process of sci & intro to ecology vocab

scientific method

a research procedure which draws conclusions from observations and tests them

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steps: observation, question, hypothesis, experiment, analyze results, report results, edit hypothesis (if needed), test multiple times

inductive reasoning

drawing a general conclusion from many observations; inferences;

deductive reasoning

predicting specific results (that are testable) from a general principal or law

hypothesis

a testable idea or explanation that can be proved true or false

scientific theory

an explanation for a part of the natural world that has been thouroughly tested and confirmed

scientific law

principals or riles that explain different phenomena and are true under almost all circumstances

experimental group

the group in an experiment receiving the change in the variable being tested

control group

the group in an experiment receiving no variable changes and is used to compare the results from the experimental group

experimental bias

consciously or subconsciously affecting data

double-blind study

when neither the data collector nor subject(s) know the exact principle of an experiment (used to prevent experimental bias)

ecology

the study of the environment and ecosystems, and how organisms interact with each other

species

a group of organisms that can reproduce with each other to create healthy offspring that can also reproduce

population

all the organisms of a species on a given area

community

all the populations in a given area

ecosystems

all the biotic and abiotic factors in an area

biosphere

all the biotic and abiotic factors (ecosystems) on earth

biotic

something that is living or was once living

abiotic

something that isn’t living, was never living, and never will be living

population ecology

the study of how populations change over time and what causes those changes

population density

the number of individuals in a population in a given area

population dispersion

the spatial distribution of individuals in a population in a given area

random dispersion

when individuals in a population in a given area are spread without any predictable patterns

clumped dispersion

when individuals in a population in a given area are bunched together, usually around a specific resource

uniform dispersion

when individuals in a population in a given area are spread out evenly with a predictable pattern

intrinsic growth rate

the birth rate in a population subtracted by the death rate in the same population

natality

birth rate

mortality

death rate

immigration

when individuals join a population of their same species

emigration

when individuals leave a population of their same species

exponential growth

the growth of a population in an area with no restrictions; happens under ideal circumstances (few individuals and a surplus of resources)

logistic growth

the limited growth of a population because resources are limited

r-strategist

a category of species that live in unpredictable, changing environments and have many, small offspring

k-strategist

a category of species that live in stable, predictable environments, and have few, large offspring

carrying capacity (k)

the maximum number of individuals that an environment can support

density dependent

a factor whose effect on a population depends on the population’s size (ex. disease, competition)

density independent

a factor whose effect on a population is the same regardless of the population’s size (ex. a natural disaster that killed the whole population)

qualitative

descriptions (need context and comparisons)

quantitative

numbers / estimates

evolution

changes in a species’ DNA over time

biological magnification

when a low-concentrated substance moves through a food chain and becomes more concentrated as it passes through organisms

homeostasis

the regulation and balance of the internal function of an organism

diffusion

particles moving from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration

osmosis

the diffusion of water

entropy

the level of order (low = orderly; high = random)

dynamic equilibrium

things keep moving but stay (mostly) even

static equilibrium

movements and forces cancel out and objects remain motionless