p.1
Ecological Systems and Interactions
What is the primary focus of General Ecology?
The study of interactions between organisms and their environment.
p.1
Abiotic and Biotic Components
What are the two main components of ecology?
Biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) components.
p.31
Scientific Method in Ecology
What does data include in an experiment?
All of the measurements and observations made during the experiment.
p.38
Ecological Systems and Interactions
What does it mean when there is no correlation?
There is no observed relationship between the variables.
p.29
Scientific Method in Ecology
What constants were maintained in the study?
Only unexposed children were used.
p.35
Scientific Method in Ecology
What is a major advantage of controlled experiments?
They allow for full control of all variables.
p.13
Abiotic and Biotic Components
What are the two basic interacting components of an ecosystem?
The living (biotic) and the nonliving (abiotic) components.
p.39
Historical Development of Ecology
What does ecology study?
The interactions between organisms and their environment.
p.10
Definitions and Etymology of Ecology
What is ecology?
The study of the relationship between organisms and their environment.
p.26
Scientific Method in Ecology
What is an observation in the context of scientific study?
The act of viewing or noting a detail, fact, or occurrence.
p.10
Definitions and Etymology of Ecology
Is ecology the same as environmentalism?
No, ecology is a scientific study, while environmentalism is activism.
p.5
Definitions and Etymology of Ecology
Who coined the term 'Oekologie'?
German Ernst Haeckel in 1869.
p.51
Historical Development of Ecology
How is ecology described by ecological historian Robert McIntosh?
As a 'polymorphic discipline' due to its multifaceted nature.
p.51
Significance of Ecology in Biology
What will continue to enrich the science of ecology in the 21st century?
Insights from many specialized areas of ecology.
p.33
Scientific Method in Ecology
What factors can contribute to errors in experiments?
Measurement, design, or other factors.
p.33
Scientific Method in Ecology
How can the margin of error be reduced?
By increasing the sample size or number of observations.
p.9
Definitions and Etymology of Ecology
What is one meaning of ecology in today's society?
The relation of any organism to its environment.
p.50
Ecological Systems and Interactions
What does landscape ecology study?
Spatial processes that link adjacent communities and ecosystems.
p.38
Ecological Systems and Interactions
What is a positive correlation?
As one variable increases or decreases, the other does the same.
p.2
Ecological Systems and Interactions
What does ecology investigate?
How organisms interact with each other and with abiotic factors in the environment.
p.31
Scientific Method in Ecology
What was Jenner's conclusion regarding his hypothesis?
He concluded that his hypothesis was supported.
p.13
Ecological Systems and Interactions
What does the '-system' part of the word ecosystem imply?
That the ecosystem functions as a collection of related parts that function as a unit.
p.28
Scientific Method in Ecology
What is the purpose of an experiment in scientific research?
To test a hypothesis under controlled conditions.
p.42
Historical Development of Ecology
Who was Johannes Warming?
A scientist who studied tropical vegetation in Brazil and wrote the first text on plant ecology.
p.37
Scientific Method in Ecology
What is causation?
When one variable directly influences another.
p.13
Abiotic and Biotic Components
What do abiotic components include?
Physical and chemical factors.
p.12
Significance of Ecology in Biology
What analogy is used to explain the importance of ecological principles?
The constraints faced by humans in building airplanes and bridges due to the laws of physics.
p.10
Definitions and Etymology of Ecology
What is environmentalism?
Activism aimed at protecting the natural environment from negative human impacts.
p.29
Scientific Method in Ecology
What is the dependent variable in the study?
Vulnerable or immune to smallpox.
p.1
Ecological Systems and Interactions
What does the term 'ecosystem' refer to?
A community of living organisms interacting with their physical environment.
p.37
Scientific Method in Ecology
What is correlation?
A statistical relationship between variables that is not expected by chance alone.
p.11
Conservation and Restoration Ecology
What does Environmentalism advocate for?
