Zoology, Science and the Scientific Method

1
Zoology, Science and the Scientific Method I.
Zoology scientific study of animals --
eukaryotic -- heterotrophic --
self-generated motion
2

• Zoology, Science and the Scientific Method
• Science a way of asking and answering questions
  about the natural world.
• -- phenomenon under investigation explained by
  natural law
• does not invoke supernatural forces
• if such forces invoked, investigation is NOT
  science
• -- explanations for phenomenon are testable
  against the
• observable world
• -- conclusions arise from the data generated
  through the tests
• does not start with a conclusion that remains
  unchanged despite evidence
• all conclusions are tentative and modifiable
  (inherent skepticism)
• conclusions are falsifiable

3
Zoology, Science and the Scientific Method III.
Scientific Method a formalized method for
generating and testing scientific
hypothesis about natural world. A.
The process hypothetico-deductive method
1. make observations about natural world
2. generate hypothesis to explain observed
phenomenon 3. generate testable
predictions from hypothesis 4. test
predictions using field and lab
experimentation 5. accept, modify, or
reject hypothesis 6. if tested and upheld
repeatedly, and has broad
applicability to living systems, then hypothesis
becomes a theory
4

• Zoology, Science and the Scientific Method
• Scientific Method
• B. Example Peppered moth of England
• 1. Observation

5
1. Observation Light and Melanic Forms of moth
(Fig. 1-11 p. 11)
(Fig. 1-11 p. 11)
6
Peppered Moths Light and Melanic Forms
(Fig. 1-11 p. 11)
7

• Zoology, Science and the Scientific Method
• Scientific Method
• B. Example Peppered moth of England
• 1. observation
• 2. hypothesis different color morphs
  have been shaped by
• natural selection as protection
  against predation.

8

• Zoology, Science and the Scientific Method
• Scientific Method
• B. Example Peppered moth of England
• 3 4. Make and test predictions
• prediction 1 When presented with the two
  color morphs on
• same
  background, birds will catch more of the
• contrasting moths (lab
  experimentation)

9

• Zoology, Science and the Scientific Method
• Scientific Method
• B. Example Peppered moth of England
• 3 4. Make and test predictions
• prediction 2 If equal number of moths are
  released into
• environment, those matching the
• background color will survive better
• (mark-recapture method field
  experimentation)

10

• Zoology, Science and the Scientific Method
• Scientific Method
• B. Example Peppered moth of England
• 3 4. Make and test predictions
• prediction 3 If polluted area is cleaned
  so that surfaces
• become less dark, frequency of dark morph
• will decline (field experiment)

11
Figure 01.11c
(Fig. 1-11 p. 11)
12

• Zoology, Science and the Scientific Method
• Scientific Method
• B. Example Peppered moth of England
• 5. accept hypothesis
• -- arose from observations
• -- based only on natural law
• -- was accepted because evidence supported it
  
• if not, would have been rejected
• -- was ? falsifiable and is tentative

13
Zoology, Science and the Scientific Method IV.
Creationism (Intelligent Design) -- invokes
supernatural forces to explain natural world
-- not hypothesis driven based on foregone
conclusion -- conclusion is not changed
regardless of evidence is ? not
falsifiable or modifiable -- conclusion
promotes one particular religious viewpoint
science promotes no religion and certainly not
one religious belief over others
14
Mouth brooding in cichlids
15
Egg mimicry in cichlid fish
16
Egg mimicry in cichlid fish