NS 201 Exam 1 Questions And Answers All Correct.

Studies the physical world, its phenomena and processes. Some divide it into Life Sciences, which includes living things and biology, and Physical Sciences -- Non-living matter such as chemistry and physics. - Correct Answers Natural Science Basic Science or "pure" science seeks to expand knowledge regardless of the short-term application of that knowledge. Applied Science or technology, aims to use science to solve real-world problems, making it possible, for example, to improve a crop yield, find a cure for a particular disease, or save animals threatened. - Correct Answers Basic Science vs. Applied Science A hypothesis is a suggested explanation for an observation or event. A hypothesis can be tested. A hypothesis can be falsifiable or proven false. - Correct Answers The Scientific Method A theory is a hypothesis that has been tested repetitively over time by many people and has not been disproven. - Correct Answers Theory Is any part of the experiment that can vary or change during the experiment. - Correct Answers Variable A researcher must look at only one factor at a time that can vary or change -- this factor is the response variable. - Correct Answers Response Variable A control is part of the experiment that does not change. All other factors are controlled meaning they are or held constant. - Correct Answers Control Inductive Reasoning -- Related observations are used to arrive at a general conclusion. Common in descriptive science. Deductive Reasoning -- Uses a general principle or law to predict specific results by testing a specific hypothesis. Hypothesis-based science. - Correct AnswersInductive vs. Deductive Reasoning Biodiversity, or Biological Diversity, refers to the variety and variability of life on earth. - Correct AnswersBiodiversity - Genetic Diversity - Species Diversity - Ecosystem Diversity - Correct AnswersThree Levels of Biodiversity Genetic diversity comprises genetic variation within a population and between populations. - Correct AnswersGenetic Diversity Species diversity of a community is the variety of organisms that make up the community. It has two components: species richness and relative abundance. Species richness is the number of different species in the community. Relative abundance is the proportion each species represents of all individuals in the community. - Correct AnswersSpecies Diversity The Shannon Equitability Index is a way to measure the evenness of species in a community. The higher the value of H, the higher the diversity of species in a particular community. The lower the value of H, the lower the diversity. A value of H = 0 indicates a community that only has one species. - Correct AnswersShannon Diversity Index Ecosystem Diversity is the variety of ecosystems in the biosphere (earth). - Correct AnswersEcosystem Diversity Basic Unit of Evolution - Correct AnswersPopulation Biogeography is a study of the past and present geographic distribution of the world's species. Biodiversity Hotspot: 1500 or more species of endemic plants and 70% of area disturbed by human activities. Endemic Species are found in only 1 location. - Correct AnswersBiogeography Evapotranspiration is evaporation of water from soil plus transpiration of water from plants. - Correct AnswersEvapotranspiration The species-area curve quantifies the idea that, all other factors being equal, a larger geographic area has more species. - Correct AnswersSpecies-Area Curve Ecosystem services encompass all the processes through which natural ecosystems and their species help sustain human life. - Correct AnswersEcosystem Services An endangered species is "in danger of becoming extinct throughout all or a significant portion of its range". A threatened species is likely to become endangered in the foreseeable future. - Correct AnswersLoss of Species Diversity - Habitat destruction - Introduced or Exotic species + Overharvesting - Global change - Correct AnswersThreats to Biodiversity Human alteration of habitat is the greatest threat to biodiversity throughout the biosphere. - Correct AnswersHabitat Destruction Introduced or exotic species are those that humans move from native locations to new geographic regions. - Correct AnswersIntroduced or Exotic Species Overharvesting is human harvesting of wild plants or animals at rates exceeding the ability of populations of those species to rebound. - Correct AnswersOverharvesting CO2, water vapor,and other greenhouse gases reflect infrared radiation back toward Earth; this is the greenhouse effect. Increasing concentration of atmospheric CO2 is linked to increasing global temperature. This effect is important for keeping the Earth's surface at a habitable temperature. - Correct AnswersThe Greenhouse Effect and Climate One pressing problem caused by human activities is the rising level of atmospheric CO2. Due to burning of fossil fuels and other human activities, the concentration of atmospheric CO2 has been steadily increasing. - Correct AnswersClimate Change - Changing Human Behavior - Habitat Restoration - Establishing Protected areas or Nature Reserves - Correct AnswersConservation of Biodiversity A population is a group of individuals of a single species living in the same general area. Population ecology is the study of populations in relation to their environment, including environmental influences on density and distribution, age structure, and population size. - Correct AnswersPopulation Ecology Density is the number of individuals per unit area or volume -- Quantitative Descriptor. Dispersion is the pattern of spacing among individuals within the boundaries of the population -- Spatial Descriptor. - Correct AnswersDensity and Dispersion Scientists capture, tag, and release a random sample of individuals (s) in a population. Marked individuals are given time to mix back into the population. Scientists capture a second sample of individuals (n), and note how many of them are marked (x). Population size (N) is estimated by s/N = x/n, or N = sn/X. - Correct AnswersMark-Recapture Method Immigration is the influx of new individuals from other areas. Emigration is the movement of individuals out of a population. N = Births + Immigration - Deaths - Emigration. - Correct AnswersImmigration and Emigration - Clumped - Uniform - Random Dispersion - Correct Answers3 Patterns of Dispersion In a clumped dispersion, individuals aggregate in patches and may be influenced by resource availability and behavior. A uniform dispersion is one in which individuals are evenly distributed, and may be influenced by social interactions such as territoriality. In a random dispersion, the position of each individuals is independent of others, and occurs in the absence of strong attractions or repulsions. - Correct Answers3 Patterns of Dispersion PT. 2 Demography is the study of the vital statistics of a population and how they change over time. - Correct AnswersDemographics A life table is an age-specific summary of the survival pattern of a population. It is best made by following the fate of the cohort, a group of individuals of the same age. - Correct AnswersLife Table A survivorship curve is a graphic way of representing the data in a life table. - Correct AnswersSurvivorship Curve Type I: Low death rates during early and middle life and an increase in death rates among older age groups. Type II: A constant death rate over the organism's life span. Type III: High death rates for the young and a lower death rate for survivors. - Correct AnswersSurvivorship Curve PT. 2 Metapopulations are groups of populations linked by immigration and emigration. - Correct AnswersMetapopulation Exponential population growth is population increase under idealized conditions. - Correct AnswersExponential Growth Model In the logistic population growth model, the per capita rate of increase declines as carrying capacity is reached. Carrying capacity (K) is the maximum population size the environment can support. - Correct AnswersLogistic Growth Model Individuals have a more difficult time surviving or reproducing if the population size is too relatively small. - Correct Answers Allee Effect An organism's life history comprises the traits that affect its schedule of reproduction and survival. - Correct Answers Life History Semelparous species that exhibit semelparity, or big-bang reproduction, reproduce once and die. Iteroparous species that exhibit iteroparity, or repeated reproduction, produce offspring repeatedly. Highly variable or unpredictable environments likely favor semelparity, while dependable environments may favor iteroparity. - Correct AnswersSemelparity vs. Iteroparity r-selection, or density-independent selection, selects for life history traits that maximize reproduction -- think per capita growth rate, r. K-selection, or density dependent selection, selects for life history