Introduction to Ecology
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Questions and Answers

What does the scientific method require of a hypothesis?

  • It must be falsifiable. (correct)
  • It should be based on opinions.
  • It should be complex and detailed.
  • It must be based on emotions.

What is the main focus of ecology as a scientific discipline?

  • The classification of non-living materials.
  • Understanding individual emotions.
  • The interaction of living organisms with their environment. (correct)
  • Identifying human impacts on urban settings.

Which of the following best describes the role of evidence in science?

  • Evidence is static and does not change over time.
  • Evidence can be ignored if it contradicts existing beliefs.
  • Evidence is used to confirm that concepts are always correct.
  • Evidence is a method to prove concepts wrong. (correct)

Which level of ecological organization focuses on the distribution and abundance of species?

<p>Community (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What series of steps is primarily used in scientific investigations?

<p>Hypothesis formation, experimentation, observation. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What primarily determines the salinity of seawater?

<p>The concentration of Sodium Chloride (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which factor most significantly affects the oxygen levels in lakes during summer?

<p>Water stratification (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the typical salinity range for freshwater bodies?

<p>0.065 ‰ to 0.30 ‰ (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In which part of the ocean are the maximum oxygen levels typically found?

<p>In the upper 10 to 20 meters (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What happens to additional solutes once maximum solubility is reached in water?

<p>They precipitate from the water (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the basic unit of study in Ecology?

<p>Individual Organism (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What defines a population in ecological terms?

<p>A group of individuals of the same species in a specified area (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

At which level do ecologists study individual interactions between organisms?

<p>Individual (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following levels of ecological organization includes physical conditions and biological organisms?

<p>Ecosystem (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a biome characterized by?

<p>Similar geological and climatic conditions (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What level of ecological organization links communities and ecosystems?

<p>Landscape (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT an abiotic component important to organisms?

<p>Competition (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

At what ecological level do scientists study the interactions among multiple species?

<p>Community (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary driving force of the hydrologic cycle?

<p>Solar radiation (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is unique about the density of ice compared to liquid water?

<p>Ice is less dense than liquid water (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'evapotranspiration' refer to?

<p>Combined evaporation and transpiration (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does surface tension in water primarily arise?

<p>Greater cohesion among water molecules (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the main consequence of a saturated soil layer during rainfall?

<p>Surface runoff occurs (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which aquatic layer contains colder, denser water?

<p>Hypolimnion (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which property of water allows aquatic organisms to experience buoyancy?

<p>Greater density than air (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which wavelengths of light penetrate water less effectively?

<p>Red light (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What process occurs when precipitation falls onto vegetation and evaporates back to the atmosphere?

<p>Interception (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What characteristic of water helps regulate temperature within living organisms?

<p>Temperature stability (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a solution in the context of water chemistry?

<p>A liquid with a homogeneous mixture of substances (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What primarily drives the distribution of heat in the surface waters of aquatic environments?

<p>Direct sunlight absorption (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does 'frictional resistance' of water primarily relate to?

<p>Viscosity of water (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Ecology

The study of interactions between organisms and their environment, at different levels.

Scientific Method

A systematic approach to understanding the natural world through observation. It involves a hypothesis, which is a testable explanation for an observation.

Hypothesis

A proposed explanation or prediction that can be tested. It has to be testable and falsifiable.

Testable Hypothesis

A hypothesis that can be examined and evaluated by observation to prove/disprove.

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Falsifiable Hypothesis

Hypothesis formulated in a way that it can be proven wrong or incorrect, through testing and experimentation.

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Ecology Definition

Ecology is the scientific study of how organisms interact with each other and their environment.

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Ecological Levels

Ecology studies life at different scales, from individual organisms to the entire planet.

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Population (Ecology)

A group of individuals of the same species living in the same area.

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Community (Ecology)

All the populations of different species living and interacting in the same area.

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Ecosystem (Ecology)

The environment where organisms live, including physical factors (temperature, light) and other organisms.

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Biosphere (Ecology)

The thin layer surrounding Earth that supports all life.

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Organism Interactions

Organisms interact with each other through competition, predation, or mutualism.

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Organism-Environment Interactions

Organisms are affected by the conditions of their environment (e.g., temperature).

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Aquatic environment solute concentration

Freshwater bodies have much lower solute concentrations (ions) than saltwater bodies.

