Biology Semester 1 Final Exam

What is quantitative data?

Numerical measurements that can be counted or measured (e.g., height in cm, temperature in degrees)

What is qualitative data?

Data that describes qualities or characteristics that cannot be counted (e.g., color of flowers, texture)

What is a control group?

The group with no manipulation used as comparison in an experiment

What is an experimental group?

The group where the independent variable is tested

What is an independent variable?

The variable being manipulated by the experimenter

What is a dependent variable?

The variable being measured as the outcome of an experiment

Which axis is used for the independent variable?

The X-axis (horizontal axis)

Which axis is used for the dependent variable?

The Y-axis (vertical axis)

When should you use a bar graph?

To compare categories of data (e.g., comparing average height across different groups)

When should you use a line graph?

To show changes over time or continuous data

List the levels of ecological organization from smallest to largest.

Organism \rightarrow Population \rightarrow Community \rightarrow Ecosystem \rightarrow Biome \rightarrow Biosphere

What is the difference between weather and climate?

Weather is short-term atmospheric conditions; climate is the long-term average weather patterns of a region

What is the greenhouse effect?

When greenhouse gases (CO_{2}, methane) trap heat in the atmosphere, preventing it from escaping, causing warming of Earth's surface

What are the 2 measurements on a climatogram?

Temperature (in degrees Celsius or Fahrenheit) and precipitation (in millimeters or inches)

Describe the tundra biome.

Very cold, frozen soil, low precipitation, minimal biodiversity, few hardy plants and animals

Describe the tropical rainforest biome.

Hot and humid with high rainfall, dense vegetation, and extremely high biodiversity with highest species richness

Describe the desert biome.

Very low precipitation, hot days and cold nights, sparse vegetation, low biodiversity with specialized organisms

Describe the temperate deciduous forest biome.

4 seasons with deciduous trees that lose leaves, moderate-high precipitation, and high biodiversity

What is biodiversity?

The variety of all living organisms in a specific area

What is species richness?

The total number of different species present in an area

What is species abundance?

The number of individuals of each species present in an area

What is natural selection?

The process where organisms with beneficial traits are more likely to survive and reproduce, passing traits to offspring

Define evolution.

Change in the genetic characteristics of populations over time

What is gradual evolution (gradualism)?

Evolution occurs slowly and continuously through small genetic changes accumulating over time

What is punctuated equilibrium?

Evolution occurs in rapid bursts of change followed by long periods of stasis (little change)