Research Ecologists Often Specialize in One Level of Ecology

question 62

Multiple Choice

Research ecologists often specialize in one level of ecology.Which question would most likely be studied by a Yellowstone National Park ecologist specializing in biogeochemical cycles in ecosystems?

• A) What is the sex ratio of the elk living in the park?
• B) How does nitrogen move among the organisms, soil, water, air, and rocks of the park?
• C) How does the reintroduction of wolves influence other large mammal populations in the park?
• D) What types of species interactions occur among the major species in the park's food webs?
• E) What geological history led to the development of the park's environment?

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Definitions:

Strengthening Responses

The process of increasing the likelihood of a behavioral response by reinforcing it, similar to reinforcement.

Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS)

In classical conditioning, a stimulus that instinctively and effortlessly elicits a response without any previous conditioning.

Conditioned Stimulus (CS)

An initially neutral signal that, once paired with an unconditioned stimulus, begins to evoke a conditioned reaction.

Predictor

A variable used in statistical models that is believed to influence or forecast the outcome of another variable.