Aim: How do we apply our knowledge of biology? (Part I) Study for Midterm Castle Learning due BEFORE MIDTERM! WEDNESDAY 1/25 8am Extra Help: Friday, Monday, Tuesday 3-4 pm.

I. Steps of the Scientific Method A process scientists go through to solve a problem. STEPS 1.Problem 2.Research/Observation 3.Hypothesis 4.Procedure 5.Results 6.Analysis/Conclusion 7.Repeat

Examples Sahara has a fish tank at home with 12 goldfish. She notices that the fish seem to eat more food when the lamp near the tank is turned on. Because she wants her fish to be healthy she decides to perform an experiment entitled: “How does light affect the amount of food a goldfish will eat?” Hypothesis – If the light is on, then the fish will eat more. 8. Identify the independent and dependent variable in the problem statement above: Independent Variable - light Dependent Variable – amount of food eaten

Examples 9. If performing an experiment to determine the number of flowers that will grow in green light, how many Flowers (sample size) should we use? Why? Lots of flowers, more data, better results 10. What is a variable? Anything that changes during an experiment 11. Why MUST an experiment only have ONE variable that is being tested? To make sure that only ONE thing is affecting the results 12. How do the control and experimental groups compare? The control group gets the NORMAL treatment The experimental group gets the EXPERIMENTAL treatment

II. Tables and Graphs The Independent Variable is always on the X axis The Dependent Variable is always on the Y axis 13. Determine the independent and dependent variable from the graph and data table below: I =yearI = time D =number of individualsD = battery charge (%)

III. Ecology and Ecosystems 14.Biotic Factors – living things in an ecosystem 15. Examples of biotic limiting factors are predators, disease, food 16. Abiotic Factors – non-living things in an ecosystem 17. Examples of abiotic limiting factors are: sunlight, temperature, water, oxygen

Ecology and Ecosystems 18. The environment is divided into sections from smallest to largest which are: Individual, population, community, ecosystem, biome and biosphere Limiting Factors - anything that restricts the size of a population 19. What is carrying capacity? the maximum number of organisms that can live in one place 20. The primary source of energy is the sun 21. How are producers involved in a food web? They make energy available to other organisms

Ecology and Ecosystems A food web demonstrates the transfer of energy from one organism to another. 21. Which organisms are producers trees, shrubs, grass 22. Which organisms are primary consumers? deer, rabbit, mouse, cricket 23. How will other organisms be affected if there was an increase in the mountain lion population? rabbits, deer increase grass, tree, shrubs decrease

Energy and Biomass Pyramids 24. The bottom has the most amount of energy. 25. The top has the least amount of energy. 26. There are more producers than any other organism. Why? no energy is lost yet Biodiversity refers to all the different types of organisms that live in an ecosystem. 27. As biodiversity increases, ecosystem stability increases. Why? more options for organisms to feed on 28.Humans destroy biodiversity by destroying ecosystems

Ecosystem Relationships 29. mutualism – both benefit ( +, + ) 30. commensalism – one benefits and other is unaffected ( +, 0 ) 31. Parasite/host – parasite benefits and host is affected ( +, - ) 32. Predator/prey – predator benefits and prey is eaten( +, - )

Ecological Succession In Ecological Succession, A certain area will change over time. Simple pioneer organisms will form, then grasses and flowers, then shrubs and eventually trees will form creating a complex community. Sometimes, ponds will fill up with dead organic matter and eventually become a forest.

IV Human Impact on the Environment 33. Renewable Resources: resources that can be used again and again ex. Wood, water, solar power 34. Nonrenewable Resources: resources that can only be used once ex. Fossil fuels Greenhouse Effect 35. Gases such as carbon dioxide and methane in atmosphere trap the Sun’s heat, increasing the temperature of the earth. 36. How do we increase the levels of carbon dioxide in the air? industrial processes Overpopulation leads to a need for more products and more machinery to manufacture those products, which then in turn increases pollution and habitat destruction 37. What are some alternative forms of energy that are destructive to the environment? wood, coal, oil, nuclear