Experimental Design
Statistics
Sustainability
Populations & Communities
Ecology
100
This is the kind of variable that you purposefully manipulate.
What is the INDEPENDENT VARIABLE?
100
This is the definition of continuous variation, and what biological factors (genes and/or the environment) determine it.
What is a data set that includes a RANGE of values, or can include in-between numbers, and is usually determined by both GENETICS and the ENVIRONMENT.
100
Define the term 'sustainability' as used by environmentalists.
What is "when a community meets its present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs?"
100
Leeches often attach to the tongue of a crocodile and feed on the crocodile's blood. The Egyptian plover is a bird that flies into the mouth of the crocodile and eats the leeches. The crocodiles do not harm the plover. What term describes the relationship between the plover and the crocodile? ~ A.) commensalism. ~ B.) mutualism. ~ C.) parasitism. ~ D.) amensalism.
What is B: (MUTUALISM because they both benefit)?
100
This is an example of a density-independent factor limiting human population growth. A. social pressure for birth control. B. earthquakes C. plagues D. famines E. pollution
What is B: (NATURAL DISASTERS are INDEPENDENT OF POPULATION DENSITY)
200
This is the kind of variable that you measure as a response.
What is the DEPENDENT VARIABLE?
200
This is the definition of categorical data, and what biological factors (genes and/or the environment) determine it.
What is a set of data that can be measured into different GROUPS with no in-betweens. Often the result of GENETICS alone.
200
An indicator is: ~ A.) an observation or calculation that shows the presence or state of a condition or trend. ~ B.) a numerical quantity that is disputed by scientists studying a community. ~ C.) the observation or calculation that entirely determines if a state or condition is sustainable. ~ D.) the aspect of a community that is not sustainable.
What is A?
200
Which of the following explains why producers are always found at the beginning of a food chain? ~ A.) producers convert light energy into chemical potential energy. ~ B.) producers are found in fewer numbers than consumers. ~ C.) consumers are eaten by a variety of producers. ~ D.) consumers are larger than producers.
What is A (energy transformations are a necessity of all food chains)?
200
With a few exceptions, most food chains have a maximum of how many links (trophic levels)? A. 2 B. 3 C. 5 D. 10 E. 15
What is C: (5 because there is not enough energy to passed up further tropic levels)
300
A good research question should written to include these three things. (fill in the blanks): "What are the effects of _________ on ___________?"
What (INDEPENDENT VARIABLE) on (DEPENDENT VARIABLE)?
300
This is the statistical test used to compare whether there is a difference between two sets of continuous data.
What is a T-TEST?
300
Which of the following sets of indicators of sustainability is significantly higher in North America than other regions of the world? ~ A.) HIV deaths, human population. ~ B.) CO2 emissions, malnutrition. ~ C.) CO2 emissions, GDP. ~ D.) human population, number of threatened species.
What is C?
300
A biologist is studying a freshwater ecosystem in a creek. She notes that the following are found in her study area: gravel, plants, snails, fish. Which of those would constitute the community in this ecosystem?
What are the PLANTS, SNAILS AND FISH (the Biotic Factors in that particular Area)?
300
This term encompasses (includes) all of the others. A. heterotrophs B. herbivores C. carnivores D. primary consumers E. secondary consumers
What is A: (HETEROTROPHS include all consumers)
400
On a graph, error bars could represent either of these two things.
What either the RANGE or STANDARD DEVIATION?
400
This is the statistical test used to compare whether there is a statistical difference between two or more sets of categorical data.
What is a CHI-SQUARED test? (x^2)
400
The decline of the quality of soil, water, or vegetation that is due to human activities is called: ~ A.) soil inclination. ~ B.) land degradation. ~ C.) product life cycle. ~ D.) ecological footprint.
What is B?
400
An example of a population is: ~ A.) all the Sailia sialis (Eastern Bluebird) in Missouri. ~ B.) all the fish in Lake Tahoe. ~ C.) the number of different species of Solenopsis (ants) in a geographic area. ~ D.) the number of wolves, eld, and aspen trees in a forest
What is A (a number of the SAME SPECIES in a certain AREA)?
400
In general, the total biomass in a terrestrial ecosystem will be greatest for this trophic level.
What are producers (autotrophs)?
500
In the conclusion of a scientific report, the evaluation portion should include these two things.
What are LIMITATIONS of the investigation, and IMPROVEMENTS on how to address the limitations?
500
Comparing two sets of categorical data gives you a p-value of 0.4. This is your interpretation of whether they are significantly different or not.
Why are they NOT SIGNIFICANTLY DIFFERENT (because the p-value is larger than the 0.05 cutoff)?
500
Explain why the product life cycle of a soda can is not really a "cycle."
The terms "cycle" is misleading because the resources used to make a product are NOT NECESSARILY RECLAIMED and continually cycled through the product. Since ADDITIONAL ENERGY and/or MATERIAL MUST BE ADDED every time a new soda can is produced, the life cycle of a soda can is NOT A CLOSED LOOP.
500
Spotted knapweed is a plant that was introduced to the United States from Europe and Asia. It spreads rapidly and is poisonous to other plants. It has become a problem in the pastures and rangeland of the Western United States. The Spotted knapweed, in this scenario, is an example of: ~ A.) a native species. ~ B.) an invasive species. ~ C.) a consumer. ~ D.) an indicator.
What is B? (INVASIVE SPECIES) where a nonnative species enters a new area, causing harm to the native species and environment.
500
Approximately this many kg of carnivore production can be supported by a field plot containing 2000 kg of plant material.
What is 20kg: (2000 plant -> 200 herbivore -> 20 carnivore)
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