Political aspects of managing our environment.
p.32
Scientific Method in Ecology
Which society did Dr. Jenner submit his study to?
The Royal Society for Medicine.
p.26
Scientific Method in Ecology
What did Dr. Jenner observe about dairymaids and cowpox?
Dairymaids who caught cowpox seemed to be protected from smallpox.
p.35
Scientific Method in Ecology
What is a characteristic of controlled experiments?
They take place in labs or artificial environments.
p.17
Branches and Subdivisions of Ecology
What does Synecology study?
Groups of organisms (or populations) associated to form a functional unit of the environment.
p.1
Ecological Systems and Interactions
What is the role of energy flow in ecosystems?
It drives the interactions and processes within ecological systems.
p.40
Historical Development of Ecology
What significant activity did botanists undertake in the 1800s?
Exploring and mapping the world’s vegetation.
p.44
Historical Development of Ecology
What concept did Arthur G. Tansley introduce?
The ecosystem, combining living organisms and their physical environment.
p.48
Types of Ecology: Autecology and Synecology
Which animal behavior did Charles Carpenter focus on?
Animal behavior of South American monkeys.
p.21
Scientific Method in Ecology
What follows after defining a problem or asking a question?
Doing background research.
p.24
Scientific Method in Ecology
What hypothesis did Edward Jenner propose regarding smallpox?
That exposure to cowpox could provide immunity to smallpox.
p.7
Definitions and Etymology of Ecology
What is the best definition of ecology?
Ecology is the scientific study of the relationship between organisms and their environment.
p.38
Ecological Systems and Interactions
What is a negative correlation?
As one variable increases, the other decreases.
p.27
Scientific Method in Ecology
What does it mean if a hypothesis is preliminary?
It may be supported or rejected.
p.1
Significance of Ecology in Biology
What is the significance of studying ecology?
To understand the relationships and dependencies within ecosystems.
p.5
Definitions and Etymology of Ecology
What are the two Greek words that form the basis of the term 'ecology'?
'Oikos' meaning house or family of household, and 'logos' meaning study of.
p.35
Scientific Method in Ecology
What is a disadvantage of controlled experiments?
Some environments are difficult or impossible to recreate or simulate.
p.5
Definitions and Etymology of Ecology
What is one of the first definitions of ecology according to Haeckel?
The relationship of the animal to its organic as well as its inorganic environment.
p.23
Scientific Method in Ecology
What do you do after analyzing the data?
Draw conclusions (accept or reject the hypothesis).
p.35
Scientific Method in Ecology
What is a major advantage of natural experiments?
The environment is more accurate and realistic.
p.2
Levels of Biological Organization
What levels of biological organization does ecology deal with?
Higher levels of biological organization.
p.2
Definitions and Etymology of Ecology
What two aspects of organisms does ecology describe?
The habitat (address) and the niche (profession) of organisms.
p.40
Historical Development of Ecology
Who was Theophrastus?
A friend of Aristotle who wrote about the relations between organisms and the environment.
p.37
Scientific Method in Ecology
What does correlation suggest?
It suggests a relationship between variables but does not always imply causation.
p.21
Scientific Method in Ecology
What might an ecologist observe in the prairie grasslands of North America?
Variations in the growth and productivity of grasses across the landscape.
p.21
Scientific Method in Ecology
What is a possible question an ecologist might formulate based on their observations?
What environmental factors result in the observed variations in grassland productivity across the landscape?
p.18
Scientific Method in Ecology
What follows observation in the scientific method?
Formulating a hypothesis.
p.20
Scientific Method in Ecology
What is bias in the context of observation?
When an individual observes what they want or think they ought to observe.
p.4
Types of Ecology: Autecology and Synecology
What does autecology study?
Single organisms or populations (species).
p.41
Historical Development of Ecology
What is the Humboldt Current?
A cold ocean current located along the west coast of South America.
p.42
Historical Development of Ecology
What is the significance of Darwin's work?
