INTRODUCTION TO ZOOLOGY ( QnA 1,2,3)
INTRODUCTION TO ZOOLOGY ( QnA 1,2,3)
Question: 1 What is Zoology?
Answer: Zoology is a branch of Biology concerned with the scientific study of animal life. It includes classification, properties and the vital phenomena of animals.
Question: 2 What is a scientific study?
Answer: Scientists work on objective data( facts that are observable and measurable) and then reach conclusions to formulate generalisations by analysing such data.
A generalisation that represents a cohesive statement of principle is known as a theory. No matter how firm the database upon which the scientific theory rests, the theory must always remain subject to revision with the addition of more data.
For example: Even though the theory of evolution by Charles Darwin is a well-established biological principle based on an extensive array of data which demonstrates that "living things change through successive generations, still new data continue to elucidate its mechanism.
Question 3: How the data is collected?
Answer: Mechanism of data collection:
There are two scientific methods of data collection.
1. Collecting data by observation: when collecting data by observation, scientists must ensure the data are as free as possible of subjective bias, recorded and analysed instrumentally whenever possible and extensive enough so that statistically factors like range of variability can be defined.
When scientists record data from field studies, the elements such as time of day, weather, and area of study are all included. This makes the information valid and can be further continued for further research.
Several tools are used in fetching such data, like a barometer, scales, thermometers, sound spectrographs, cameras, video recorders and binoculars to name some.
Example:
A zoologist watching lions in a den after prey is introduced to determine the swiftness of the animal response.
Example:
 |
| Image credit: pixabay.com |
1. the song of each bird,
2. the songs of different individuals living nearby,
3. the songs of chipping sparrows from different geographic regions.
2. Collecting data by controlled experimentation: Here the scientists begin by asking questions which they then try to answer. This testable question is called a hypothesis. The hypothesis is often tested by controlled experiments. In which one or more experimental groups are compared with one or more controlled groups(i.e. normal) under conditions that are held standard except for one factor, the variable.
The number of organisms considered is important as a small number can be considered non-predictive and unreliable.
Example:
Hypothesis: The age of a penguin will affect its behaviour.
Here the hypothesis is not a prediction made by the researcher which will be only judged on whether they collected data on animals' behaviour fairly without bias. Enough observations and the number of penguins studied to form the data are of great importance. This evidence will either support the hypothesis or reject it.
Example:
Hypothesis: Does calcium deficiency have detrimental effects on animal growth, health and longevity?
Experiment: The subject organisms( preferably siblings of inbred strains to accentuate genetic likeness), selected for similarity in age and original weight, are maintained under identical conditions except that the controls are fed with normal measured amounts of calcium whereas the experimental groups are given a diet with the decreased but known calcium content.
Conclusion: Measurable and reproducible differences appearing between the control and experimental groups indicate the effect of calcium deficiency on those experimental groups.
A verified conclusion becomes a datum (fact) which when summarised with enough other compatible data can contribute to the formation of a theory( cohesive statement of principle).
Theory: Calcium is widely required in the animal world for skeletal growth and the normal functioning of nerves and muscles.
Example: Sometimes the controlled and the experimental aspects of an experiment must be carried out sequentially, rather than being conducted simultaneously on two different groups.
An example of this is Niko Tinbergen's classic field experiments on the homing behaviour of digger wasps.
| Image credit: flicker.com |
The female wasp digs burrows in which she lays her eggs, after which this diligent mama works ceaselessly to bring fresh insects to feed her young. When leaving the burrow, the wasps make a reconnoitring flight, which looks as if she were fixing in her tiny brain landmarks that would enable her to find the burrow again. Such a conclusion cannot be assumed, it must be tested.
The researcher first recorded the wasp's behaviour free of interference( the control), then after the wasp had left the scene, he modified the setting to see if this impaired her ability to find the burrow when she returned with food(the experiment). For instance, while the mother wasp was within the burrow, the researcher would simply place a ring of pinecones around the burrow, and after she had flown away to gather more prey, would shift the circle of cones a short distance to one side. On her return, the mother would home on the ring of pinecones, losing track of the burrow because the landmarks had been moved. Since this behaviour was verified in a number of these wasps, it could be concluded that, yes, such wasps do acquire a "photographic memory" of landmarks during the brief circling flight they engage in after exiting the burrow.
Did these examples raise new questions in your mind? If so, then this is the way how science works. Every question answered seems to give rise to more questions to be answered. And These answers are being collected as data.
Comments
Post a Comment