Week 1 - 27 Aug. 2013 Introductions and definitions

We reviewed these documents: AUC academic policies, grading policies, syllabus

Extra credit quiz given

Many types of forests –

**Tropical forests occupy 7% of earth’s surface, but include 50% of the world’s biodiversity!**

Biodiversity = Biological richness of an area, usually defined as the number of species.  Example: 3 doves, 5 parrots, 2 woodpeckers = diversity of 3.

Tropical rainforests – 57% are located in the Neotropics (Western Hemisphere). (30% rainforests are in Brazil)

(Extra note: At the current deforestation rate, in 177 years all tropical rainforests will be gone.  We will find out what that means for the rest of the earth as we learn about the functions of rainforests.)

Ecology = The scientific study of the interactions among organisms and between organisms and their environment. 

Living organisms can be grouped together into communities – all the organisms in an area.

Example - Aquatic community = frogs, egret, fish, dragonflies, turtles, aquatics plants such as cattails, reeds. 

What separates this from other communities?  The ecosystem. 

A Forest community is different = woodpeckers, tako (cuckoos), beetles, tree snakes, tarantulas, palm trees, ferns, etc.

Ecosystem = the system embracing the organisms plus their physical environment.

Environment is composed of both biotic – living, biological things                                                             & abiotic factors.  – chemical and physical   examples = water quality, temp etc.

Scientific method:

1.      Make observations      The forest has a lot of birds, the forest will be destroyed for houses

2.      Ask questions              How will deforestation affect the birds?

3.      Form hypothesis (tentative answer to the question)   Deforestation will reduce the number of birds.

4.      Make predictions based on the hypothesis                 10 % reduction in trees will reduce bird population by 10%

5.      Test the predictions through observation or experiments                   Measure size of forest and number of birds before and after houses are built,

6.      Make conclusions based on the predictions.  Yes, deforestation reduced the number of birds.

The key to the scientific method is that you can TEST it, and REPEAT the test!

How to convey this to scientific community?  One way is through publishing scientific articles.

We reviewed parts of scientific articles using mangrove article.

Homework – Read mangrove paper and turn in questions at beginning of class next week.