Ecology Lab 1: Terms and Phrases

Evapotranspiration

Loss of water from the soil both by evaporation from the soil surface and by transpiration from the leaves of the plants growing on it.

Controls

Elements kept unchanged to serve as a benchmark, allowing researchers to determine if the experimental results are due to the manipulated variable or other factors.

Replication

The act of repeating an experiment to see if the results are consistent and reliable. This can involve conducting the experiment multiple times within the same study (using replicates), or having different researchers conduct the experiment independently.

References

A reference group provides a baseline of natural, or "reference," conditions to assess changes in a manipulated or impacted area.

 This concept is similar to a control group but is adapted for complex ecosystems that are often difficult to manipulate in a controlled, experimental setting.

Observational Study

A reference group provides a baseline of natural, or "reference," conditions to assess changes in a manipulated or impacted area. 

Experimental (Manipulative) Study

Involves researchers actively changing an independent variable to observe its effect on a dependent variable within a controlled environment to establish cause and effect relationships.

Correlation vs Causation

Correlation indicates an association between two variables, meaning they tend to change together.

Causation, however, means one variable directly causes a change in another.

While correlation can suggest a potential causal relationship, it doesn't automatically prove it. Establishing causation typically requires controlled experiments or further analysis to rule out other factors. 

Spurious Correlation

A mathematical relationship in which two or more events or variables are associated but not causally related, due to either coincidence or the presence of a certain third, unseen factor.