Glossary

1. Independant Variable 
The "independent variables" represent the inputs or causes, or are tested to see if they are the cause.

2. Dependent Variable
The "dependent variable" represents the output or effect, or is tested to see if it is the effect.

3. Control Variable 
The control variable is something that is constant and unchanged in an experiment. Further, a control variable strongly influences values; it is held constant to test the relative impact of independent variables.

4. Qualitative Variable 
Qualitative variables take on values that are names or labels.

5. Quantitative Variable
Quantitative variables are numerical. They represent a measurable quantity.

6. Hypothesis

A supposition or proposed explanation made on the basis of limited evidence as a starting point for further investigation.

7. Eukaryotes 
Any of the single-celled or multicellular organisms whose cell contains a distinct, membrane-bound nucleus.

8. Prokaryotes 

A microscopic single-celled organism that has neither a distinct nucleus with a membrane nor other specialized organelles. Prokaryotes include the bacteria and cyanobacteria. 

9. Taxonomy
The classification of organisms in a hierarchical system or in taxonomic ranks (e.g. domain, kingdom,phylum or division, class, genus, species) based on shared characteristics or on phylogenetic relationships inferred from the fossil record or established by genetic analysis.

10. Taxon
Any group or rank in a biological classification into which related organisms are classified.

11. Binomial 
Having two names; used of the system by which every animal and plant receives two names, the one indicating the genus, the other the species, to which it belongs.

12. Abiotic Factors
Abiotic, meaning not alive, are nonliving factors that affect living organisms. 

13. Biotic Factors 

Biotic, meaning of or related to life, are living factors. Plants, animals, fungi, protist and bacteria are all biotic or living factors.

14. Habitat
A habitat is an ecological or environmental area that is inhabited by a particular species of animal, plant, or other type of organism. It is the natural environment in which an organism lives, or the physical environment that surrounds (influences and is utilized by) a species population.

15. Ecosystem
A system that includes all living organisms (biotic factors) in an area as well as its physical environment(abiotic factors) functioning together as a unit.

16. Population
A group of organisms of one species that interbreed and live in the same place at the same time.

17. Community 
An ecological unit composed of a group of organisms or a population of different species occupying a particular area, usually interacting with each other and their environment.

18. Niche
The specific area where an organism inhabits.

19. Biome
A major ecological community of organisms adapted to a particular climatic or environmental condition on a large geographic area in which they occur.

20. Biosphere

 The part of the earth and its atmosphere in which living organisms exist or that is capable of supporting life.

21. Pyramid of Numbers
A pyramid of numbers shows the population size of each species in a food chain.

22. Pyramid of Biomass
A pyramid of biomass shows how much ENERGY each animal is getting from its food.

23. Biomass 
The total mass of all living material in a specific area, habitat, or region.

24. Predator - prey relationship 
An interaction between two organisms of unlike species in which one of them acts as predator that captures and feeds on the other organism that serves as the prey.

25. Commensalism
A form of symbiosis between two organisms of different species in which one of them benefits from the association whereas the other is largely unaffected or not significantly harmed or benefiting from the relationship. 

26. Ammensalism 
Ammensalism occurs when one species hurts another, but does not benefit from this interaction.

27. Mutualism 
A symbiotic relationship between individuals of different species in which both individuals benefit from the association. In this type of symbiosis, both organisms of different species rely on one another for nutrients, protection and other life functions, hence, they are usually found living in close proximity.

28. Symbiosis 
A relationship between different species where both of the organisms in question benefit from the presence of the other. 

29. Parasitism
A relationship between two species of plants or animals in which one benefits at the expense of the other, sometimes without killing it.

Sources: http://www.biology-online.org/ 

WALKINGSTICK PREDATION: BUSH ENVIRONMENT ACTIVITY

Try the simulated population of walkingstcks that exhibit colour variation to investigate the impact of predation on the insects in 3 different environments.
Conduct predation interactions over 5 generations, collect population statistics, and graph the numbers of individuals with colour trait in each generation.

You should be able to see that the ratio of individuals with specific colour traits varies, depending on the colour of the environment in which they live.

Record the data of your findings in your journal.
You are a predator. You prey on walkingsticks. This is what the walkingstick looks like.
a. Open the walkingstick multimedia program to Level 1—Eat Insects.
b. Select the 30 Clicks to Eat Insects button.
c. Use your 30 clicks to eat as many as you can.
d. Then click the Results button.
e. Record your results in the table shown below in your journal.
f. Click Start Over and select 30 Seconds to Eat Insects. Eat as many insects as you can in 30 seconds.
g. Record your results in the table below in your journal.

		Brown	Green Brown	Green
30 clicks	Eaten	10	10	10
30 clicks	Survived	6	6	6
30s	Eaten	15	10	12
30s	Survived	1	6	4

Write responses to these items in your journal.

1.     Which color of walkingstick was easiest to find? Which was hardest? Why do you think that was the case?

The brown colour walkingstick was the easiest to find. The green brown colour was the hardest to find. Brown could only camouflage among the branches, but the green brown ones could hide not only among the branches but also the leaves.

2.     Which color of walkingstick survived best when there was a time limit on feeding? Why do you think that color survived best?

Green brown. It camouflaged well among the leaves and branches, making it difficult to find.

3.     Discuss the results of the walkingstick predation in terms of adaptations.

It adapted to another colour to enable itself to camouflage better among the leaves and branches to prevent predators to finding them and feeding on them.

Is it alive?

Magnifying tool	Magnification range
Hand lens	2x 4x
Stereoscope	20x 50x
Light miscroscope	20x 40x

Observations of powder

Characteristics	A	B	C	D	E
Size	Varies but small	Small	2mm	1mm	Small
Shape	Unevenly shaped	Cylinder	Circular	Circular	Circular
Texture	Slightly rough	Smooth	Smooth	Smooth	Smooth
Colour	Beige brown	Beige	Transparent	Blackish purple	Brown

Reaction with water and glucose solution

Substance	Claim	Evidence	Observation
A	Become moist	It varies in size and looks like sand.	Moist
B	Dissolve	It looks like yeast.	Moist and mushy/float then sink as a white mushy substance
C	Swell	It is round and transparent. It is also quite soft.	Swell up
D	Nothing	It is hard and round.	Nothing
E	Nothing	It is a powdery substance.	Nothing

Conclusion

Substance	Is it alive? Yes	No	Evidence for living or non-living
A		No	It did not have any reactions.
B	Yes		It had a reaction to both, water and glucose solution.
C		No	It only absorbed the liquids and did not change.
D	yes		After a few days, it started to grow. It is the seed of a plant.
E	Yes		When put into salt water, the substance, which are eggs, hatched and we were able to observe moving organisms.