Aim: How do we apply our knowledge of biology? (Part I)

Study for MidtermCastle Learning due BEFORE MIDTERM!

WEDNESDAY 1/25 8amExtra Help: Friday, Monday, Tuesday 3-4 pm.

I. Steps of the Scientific Method

A process scientists go through to solve a problem.STEPS1. Problem2. Research/Observation3. Hypothesis4. Procedure5. Results6. Analysis/Conclusion7. Repeat

ExamplesSahara has a fish tank at home with 12 goldfish. She

notices that the fish seem to eat more food when the lamp near the tank is turned on. Because she wants her fish to be healthy she decides to perform an experiment entitled: “How does light affect the amount of food a goldfish will eat?”

Hypothesis – If the light is on, then the fish will eat more. 8. Identify the independent and dependent variable in

the problem statement above:Independent Variable - lightDependent Variable – amount of food eaten

Examples9. If performing an experiment to determine the number of

flowers that will grow in green light, how many Flowers (sample size) should we use? Why?

Lots of flowers, more data, better results10. What is a variable?

Anything that changes during an experiment 11. Why MUST an experiment only have ONE variable that is

being tested? To make sure that only ONE thing is affecting the results

12. How do the control and experimental groups compare?The control group gets the NORMAL treatmentThe experimental group gets the EXPERIMENTAL treatment

II. Tables and Graphs• The Independent Variable is always on the

X axis• The Dependent Variable is always on the

Y axis13. Determine the independent and dependent variable from

the graph and data table below:

• I = year I = time• D = number of individuals D = battery charge (%)

III. Ecology and Ecosystems

14.Biotic Factors – living things in an ecosystem15. Examples of biotic limiting factors are predators, disease, food16. Abiotic Factors – non-living things in an ecosystem17. Examples of abiotic limiting factors are:

sunlight, temperature, water, oxygen

Ecology and Ecosystems

18. The environment is divided into sections from smallest to largest which are:

Individual, population, community, ecosystem, biome and biosphereLimiting Factors - anything that restricts the size of a population

19. What is carrying capacity? the maximum number of organisms that can live in

one place20. The primary source of energy is the sun21. How are producers involved in a food web?

They make energy available to other organisms

Ecology and EcosystemsA food web demonstrates the transfer of

energy from one organism to another.21. Which organisms are producers

trees, shrubs, grass22. Which organisms are primary

consumers? deer, rabbit, mouse, cricket23. How will other organisms be affected

if there was an increase in the mountain lion population?rabbits, deer increasegrass, tree, shrubs decrease

Energy and Biomass Pyramids24. The bottom has the most amount of energy.25. The top has the least amount of energy.26. There are more producers than any other

organism. Why?no energy is lost yet

Biodiversity refers to all the different types of organisms that live in an ecosystem.

27. As biodiversity increases, ecosystem stability increases. Why?

more options for organisms to feed on 28.Humans destroy biodiversity by destroying

ecosystems

Ecosystem Relationships29. mutualism – both benefit ( + , + )30. commensalism – one benefits and other is

unaffected ( + , 0 )31. Parasite/host – parasite benefits and host

is affected ( + , - )32. Predator/prey – predator benefits and

prey is eaten( + , - )

Ecological SuccessionIn Ecological Succession, A certain area will change

over time. Simple pioneer organisms will form, then grasses and flowers, then shrubs and eventually trees will form creating a complex community. Sometimes, ponds will fill up with dead organic matter and eventually become a forest.

IV Human Impact on the Environment33. Renewable Resources: resources that can be used again and again ex. Wood, water, solar

power34. Nonrenewable Resources: resources that can only be used once ex. Fossil fuelsGreenhouse Effect35. Gases such as carbon dioxide and methane in atmosphere trap

the Sun’s heat, increasing the temperature of the earth.36. How do we increase the levels of carbon dioxide in the air?

industrial processesOverpopulation leads to a need for more products and more

machinery to manufacture those products, which then in turn increases pollution and habitat destruction

37. What are some alternative forms of energy that are destructive to the environment?wood, coal, oil, nuclear