Parts of an Experiment
First step of an experiment
asking a question
the benefits people get from healthy ecosystems
ecosystem services
An ecosystem with a boundary that is difficult to cross
island
an event that affects the living parts (biotic factors) and non-living parts (abiotic factors) of an ecosystem
natural disruption
An ecosystem with a diversity of species (high biodiversity)
polyculture
Once an experiment is completed, it should be ___________ for more accurate results
repeated
Material or energy outputs from an ecosystem (that we can directly use or trade)
provisioning services
size (smaller island = less resources)
Disruptions that occur at repeated intervals
i.e. ocean tides, the seasons
periodic natural disruptions
An ecosystem with a limited number of species or single species
monoculture
A potential explanation for the question being investigated (hint: you create this before doing the actual experiment)
hypothesis
Maintenance of the ecosystem processes that keep our planet running stably; the foundation of all other ecosystem services
regulating or supporting ecosystem services
Colonization rate of an island habitat is most directly determined by the island's _________
distance (from the mainland)
Natural disruptions that occur occasionally and at irregular intervals
i.e. El Nino, fires, storms, flooding, volcano eruptions, earthquakes, etc
episodic natural disruptions
A heritable, genetic change to behavioral or physical characteristics favored by natural selection
adaptation
The part of the experiment that is controlled by the scientist aka the manipulated variable
independent variable
Non-material/non-financial benefits that ecosystems provide to human societies and culture
cultural services
Competition in island habitats will either lead to ________, ________, or _________
(your team must get at least 2/3 for the points!)
specialization, speciation, or extinction
Natural disruptions that are unpredictable
i.e. the asteroid that made non-avian dinosaurs go extinct
random natural disruptions
Sources of genetic variation for natural selection to act upon
(your team must list 2/3 for the points!)
standing genetic variation (allelic diversity); new mutation; gene flow
The part of the experiment that changes as a result of the independent variable
dependent variable
What type of ecosystem service is nitrogen fixation?
supporting
The species richness in an island habitat is dependent on the __________ ______ and __________ ______
colonization rate and extinction rate
Natural disruptions can be either ________ or ________ to an ecosystem depending on the severity and frequency
A random genetic change that increases an individual's fitness (chances of reproduction) and thus favored by natural selection; can become an adaptation if passed down over generations
beneficial mutation