It contributed to the theory of evolution and the understanding of species origin.
p.30
Scientific Method in Ecology
What does the control group not receive?
The independent variable.
p.40
Historical Development of Ecology
What is the genealogy of ecology characterized by?
A complex and intertwined relationship with scientific advances in other biological and physical sciences.
p.25
Historical Development of Ecology
What type of disease was smallpox?
A deadly, contagious disease.
p.28
Scientific Method in Ecology
What is an Independent Variable?
A new factor that is to be introduced and tested.
p.47
Historical Development of Ecology
What is the title of Karl Mobius's essay that discusses the oyster bank?
An Oyster Bank is a Biocenose (1877).
p.14
Ecological Systems and Interactions
How does the forest canopy affect understory plants?
It intercepts light, modifying its availability.
p.18
Scientific Method in Ecology
What is a hypothesis?
A testable prediction based on observations.
p.22
Scientific Method in Ecology
Give an example of a hypothesis related to ecology.
The variations in the growth and productivity of grasses across the prairie landscape are a result of differences in the availability of soil nitrogen.
p.43
Historical Development of Ecology
What is the relationship between Mendel's work and Darwin's theory?
Mendel's work on inheritance complemented Darwin's theory of natural selection.
p.12
Significance of Ecology in Biology
What should constrain humans when altering the environment?
The principles of ecology.
p.39
Historical Development of Ecology
What is a key aspect of the historical development of ecology?
The evolution of ecological concepts and methodologies.
p.27
Scientific Method in Ecology
What is a hypothesis?
A testable explanation or prediction based on observation and prior knowledge.
p.20
Scientific Method in Ecology
What can science not investigate?
Anything that cannot be observed.
p.40
Historical Development of Ecology
What are the vital roots of modern ecology?
Plant geography and natural history.
p.22
Scientific Method in Ecology
What is a hypothesis?
An educated guess about what the answer to a question may be.
p.46
Historical Development of Ecology
Who were Richard Hesse and Charles Elton?
Pioneering figures in the development of animal ecology.
p.22
Scientific Method in Ecology
What should a hypothesis be a statement of?
Cause and effect that can be tested.
p.41
Historical Development of Ecology
Who was Carl Ludwig Willdenow?
A scientist who pointed out that similar climates supported vegetation similar in form, despite different species.
p.14
Ecological Systems and Interactions
What is the role of decomposers in a forest ecosystem?
They feed on dead organic matter and release nutrients to the soil.
p.8
Ecological Systems and Interactions
Why do certain organisms occur in specific locations?
Due to environmental factors such as climate, habitat, and resource availability.
p.45
Scientific Method in Ecology
What innovative method was used to measure energy and nutrient movements in ecosystems?
The use of radioactive tracers.
p.43
Historical Development of Ecology
Who was Gregor Mendel?
A scientist known for his work on the transmission of characteristics in pea plants.
p.8
Ecological Systems and Interactions
Why might an organism be absent from certain sites?
Due to factors like unsuitable habitat, competition, or predation.
p.49
Types of Ecology: Autecology and Synecology
What does community ecology aim to understand?
The origin, maintenance, and consequences of species diversity.
p.10
Definitions and Etymology of Ecology
How do people commonly confuse ecology?
With terms such as environment and environmentalism.
p.33
Scientific Method in Ecology
What sample size correlates with a 3% margin of error?
About a 1000-person sample size.
p.20
Scientific Method in Ecology
Does observation in science need to be direct?
No, it need not be direct.
p.23
Scientific Method in Ecology
What is the final step in the scientific method after concluding the results?
Communicate the results (publish the paper to scientific journals).
p.28
Scientific Method in Ecology
What are Controlled Variables?
Variables that are kept constant to avoid influencing the dependent variable.
p.46
Historical Development of Ecology
What is the title of Richard Hesse's influential work published in 1924?
