Discussion Questions
Chapter 1, Ricklefs & Miller

1. A vast number of organisms inhabit the earth.
a. Give an estimate of the number (you may guess).



b. Why is it that number of organisms and not some other number?



c. Do you think that in the future the number could be vastly larger?



d. Can you imagine the earth with just 10 species, why or why not?



2. What is nature?  Are humans part of nature?



3. Does the natural world have patterns?  Give an example of a pattern in
the natural world.



4. Is nature complex?  If so, how do you know that it is complex?



5. The word ``interaction'' is used often in ecology.  Give an example of
an ecological interaction.



6. Define the word mechanism.  Give an example of an  ecological mechanism.



7. Explain how evolution might have created the ballistically dispersing seeds
in Figure~1--6, R&M (also see paragraph 1, p. 6).



8. ``Why should there be so many kinds of plants when one could seemingly
perform the same functions as all the others,'' p.~7, Ch 1, R&M.   Why do you
think there are so many kinds of plants on earth,  or in Harbison State Forest?



9. ``Much variation is imposed by the physical environment --  climate, ocean
currents, landscape -- but much is also generated by the biological world,''  p.~9,
Ch 1, R&M.  Explain what the authors are getting  at regarding biologically
generated variation.



10. Explain how the fossil record ``drew into question the idea of immutability
of species.''



11. Summarize Lamarck's theory of evolution.



12. What part of Lamarck's theory is retained in Darwin's theory of evolution?



13. What human activity provided support for the portion of Darwin's theory
that was from Lamarck's theory?