Scioly.org

maxxxxx wrote:I know we don't need to know this for the competition, but does anyone know where I can find an explanation of how the Shannon-Wiener diversity index was made(i.e. how they came up with the formula)?

This site seems to cover the basics of calculating biodiversity quite well.

Nerd_Bunny wrote:So one of my team members dropped out, and I've just been given the job of doing the test at the tournament. What is the bare minimum that I need to know?

First off, take a look at the rules manual and try to gain a basic understanding of all the topics mentioned in it.

As far as dedicated studying goes, the following resources are extremely helpful:

1. SciOly Wiki

2. If you have access to the event CD, read all the introduction packets, and review them thoroughly.

3. Introduction Web Page

4. BrainPOP Biogeochemical Cycles: Water - Nitrogen - Carbon

5. Biomes

6. Threats to Wildlife

My friend had an ecology question from a test he took this year:

What are E.O. Wilson's 9 points of conservation? If they are found in a literary work, which work are they found in?

jonboyage wrote:My friend had an ecology question from a test he took this year:

What are E.O. Wilson's 9 points of conservation? If they are found in a literary work, which work are they found in?

Funny, that was on the PA states test this year too, and it was 18 points. After consulting with my APES teacher, this might not actually exist. He was much more well known with his work in sociobiology and myrmecology. My best guess as to finding his methodology would be to look here (his book "Biodiversity"): https://www.nap.edu/read/989/chapter/12#396

jonboyage wrote:My friend had an ecology question from a test he took this year:

What are E.O. Wilson's 9 points of conservation? If they are found in a literary work, which work are they found in?

Do you happen to know which test this was?

efeng wrote:

jonboyage wrote:My friend had an ecology question from a test he took this year:

What are E.O. Wilson's 9 points of conservation? If they are found in a literary work, which work are they found in?

Do you happen to know which test this was?

Probably too late, but this was from the Pennsylvania States test for C division.

Among numerous other problems with this test, this one question was way too esoteric. I have been unable to find any information on these points online, and don't understand how the test writers expected us to know this without being extremely familiar with E.O. Wilson's books.

What's the difference between Ecology and APES?

Thunderlight8 wrote:What's the difference between Ecology and APES?

Besides the fact that one is an AP class, Ecology only focuses on specific biomes (don't quote me on this - I don't do this event)

Person wrote:

Thunderlight8 wrote:What's the difference between Ecology and APES?

Besides the fact that one is an AP class, Ecology only focuses on specific biomes (don't quote me on this - I don't do this event)

One part of Ecology involves knowledge of specific biomes, changing each year. The event is definitely very similar to common school courses though, including APES. I'm not sure of specifics either, as I also don't do the event.

Unome wrote:

Person wrote:

Thunderlight8 wrote:What's the difference between Ecology and APES?

Besides the fact that one is an AP class, Ecology only focuses on specific biomes (don't quote me on this - I don't do this event)

One part of Ecology involves knowledge of specific biomes, changing each year. The event is definitely very similar to common school courses though, including APES. I'm not sure of specifics either, as I also don't do the event.

"Ecology" is the name of the official Science Olympiad event.

"APES", or AP Environmental Science, is a high school course regulated by the College Board.

Having competed in Ecology and taken the AP test for AP Environmental Science, I've noticed that although they share quite a bit of overlap, there are a few major differences

Ecology focuses much more on biomes than APES. Biomes are still part of APES but aren't stressed nearly as much.

APES focuses more on "case studies". Case studies are events in the past that deal with ecological concepts. Examples of case studies include the Three Gorges Dam, Chernobyl, and Love Canal. Case studies are still important in Ecology but not as much so as in APES.

APES also requires much more in-depth writing than Ecology. Whereas on Ecology tests most free response sections require a basic description of an ecological concept, the free response section of the APES AP test requires much more critical analyzation. For example, when I took the AP test I was provided an article on white-nosed bat syndrome and asked a few questions about it. One of the questions was "why do diseases like white-nosed syndrome rarely cause extinction of a species". This question required the application of multiple ecological concepts, rare for the questions found on most Ecology tests.