Professional Documents
Culture Documents
1
The Nature
of Ecology
© 2016 Pearson Education, Ltd.
Precipitation (mm)
(c)
Temperature (°C)
350 35
300 30
250 25
200 20
150 15
100 10
50 5
0 0
J F MA M J J A S O ND
Year
(a)
(d)
(e)
(b)
(f)
© 2016 Pearson Education, Ltd.
Section 1.3 Ecological Systems Form a
Hierarchy
Ecologists study interactions at different levels of
organization
These levels can be arranged in a hierarchy
All levels involve biotic and abiotic interactions
The biosphere is the highest level of organization
Individual
What characteristics allow
the Echinacea to survive,
grow, and reproduce in the
environment of the prairie
grasslands of central North
America?
Individual
What characteristics allow
the Echinacea to survive,
grow, and reproduce in the
environment of the prairie
grasslands of central North
America?
Population
Is the population of this species
increasing, decreasing, or
remaining relatively constant
from year to year?
Individual
What characteristics allow
the Echinacea to survive,
grow, and reproduce in the
environment of the prairie
grasslands of central North
America?
Population
Is the population of this species
increasing, decreasing, or
remaining relatively constant
from year to year?
Community
How does this species interact
with other species of plants
and animals in the prairie
community?
Individual
What characteristics allow
the Echinacea to survive,
grow, and reproduce in the
environment of the prairie
grasslands of central North
America?
Population
Is the population of this species
increasing, decreasing, or
remaining relatively constant
from year to year?
Community
How does this species interact
with other species of plants
and animals in the prairie
community?
Ecosystem
How do yearly variations in
rainfall influence the productivity
of plants in this prairie grassland
ecosystem?
Individual Landscape
What characteristics allow How do variations in topography
the Echinacea to survive, and soils across the landscape
grow, and reproduce in the influence patterns of species
environment of the prairie composition and diversity in the
grasslands of central North different prairie communities?
America?
Population
Is the population of this species
increasing, decreasing, or
remaining relatively constant
from year to year?
Community
How does this species interact
with other species of plants
and animals in the prairie
community?
Ecosystem
How do yearly variations in
rainfall influence the productivity
of plants in this prairie grassland
ecosystem?
Individual Landscape
What characteristics allow How do variations in topography
the Echinacea to survive, and soils across the landscape
grow, and reproduce in the influence patterns of species
environment of the prairie composition and diversity in the
grasslands of central North different prairie communities?
America?
Population Biome
Is the population of this species What features of geology and
increasing, decreasing, or regional climate determine the
remaining relatively constant transition from forest to prairie
from year to year? grassland ecosystems
in North America?
Community
How does this species interact
with other species of plants
and animals in the prairie
community?
Ecosystem
How do yearly variations in
rainfall influence the productivity
of plants in this prairie grassland
ecosystem?
Individual Landscape
What characteristics allow How do variations in topography
the Echinacea to survive, and soils across the landscape
grow, and reproduce in the influence patterns of species
environment of the prairie composition and diversity in the
grasslands of central North different prairie communities?
America?
Population Biome
Is the population of this species What features of geology and
increasing, decreasing, or regional climate determine the
remaining relatively constant transition from forest to prairie
from year to year? grassland ecosystems
in North America?
Community
How does this species interact Biosphere
with other species of plants What is the role of the grassland
and animals in the prairie biome in the global carbon cycle?
community?
Ecosystem
How do yearly variations in
rainfall influence the productivity
of plants in this prairie grassland
ecosystem?
A. hypothesis
B. observation
C. prediction
D. question
E. hypothesis testing
A. hypothesis
B. observation
C. prediction
D. question
E. hypothesis testing
800
700
Productivity (g/m2/yr)
600
500
400
300
200
100
0 2 4 6 8 10
Available N (g/m2/yr)
© 2016 Pearson Education, Ltd.
Section 1.5 Ecologists Investigate Nature
Using the Scientific Method
A field experiment allows the investigator to
manipulate one condition in a field setting
Take a single large field, subdivide it into plots
Add nitrogen to some plots and not others
controlling the independent variable
Measure plant growth on all of the plots (dependent
variable)
Experimental site must vary minimally in other
factors, such as moisture and acidity
800
700
Productivity (g/m2/yr)
600
500
400
300
200
100
0 2 4 6 8 10
Available N (g/m2/yr)
© 2016 Pearson Education, Ltd.
You have collected field samples of nitrogen and
determined grass productivity at each site. Which
statement best describes the results shown in this
graph?
(a) (b)
800
y (x ⋅ 75.2) 88.1
700
Productivity (g/m2/yr)
600
500
400
300
200
100
0 2 4 6 8 10
Available N (g/m2/yr)
© 2016 Pearson Education, Ltd.
Section 1.7 Uncertainty Is an Inherent
Feature of Science
The scientific method is a continuous process of
testing and correcting explanations to refine our
understanding of the world around us
Usually simplify the system being studied in order to
establish cause and effect
As a result, only part of the picture is seen
What is meant by “science is essentially a self-
correcting activity”?