Tiergeographie auflogischer grundlage, translated as Ecological Animal Geography.
p.42
Historical Development of Ecology
What did Darwin compare in his studies?
Similarities and dissimilarities among organisms within and among continents.
p.49
Types of Ecology: Autecology and Synecology
What does physiological ecology study?
The responses of individual organisms to environmental conditions like temperature, moisture, and light.
p.32
Scientific Method in Ecology
What is the purpose of peer review?
To publish results for other scientists to review and check for error, bias, or uncontrolled variables.
p.39
Historical Development of Ecology
Why is the history of ecology considered rich?
Due to its development through various scientific discoveries and theories over time.
p.30
Scientific Method in Ecology
What does the experimental group receive?
The independent variable.
p.17
Branches and Subdivisions of Ecology
What is Autecology?
The study of a single organism or populations of a single species and their relationship to their environment.
p.34
Historical Development of Ecology
What was the outcome of Dr. Jenner's work?
The results were finally published.
p.50
Conservation and Restoration Ecology
What is conservation ecology focused on?
The impact of changing land use on natural ecosystems.
p.43
Historical Development of Ecology
What principle did Thomas Malthus propose regarding population growth?
Populations grow in a geometric fashion, doubling at regular intervals until they outstrip the food supply.
p.44
Historical Development of Ecology
What did Clements believe about the development of plant communities?
They grow and develop through stages to a mature or climax state.
p.45
Historical Development of Ecology
What concepts did Lindeman influence regarding nutrient cycling?
Organic nutrient cycling and feeding levels, using the terms producers and consumers.
p.48
Types of Ecology: Autecology and Synecology
What is behavioral ecology concerned with?
Intraspecific and interspecific relationships such as mating, foraging, defense, and how behavior is influenced by natural selection.
p.42
Historical Development of Ecology
What did Darwin note about groups of plants and animals?
Successive groups, distinct yet related, replaced one another.
p.49
Types of Ecology: Autecology and Synecology
What is evolutionary ecology a combination of?
Population genetics and population ecology.
p.33
Scientific Method in Ecology
What is the margin of error?
An estimate of how different a result is from the actual value.
p.31
Scientific Method in Ecology
What does the conclusion of an experiment state?
Whether the hypothesis is supported by the experiment.
p.36
Scientific Method in Ecology
What is bias in the context of experiments?
The preference for an experiment to turn out in a certain way.
p.4
Levels of Biological Organization
What is a community in ecological terms?
A group of several kinds of organisms living together.
p.11
Branches and Subdivisions of Ecology
What does applied ecology combine?
Ecology with other natural and human sciences.
p.20
Scientific Method in Ecology
Why must observations be repeatable?
To minimize unsuspected bias.
p.36
Scientific Method in Ecology
What is the purpose of double-blind experiments?
To prevent both scientists and subjects from knowing which is the experimental group.
p.28
Historical Development of Ecology
What was the sequence of inoculation performed by Dr. Jenner?
First cowpox, then smallpox weeks later.
p.43
Historical Development of Ecology
How did Darwin develop the idea of natural selection?
From Malthus's concept of population growth and its restraints.
p.46
Historical Development of Ecology
What new direction did Shelford emphasize in ecology?
The interrelationship between plants and animals.
p.49
Types of Ecology: Autecology and Synecology
What are the two main fields that emerged from the study of populations in the 20th century?
Population ecology and evolutionary ecology.
p.19
Scientific Method in Ecology
What is the scientific method?
A sequence of steps that scientists follow to answer a question or explain an observation.
p.23
Scientific Method in Ecology
What is the first step in testing a hypothesis?
Conducting an experiment.
p.51
Definitions and Etymology of Ecology
Why is ecology considered multifaceted?
Because it has many roots and specialized areas.
p.36
Scientific Method in Ecology
What can cause bias in experiments?
Desire for fame, money, or protecting one's job.
p.36
Scientific Method in Ecology
How do blind experiments reduce bias?
