IDS Unit One Objectives
Chapter 1: The Nature of Ecology
1. Describe how the terms population, community, ecosystem, and biosphere are related in a
hierarchy.
2. Scientific Method
a. Know and apply the steps of the Scientific Method to different experimental set-ups.
b. Be able to design a scientific experiment that would apply to a given problem.
c. Be able to write a hypothesis based on a problem presented.
d. Be able to distinguish between dependent, independent, and control variables.
e. What are the strengths and weaknesses of the Scientific Method?
f. Provide examples of inductive and deductive statements.
g. What is anthropomorphism and how does it relate to the scientific method?
h. What is teleology and how does it relate to the scientific method?
3. Define, recognize, and provide examples of the two basic interacting components of an
ecosystem (biotic and abiotic)
a. Provide examples of how these two interact in an ecosystem.
4. Discuss and give examples of how form fits function with respect to living organisms.
Chapter 2: The Organism and its Environment
1. What is Homeostasis? Recognize and discuss examples of this.
2. Positive and negative feedback:
a. How do Negative and Positive feedback relate to an organisms homeostasis?
b. Define and give examples of each feedback type.
c. Be able to diagram, label, and/or interpret diagrams representing each feedback type.
3. Explain the meaning of environmental tolerance. Be able to graph and explain a graph of
environmental tolerance.
4. Discuss the relationship between the environment and the distribution and abundance of
organisms.
5. How does climate and weather affect the distribution and abundance of organisms?
6. Terms to define:
Adaptation
Leibig’s law of the minimum
niche
Chapter 3: Key Processes of Exchange
1. Photosynthesis
a. Write the chemical equation for photosynthesis.
b. How is the structure of a leaf related to different types of photosynthesis?
c. Describe the structures and chemicals in a leaf involved in photosynthesis.
d. Describe the process of C3 photosynthesis.
e. Discuss and describe how C4 and CAM photosynthesis are adaptations to warm and
arid Environments.
2. Show the relationship between water loss and CO2 uptake in photosynthesis.
3. How would climate and weather influence the rate of photosynthesis?
4. Contrast photosynthesis and respiration.
5. Be able to write and interpret the respiration equation.
6. Be able to interpret data related to photosynthetic experiments and or respiration
experiments.
IDS Unit 1 Objectives (page 1)
Systematics: Seeking Order Amidst Diversity
1. What are the five kingdoms?
a. Be able to place representative organisms in their proper Kingdom.
b. Where do viruses fit and why?
2. What are the 6 basic levels of taxonomic classification? How can one use these levels to
infer structural and genetic similarities amongst organisms?
3. What is binomial nomenclature? Why is it important? What is a Scientific Name?
What information can it tell you?
4. Describe and categorize organisms into the trophic levels encountered in the Diversity
Identification lab.
5. The Animal Kingdom
a. Describe and Match representative organisms to the phyla listed.
b. Describe the defining characteristics of each phyla listed.
c. Be able to construct a key using these defining characteristics that would differentiate
each of the phyla below.
d. Describe adaptations to weather or climate exhibited by representatives of each phyla.
Porifera
Cnidaria
Platyhelminthes
Nematoda
Annelida
Arthropoda
Mollusca
Echinodermata
Chordata
6. The Plant Kingdom
a. Describe and Match representative organisms to the Phyla (Divisions):
Hepatophyta
Bryophyta
Sphenophyta
Pteridophyta
Anthophyta
Coniferophyta
b. List the major differences between Bryophytes and Tracheophytes.
Which type is less complex in structure? Why?
c. Why are horsetails and ferns considered to be "lower" vascular plants?
d. What is the major difference between an Angiosperm and a Gymnosperm?
e. Why are Angiosperms the most dominant group of land plants?
f. What is a Vascular System?
g. What is the function of xylem and phloem?
h. Describe adaptations to weather or climate exhibited by representatives of each phyla.
IDS Unit 1 Objectives (page 2)
Lecture Materials not readily found in Smith and Smith Chapters 1-3
1. Blue Planet Chapter 15 reference
a. What is the hierarchy of the organization of matter that applies to all living things?
b. What is the difference between a prokaryote and a eukaryote?
c. Autotrophs and Heterotrophs:
i. Differentiate between an autotroph and a heterotroph.
ii. Describe the energy acquiring pathways of heterotrophs and autotrophs.
2. Describe and discuss the shared properties of all living things. Be able to discuss the
implications and consequences of these shared properties.
Microscope labs
1. Describe the proper use of a microscope.
2. Know the parts and functions of the two types of microscopes encountered.
3. Apply the knowledge, principals, and techniques encountered in the microscope lab to
new situations.
4. Be prepared to convert from one metric unit to another.
5. What is the low power field of view in mm and um? (microns)
6. Given the diameter of the field of view for an objective lens, be able to compute the field
of view for the other objective lenses on the same scope.
7. Determine the Total Magnification when using different objectives.
8. Field Size and Magnification: What happens to the size of the field of view as
magnification is increased?, decreased? What are the consequences of this when
viewing specimens under the microscope?
9. What is resolution?
10. What two weird visual things happen to the IMAGE of the letter e when you view it under
the microscope compared to when you view it in its normal setting with your eye?
11. Be able to estimate the dimensions (width, length, diameter, etc.) of an object viewed
under the microscope using mm and/or um.
12. Predict the order that different layers of an object would come into focus based upon how
the object is brought into focus.
13. Sketch and properly label cells, organisms, and their parts you observed in the
microscope labs.
IDS Unit 1 Objectives (page 3)
IDS Unit 1 Objectives (page 4)