Unit 1: How We Do Science
What are dependent and independent variables?
The dependent variable is something you measure, and the independent variable is something you purposely change throughout the experiment.
What are keystone species?
An animals that is an integral part of the ecosystem. It keeps all the other animals in check.
What is evolution?
It is the process in which organisms change over time.
What are the parts of a CER?
Claim, Evidence, Reasoning.
What is the definition of natural selection?
Evolution in response to the environment.
What are the 3 types of graphs? When should you use them.
Bar graph, scatterplot, and line graph. You use a bar graph when there is non-numerical data. You use a line graph when the independent variable directly affects the dependent variable. You would use a scatterplot when there is a correlation between 2 different numerical values.
What are the different levels of a Trophic Pyramid?
Primary producer, primary consumer, secondary consumer, and tertiary consumer.
Clade diagrams are meant to represent all the different branches of organisms that an animal has split into. It also represents how different families have evolved over time.
What is the proper way to measure salinity, nitrates, and nitrites?
PPM (parts per million).
What is the difference between abiotic and biotic factors?
Biotic factors are anything living or something that has lived, while abiotic has never lived.
What are the different pre-fixes for the metric system?
Deci, centi, milli, micro, and nano.
Deca, hecta, kilo, mega, and giga.
What do the arrows in a food web represent?
They represent the flow of energy from animal to animal.
What are clades?
They are specific groups of animals such as mammals or reptiles. They could be smaller to only include things like lizards.
What are stars and how are they made?
Stars are first made in nebula's, and over the course of millions of years gravity will collapse part of the nebula into a cloud core. Gravity will become so strong that nuclear fusion will begin, which creates heat, and starts to ignite hydrogen. This creates the star that contains mainly hydrogen, helium, and other base elements.
What is the definition of dissolved oxygen?
The amount of oxygen particles per million in a body of water.
What are the 2 different types of microscopes?
Dissecting and compound microscopes.
Why is the carbon cycle important?
It's important because CO2 is a necessary part of oxygen production for plants, and if CO2 isn't absorbed, the plant will exponentially heat up.
Why is evolution and natural selection important?
It is important, because if creatures don't change, they won't be properly suited to the environment. This will inevitably lead to the species dying.
What makes a source O'Dowd worthy?
If a source is credible, relevant, and high quality.
What is the definition of organelles?
The small sections of cells that accomplish different goals.
At least how many trials should you perform when doing an experiment?
You should perform at least 3.
What's the difference between Eukaryote and Procaryote cells?
Eukaryote cells have a nucleus, and make up multicellular organisms, while Procaryote cells are single celled organisms that don't have a nucleus. The DNA is free-floating because of this.
What area showed that natural selection, and thus evolution was real?
The Galapagos islands, and how each type of bird on each island had a different type of beak, specialized for the specific food it eats.
What parts are essential to an animals, and an ecosystems survival?
Shelter, oxygen, food, a food source, the water cycle, water, animals on all levels of the Trophic Pyramid, and nutrients.
What is the definition of trophic cascades?
It is when a keystone species completely dies, or is removed, and because of that, 1 species grows out of control. This then results in the destruction of the entire ecosystem.