By ensuring test subjects do not know whether they are in the experimental or control group.
p.6
Definitions and Etymology of Ecology
What did Elton (1987) refer to ecology as?
A scientific natural history.
p.47
Definitions and Etymology of Ecology
What does the term 'biocenose' refer to?
A complex community of interdependent organisms.
p.47
Definitions and Etymology of Ecology
What is the origin of the word 'biocenose'?
It comes from Greek, meaning life having something in common.
p.43
Historical Development of Ecology
What did Malthus identify as a force that would restrain population growth?
A strong, constantly operating force such as sickness and premature death.
p.14
Ecological Systems and Interactions
What do decomposers contribute to the growth of plants in a forest?
They release nutrients to the soil.
p.41
Historical Development of Ecology
Who was Friedrich Heinrich Alexander von Humboldt?
A scientist known for his exploration of Latin America and the Humboldt Current.
p.16
Branches and Subdivisions of Ecology
What taxonomic groups are studied in ecology?
Microbial, plant, avian, insect.
p.8
Ecological Systems and Interactions
What are the predators of certain organisms?
Predators can include larger animals, birds, or even other smaller organisms.
p.19
Scientific Method in Ecology
What has the scientific method been used for?
Some of the most famous discoveries.
p.27
Scientific Method in Ecology
What was Dr. Jenner's hypothesis regarding cowpox and smallpox?
If a person was exposed to cowpox, they would become immune to smallpox.
p.21
Scientific Method in Ecology
What is the first step in the scientific method according to the text?
Defining a problem or asking a question.
p.6
Definitions and Etymology of Ecology
How is ecology described in terms of its scientific nature?
As a multidisciplinary science.
p.2
Ecological Systems and Interactions
What is the primary focus of ecology?
The interactions between organisms and their environment.
p.22
Scientific Method in Ecology
What guides the process of developing a hypothesis?
Experience and knowledge.
p.6
Definitions and Etymology of Ecology
What does Andrewartha (1961) define ecology as?
The scientific study of the distribution and abundance of organisms.
p.48
Historical Development of Ecology
What did Konrad Lorenz and Niko Tinbergen pioneer studies on?
The role of imprinting and instinct in the social life of animals, particularly birds and fish.
p.46
Historical Development of Ecology
Who published the first textbook on animal ecology?
Charles Adams, with A Guide to the Study of Animal Ecology (1913).
p.8
Ecological Systems and Interactions
How do organisms minimize damage from wave action?
By developing adaptations such as strong anchoring structures or flexible bodies.
p.41
Historical Development of Ecology
What did Humboldt correlate in his studies?
Vegetation with environmental characteristics.
p.9
Definitions and Etymology of Ecology
What does ecology refer to in a professional context?
The professional science and its variants.
p.50
Scientific Method in Ecology
How has aerial photography and satellite technology contributed to ecology?
They provided scientists with a new perspective of the Earth's surface through remote sensing data.
p.9
Definitions and Etymology of Ecology
What is a political or philosophical aspect of ecology?
A movement incorporating environmental concerns.
p.43
Historical Development of Ecology
Who was Thomas Malthus?
An economist who advanced the principle of population growth.
p.21
Scientific Method in Ecology
What does the formulated question typically focus on?
Seeking an explanation for the observed patterns.
p.16
Levels of Biological Organization
What levels of organization are considered in ecology?
Individual, population, community, ecosystem, landscape.
p.43
Historical Development of Ecology
What did Mendel's work contribute to the study of evolution?
It provided a foundation for the study of inheritance and adaptation (population genetics).
p.8
Ecological Systems and Interactions
What are the competitors of certain organisms?
Competitors can be other species that vie for the same resources, such as food or habitat.
p.11
Definitions and Etymology of Ecology
What is the goal of pure ecology?
