Aim: How do we apply
our knowledge of
biology? (Part I)
Study for Midterm
Castle Learning due BEFORE MIDTERM!
WEDNESDAY 1/25 8am
Extra Help: Friday, Monday, Tuesday 3-4 pm.
I. Steps of the Scientific Method
A process scientists go through to solve a problem.
STEPS
1. Problem
2. Research/Observation
3. Hypothesis
4. Procedure
5. Results
6. Analysis/Conclusion
7. Repeat
Examples
Sahara 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 - light
Dependent Variable – amount of food eaten
Examples
9. 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 results
10. 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 treatment
The 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 axis
13. Determine the independent and dependent variable from
the graph and data table below:
• I = year
• D = number of individuals
I = time
D = battery charge (%)
III. Ecology and Ecosystems
14.Biotic Factors –
living things in an ecosystem
15. Examples of biotic limiting factors are
predators, disease, food
16. Abiotic Factors –
non-living things in an ecosystem
17. 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 biosphere
Limiting Factors - anything that restricts the size of
a population
19. What is carrying capacity?
the maximum number of organisms that can live in
one place
20. The primary source of energy is the sun
21. How are producers involved in a food web?
They make energy available to other organisms
Ecology and Ecosystems
A food web demonstrates the transfer of
energy from one organism to another.
21. Which organisms are producers
trees, shrubs, grass
22. Which organisms are primary
consumers?
deer, rabbit, mouse, cricket
23. How will other organisms be affected
if there was an increase in the
mountain lion population?
rabbits, deer increase
grass, tree, shrubs decrease
Energy and Biomass Pyramids
24. 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 Relationships
29. mutualism
30. commensalism
31. Parasite/host
32. Predator/prey
– both benefit ( + , + )
– one benefits and other is
unaffected ( + , 0 )
– parasite benefits and host
is affected ( + , - )
– predator benefits and
prey is eaten( + , - )
Ecological Succession
In 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 Environment
33. Renewable Resources:
resources that can be used again and again ex. Wood, water, solar
power
34. Nonrenewable Resources:
resources that can only be used once ex. Fossil fuels
Greenhouse Effect
35. 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 processes
Overpopulation 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