Ecology and the Scientific Method Flashcards

Comprehensive practice flashcards covering introductory ecology principles and the steps of the scientific method.

What is ecology?

the study of the interactions of organisms with other organisms and with their environments.

What is the difference between abiotic and biotic factors?

Abiotic factors are non-living factors (such as soil, water, and weather) that affect an organism, while biotic factors are living factors (such as animals and plants).

What is a habitat and what does it form when it contains many different species?

A habitat is where organisms live and interact. When a habitat contains many different species, this is known as a community.

How is biodiversity defined in an ecosystem, biome, or planet?

Biodiversity is the variety of species living within an ecosystem, biome, or planet. The greater the number of different species in a community, the greater the biodiversity.

What is a niche and what three components make it up?

A niche is the role or job a species plays in a community. It is a combination of an organism, its habitat, and its role.

What are the five levels of organization in ecology, from smallest to largest?

1. Organism, 2. Population, 3. Community, 4. Ecosystem/Biome, 5. Biosphere.

How is the biosphere defined?

The biosphere is the thin volume of Earth and its atmosphere that supports life.

In the scientific method, what is observation?

Observation is the process of obtaining information by using the senses.

What is a hypothesis and what format can it take?

A hypothesis is an educated guess that answers the question being asked and is testable. It can be written in an 'If…then…' format.

What is a controlled experiment?

A controlled experiment compares an experimental group and a control group, where only one variable changes.

What is the difference between a control group and an experimental group?

The control group provides the normal standard for comparison, whereas the experimental group receives an experimental treatment and is identical to the control group except for the one variable that changes.

What is the difference between an independent variable and a dependent variable?

The independent variable is the factor manipulated or varied by the experimenter. The dependent variable (or responding variable) is the factor the scientist measures because it is affected by the independent variable.

What core rule must be kept in mind regarding hypotheses when drawing a conclusion?

You can only disprove a hypothesis; you cannot prove it.

What is an inference in scientific investigation?

An inference is a conclusion made on the basis of facts and previous knowledge rather than direct observation.

What is modeling in the context of the scientific method?

Modeling is constructing a representation of an object, system, or process that shows the relationship among data.

What is an organism?

An organism is any living thing

What is a population?

A population are all the members of one species that live in an area

What is a community?

A community is all the interacting species living in an area

What is an ecosystem of biome?

All living (biotic) and non-living (abiotic) factors