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Solubility saturation

Water can only dissolve and retain a certain amount of solutes, a point called saturation. Excess solutes will precipitate.

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Salinity measurement

Salinity is primarily determined by the concentration of chlorine in seawater and expressed as parts per thousand (‰).

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Oxygen diffusion in water

Oxygen diffuses from the atmosphere into surface waters, then deeper, but can become stratified in still water bodies.

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Oxygen concentration in water

Oxygen content in flowing water is higher due to increased exposure to the atmosphere. Maximum oxygen occurs in the upper layers of most oceans.

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Essential substance of life

Water is the primary substance required for all living things.

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Hydrologic Cycle

The continuous movement of water between the Earth and the atmosphere.

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Driving force of the Hydrologic Cycle

Solar radiation provides the energy needed for water evaporation.

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Precipitation

Water falling from the atmosphere to the Earth's surface.

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Infiltration

Water soaking into the soil.

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Surface Runoff

Water flowing over the soil surface.

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Groundwater

Water that collects underground.

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Evapotranspiration

The total loss of water from the Earth's surface back into the air.

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Water's Temperature Stability

Water can absorb and lose large amounts of heat without changing its temperature significantly, stabilizing aquatic habitats.

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Ice's Density

Ice is less dense than liquid water, causing it to float.

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Cohesion

Attraction among water molecules due to hydrogen bonding.

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Adhesion

Attraction between water molecules and other substances.

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Surface Tension

The tendency of water to resist external forces due to cohesion.

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Viscosity

The resistance of a liquid to flow, related to its density.

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Buoyancy

Upward force exerted by water on an object.

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Light Absorption by Water

Long wavelengths of light are absorbed first. Blue light penetrates deep.

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Study Notes

Introduction to Ecology

  • Ecology is the scientific study of the relationship between organisms and their environment, including both biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) components.
  • Ecology is an interdisciplinary science, encompassing many fields of study.
  • Ecology examines interactions within natural systems, which can be complex.

Life's Scale in Ecology

  • Ecological studies can range from the molecular level up to global scales.
  • Biologists study life across various levels, from atoms to molecules, organelles, cells, tissues, organs, organ systems, organisms, populations, communities, ecosystems, and the biosphere.

The Nature of Ecology: Populations, Communities, Ecosystems

  • A population consists of all individuals of the same species in a given area.
  • A community includes all populations of different species interacting within an ecosystem.
  • An ecosystem comprises the community and its physical environment.

The Nature of Ecology: Landscapes and Biomes

  • Landscapes are larger areas of land or water, comprised of different communities and ecosystems.
  • Biomes are geographic regions with characteristic conditions, like tropical rainforests, deserts, and grasslands.
  • Major biomes are present throughout North America.

The Nature of Ecology: Organisms and their Environments

  • Organisms interact with each other, competing for resources or in predator-prey relationships, and in mutualistic ways.
  • Organisms interact with their physical environment at multiple levels; factors like temperature, light, oxygen, and carbon dioxide influence an organism's physiology.

The Nature of Ecology: Ecology as a Science

  • Ecology is a continuous process of testing and refining concepts.
  • Scientific exploration involves making observations, recording data, organizing it, drawing conclusions and classifying observations.
  • Ecologists ask questions, investigating patterns at different ecological levels: the individual, population, community, and ecosystem, to better understand ecological processes and relationships.

Water and Aquatic Environments

  • Water is vital to life, covering 75% of the Earth.
  • Water's properties, like cohesion, adhesion, surface tension, high viscosity, and temperature regulation, influence the aquatic environment.
  • Freshwater and saltwater habitats differ in their salinity and solute content..
  • Water interacts with organisms in lakes, ponds, rivers, estuaries and oceans.
  • The hydrologic cycle is an important cycle in water environments.
  • Light penetration and temperature variation in water affect the distribution and adaptations of aquatic organisms.
  • Oxygen levels also play a critical role for aquatic organisms.

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Introduction to Ecology PDF

Description

This quiz covers the foundational concepts of ecology, examining the relationships between organisms and their environment. From the intricate interactions within ecosystems to the various levels of biological organization, this quiz explores essential ecological principles. Test your knowledge on populations, communities, ecosystems, and the broader scales of ecological study.

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