Ecology Unit Objectives Unit 1Science of Ecology

  1. Define:

  1. Ecology
  2. Environmental Science
  3. Pure science
  4. Applied science
  5. Species
  6. Population
  7. Community
  8. Ecosystem
  9. Biome
  10. Biosphere
  11. Scientific Method
  12. Hypothesis
  13. Independent variable
  14. Dependent variable
  15. Control variable
  16. Control group
  17. Experimental group
  18. Field Guide
  19. Biotic
  20. Abiotic
  21. Environment

  1. Science is both a body of knowledge and the process of getting answers about the natural world.
  2. Ecology is a pure science that seeks to understand how living things interact with each other and their nonliving environments.
  3. Environmental Science is an applied science that studies how humans interact with the environment. ecology is closely tied to the study of environmental science.
  4. Pure sciences seek answers to questions about how the natural world works. Applied sciences use the information to solve problems.
  5. Know the general steps of the scientific method and be able to identify these parts given an example. Be able to set up your own valid scientific experiment.
  6. Identify valid scientific experiments and explain what makes an experiment valid.
  7. Explain the benefits and limitations to the three ways to test a hypothesis: observation, experimentation and modeling.
  8. In ecology scientist study life at several levels: individuals of a species, populations, communities, ecosystems, biomes, and the biosphere.
  9. When studying living populations and their interactions it is often difficult to get an accurate understanding because of the complex nature of the investigations.
  10. Living populations move and cannot be easily counted.
  11. Observing living populations often alters their behavior.
  12. It is difficult to quantify data collected through observations of living things
  13. Most accurate observations of living thing are done in their natural environment.
  14. Observations must take place over a long period of time if one wants to assess changes in the populations over time. In some cases we must find ways to get data from the past.
  15. Be able to use data from a capture/recapture measurement to predict actual populations.
  16. Given an ecological study be able to explain the limitations to the study and explain how the hypothesis was answered.

Scientific Method

Students will be able to:

  • Define: science, ecology, pure science, applied science, hypothesis, control group, experimental group, independent variable, dependent variable.
  • Explain what science is and give examples
  • Explain the difference between pure sciences and applied sciences and be able to classify examples of different science as one or the other.
  • Know the general steps of the scientific method and identify these parts given an example.
  • Set up their own valid scientific experiment.
  • Identify valid scientific experiments and explain what makes an experiment valid.
  • Explain the benefits and limitations to the three ways to test a hypothesis: observation, experimentation and modeling.

Option 1: Read and Write it

Complete the reading guides (see list below)

Reading Guides: Scientific method Active Reading, Molles Scientific Method, Holt Using Science

Total Pages: 3 front and back

Option 2: Hear it, Do it

Work with Ms. H to complete the assigned activities. There will be some notes to get you started but you will be completing the following activities.

  • Sci method notes
  • ecological study discussions
  • Viewing charts and tables

Option 3: Research and show it.

Research the scientific method to be able to complete the tasks below. Your final product must include all the parts below. You may work by yourself or with ONE partner.

To do:

  • Choose an example of a scientific study and explain how each of the steps of the scientific method were addressed. – Ms. H may have a good place for you to start.
  • Was the study an example of a pure science or an applied science? How do you know?
  • Identify the major parts of the study including the hypothesis, control group, experimental group, independent variables, and dependent variables.
  • Explain what science is.
  • What makes a scientific experiment valid?
  • Why must a scientific experiment have a control group.
  • Give an example of the following: Chart, table, pie graph. Why do we show data this way rather than a list?
  • Explain and give an example of the following ways to test a hypothesis: observation, experimentation, and modeling.