Question

A biologist is studying the living onganisms in a valley in western Colorado. She is studying a. an coosystem d. a viable land muss. b. a community. e. a population. c. the biosphere.

Short answer

The biologist is studying an ecosystem and a community.

Step-by-step solution

Examine the scenario

According to the given scenario, a biologist is studying the organisms living in a valley in western Colorado. This suggests the biologist is studying the organisms along with the environment they're living in.

Identify the appropriate term

Based on the definitions of each term, the biologist is studying both a community (because there are likely different species present) and an ecosystem (as it includes both the organisms and their physical environment).

Key concepts

Biological Community

When a biologist investigates a range of living organisms in a particular area, such as western Colorado's valley, they're focusing on what's known as a biological community. This term refers to all the different species that live in the same location and interact with each other. Imagine a bustling small town where each resident has a role, from the local baker to the schoolteacher; similarly, in a biological community, each species fulfills a niche, contributing to the community's overall functionality.

Within this biological mix, you might find predators and their prey, plants and the insects that pollinate them, or fungi that decompose organic material. The interactions between these species can be complex, involving food webs, competition, symbiotic relationships, and more. These relationships help to maintain the balance and stability of the community. By studying these interactions, biologists can learn how species coexist and how changes in the community might impact the delicate balance of the ecosystem.

Biosphere

Stepping back to view an even bigger picture, we encounter the concept of the biosphere. This term encompasses all ecosystems on Earth — every forest, ocean, desert, and city where life exists. It's the global sum of all living things, from the deepest ocean trench to the highest mountaintop.

Within the biosphere, the life-supporting layer of the planet, every ecosystem interacts with others. These interactions can be through the migration of animals, the flow of rivers, or the movement of air currents—all illustrating that Earth operates as a single, unified organism. Understanding the biosphere is crucial for comprehending how local events, like a drought in a valley, can have ripple effects on a global scale. Consequently, the study of the biosphere is integral to appreciating the interconnectedness of life and the importance of conserving diverse habitats across our planet.

Population Biology

Zooming in on a specific aspect of the biological community, we come to population biology, a field that homes in on a group of individuals of the same species living and interacting in the same region. This subdivision of biology probes into how these populations change over time, factoring in birth rates, death rates, immigration, and emigration.

For example, in western Colorado's valley, population biologists might study how a pack of wolves fluctuates in number due to availability of prey, diseases, and human activity. Understanding these dynamics can be key to conserving species and managing natural resources. Population biology combines theories from genetics, ecology, and evolutionary biology to explain patterns in population size and structure, which can guide conservation efforts and inform ecological balance.