect of an ecological system that is not of interest or of importance to the researcher designing an experiment

focal factor

An important or critical aspect at play in an ecological system that scientists focus on (alter or manipulate) when designing an experiment or constructing a model

hypothesis

A tentative or proposed explanation about the world, made on the basis of limited evidence, that is a starting point for further, typically scientific, invesitgation

hypothesis testing

A method of statistical or scientific inquiry used to determine whether an assumption or explanation applies to a group or sample

manipulative experiment

A scientific experiment in which the researcher intentionally alters one or more conditions in order to examine hypotheses

mathematical model

A conceptual model that is translated into the language of mathematics

naturalist

A person who studies or observes natural organisms or phenomena in detail

null hypothesis

A statement proposing that the focal explanatory factor or factors in an experiment do not have an effect on the system of interest

organism

A single individual of any type of living creature on the planet, including all plants, animals, and microbes

simulation model

A mathematical or conceptual model that is run multiple times to explore outcomes with different parameters or configurations

treatment

An aspect of an ecological system that has been manipulated by an experimenter in the design of a scientific experiment