February 4, 2011 What is the difference between an independent and dependent variable? Why do experiments need a control group?

What is biology? Biology is the study of living things “Bio” = living “ology” = study of

What is biology? Examples of topics studied in biology: Examples of topics NOT studied in biology

Q: Let’s revisit the Scientific Method…. Steps Question/problem Hypothesis Experiment Results/Observations/Data Analysis Conclusion

Q: Let’s revisit the Scientific Method…. Independent Variable: what you are personally controlling in the expt. Dependent Variable: what will change as a result of the independent variable

Q: Let’s revisit the Scientific Method…. Control group: the “normal” group used for comparison This is not always possible with biology, especially when doing studies in nature (you can’t control what happens in nature). Experimental group: the condition or group you are doing your testing on

Q: What is ecology? Ecology is the study of living things and the interactions between each other and the environment Study of the biosphere (earth) Includes living and non living things Biotic: Living things abiotic: Non living things

Q: What are the different levels of organization we can study in ecology? Individual Organism: smallest level Person Population: group of individual organisms of one species People in area

Q: What are the different levels of organization we can study in ecology? Community: many populations interacting (all biotic things!) People in area interacting with other organisms in area

Q: What are the different levels of organization we can study in ecology? Ecosystem: community interacting with abiotic things around them Organisms in area interacting with weather, ground, air, etc

Q: What are the different levels of organization we can study in ecology? Biome: group of ecosystems with similar characteristics All areas where humans and other organisms live together (cities, suburbs, etc)

Q: What are the different levels of organization we can study in ecology? Biosphere: all different biomes making up the earth (from deep in oceans to high in atmosphere) All areas where any organism lives (marine, desert, etc)

Level of Organization Pyramid Label each level and provide a short explanation on outside of triangle Draw a picture showing the level of organization