To search for principles governing interactions between living and non-living components on Earth.
p.50
Conservation and Restoration Ecology
What principles does conservation ecology apply?
Principles from ecology, economics, and sociology to maintain biological diversity.
p.5
Abiotic and Biotic Components
What does 'biotic' refer to?
Organic, living components.
p.42
Historical Development of Ecology
Who was Charles Darwin?
A naturalist known for his theory of evolution and the origin of species.
p.41
Historical Development of Ecology
What impact did Humboldt have on future scientists?
He led the way for new scientists to explore the relationship of plant biology and plant geography.
p.19
Scientific Method in Ecology
Why is the scientific method considered a powerful tool?
It helps in understanding nature.
p.35
Scientific Method in Ecology
What defines natural experiments?
They take place in the real world without manipulation.
p.5
Definitions and Etymology of Ecology
What does ecology study?
The relationships among organisms and between organisms and their environment.
p.45
Historical Development of Ecology
What significant paper did Raymond A. Lindeman publish in 1942?
'The Trophic-Dynamic Aspects of Ecology.'
p.5
Abiotic and Biotic Components
What does 'abiotic' refer to?
Inorganic, nonliving components.
p.35
Scientific Method in Ecology
What is a disadvantage of natural experiments?
Some natural phenomena are hard to find.
p.11
Scientific Method in Ecology
What scientific method does Environmental Science use?
Posing and testing hypotheses using field, laboratory, and mathematical approaches.
p.50
Conservation and Restoration Ecology
What is the goal of restoration ecology?
To apply principles of ecosystem development and function to restore and manage disturbed lands.
p.8
Ecological Systems and Interactions
What do organisms feed on in their ecosystems?
They may feed on plants, other animals, or decomposed organic matter, depending on their role in the food web.
p.24
Scientific Method in Ecology
What was the result of Jenner's experiment?
The boy did not contract smallpox after exposure.
p.49
Types of Ecology: Autecology and Synecology
What does population ecology focus on?
Population growth, regulation, competition, mutualism, and predation.
p.28
Scientific Method in Ecology
What is a Dependent Variable?
The measured result that is influenced by the independent variable.
p.42
Historical Development of Ecology
What did Johannes Warming integrate into a coherent whole?
Plant morphology, physiology, taxonomy, and biogeography.
p.16
Branches and Subdivisions of Ecology
What are the divisions of ecology based on the system studied?
Marine, freshwater, terrestrial, forest, lake.
p.47
Significance of Ecology in Biology
Which principles did W. C. Allee and others emphasize in their work?
Feeding relationships, energy budgets, population dynamics, and natural selection and evolution.
p.18
Scientific Method in Ecology
What can be done if the hypothesis is not supported by the data?
Revise the hypothesis and retest.
p.24
Scientific Method in Ecology
What conclusion did Jenner draw from his experiment?
That cowpox vaccination could protect against smallpox.
p.49
Types of Ecology: Autecology and Synecology
What is the focus of community ecology?
Species interactions within ecological communities.
p.8
Ecological Systems and Interactions
What organisms are studied in ecology?
Various species of plants, animals, and microorganisms.
p.4
Types of Ecology: Autecology and Synecology
What does synecology focus on?
Groups of several kinds of organisms.
p.16
Branches and Subdivisions of Ecology
What are the divisions of ecology based on mechanism/function?
Physiological, mathematical, chemical, ecotoxicology, conservation.
p.46
Historical Development of Ecology
What did Victor Shelford contribute to animal ecology in 1913?
He wrote Animal Communities in Temperate America.
p.41
Historical Development of Ecology
What rivers did Humboldt explore?
The Orinoco and Amazon rivers.
p.24
Scientific Method in Ecology
What step of the scientific method did Jenner conduct after forming his hypothesis?
Experimentation, by inoculating a boy with cowpox.
p.8
Ecological Systems and Interactions
What causes the death of certain organisms?
Factors such as predation, disease, environmental changes, or lack of resources.
