APES Ecosystems & Biodiversity Unit Study Guide
After completing the Ecosystems & Biodiversity Unit, you should be able to…
1. Identify major components of an ecosystem:
a. Biotic and abiotic factors
b. Producers and consumers
c. Herbivores, carnivores, omnivores, detrivores, and decomposers.
2. Explain the processes by which organisms attain and convert energy:
a. Autotrophs, heterotrophs, chemotrophs
b. Photosynthesis and cellular respiration (aerobic and anaerobic)
3. Illustrate and explain how energy is transferred throughout an ecosystem:
a. Food chains, food webs, and ecological (energy) pyramids
4. Diagram and explain how matter is conserved in biogeochemical (nutrient) cycles:
a. Hydrologic, carbon, nitrogen, phosphorous, and sulfur cycles
5. Use a carbon budget to identify carbon sources and sinks, calculate fluxes between reservoirs, and support
claims on how human activities affect the global carbon cycle.
6. Describe the process of evolution by natural selection, provide examples of this process, and explain
phenomenon that lead to natural selection.
a. Mutations, adaptation, geologic processes, environmental conditions
7. Explain the processes that lead to speciation and extinction and the role human activities play in both
phenomena.
8. Identify, provide examples of and describe the importance of roles that species play (niches) within an
ecosystem:
a. Native, non-native, indicator, keystone, and foundation species
9. Identify, describe, provide examples of species interactions:
a. Interspecific competition, intraspecific competition, predation, parasitism, mutualism, commensalism.
10. Explain factors that can limit a species population size:
a. Range of tolerance, limiting factors
11. Describe how communities and ecosystems respond to changing environmental conditions:
a. Ecological succession and sustainability
12. Describe solutions to endangerment and extinction of species:
a. Laws, prevention, organizations, treaties, protected areas
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Chapter Readings & Review Questions
Chapter 3
Review Questions pg 78, 4-9
Critical Thinking pg 78, 2-8
Eco Footprint Analysis pg 79, #1-3
AP Review pg 79A/B, 1-13
Chapter 4
Review Questions pg 101, #1-9
Eco Footprint Analysis pg 103, #1-3
AP Review pg 103A/B, #1-13
Chapter 5
Review Questions pg 122-123, 2-5, 8
Eco Footprint Analysis pg 124, 1-2
AP Review 124A/B, 1-13
Chapter 9
Review Questions pg 214-215, 2-9
Eco Footprint Analysis pg 216, 1-2
AP Review pg 216A, 1-12
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Key Terms: Ecology, biodiversity, species, population, ecosystem, community, biosphere, photosynthesis, cellular
respiration, aerobic respiration, anaerobic respiration/fermentation, producers, consumers, herbivore, carnivore,
omnivore, scavengers, detrivores, decomposers, autotrophs, chemosynthesis, biotic factors, abiotic factors, food
chain, food web, hydrologic cycle, carbon cycle, nitrogen cycle, phosphorous cycle, sulfur cycle, nitrogen fixation,
APES Ecosystems & Biodiversity Unit Study Guide
assimilation, nitrification, denitrification, transpiration, adaptation, natural selection, evolution, critical factor,
tolerance limits, limiting factors, habitat, ecological niche, generalist species, specialist species, endemic species,
competition, speciation, geographic isolation, behavioral isolation, Interspecific competition, predatorprey/predation, mimicry, camouflage, mutualism, commensalism, parasitism, symbiotic relationships/symbiosis,
keystone species, native species, nonnative/invasive species, indicator species, foundation species, primary
succession, secondary succession, extinction, mass extinction, endangered species, threatened species, extinct
species, HIPPCO, habitat fragmentation, poaching, CITES, CBD, ESA,.
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Unit Calendar:
Wed. 10/10/2012 (Matter in Ecosystems)
1. Conservation of Matter in Ecosystems: Biogeochemical Cycles
Friday 10/12/2012 (Matter in Ecosystems)
2. FRQ Peer/Self Grading for Pop Dynamics Test
3. Continue Conservation of Matter in Ecosystems: Biogeochemical Cycles
Monday 10/15/2012 (Matter in Ecosystems)
1. Conservation of Matter in Ecosystems: Biogeochemical Cycles DUE
2. NOTES: Slides 1-2, 13-17
3. Carbon Budget Worksheet
Wednesday 10/17/2012 (Energy in Ecosystems)
1. Carbon Budget Worksheet DUE
2. NOTES: Slides 3-12
3. Energy Transfer in Ecosystems Activity
Monday 10/22/2012 (Evolution & Speciation)
1. Energy Transfer in Ecosystems Activity DUE
2. NOTES: Slides 18-30
3. Symbiosis Mini-Report
Wednesday 10/24/2012 (Major Species Roles)
1. Symbiosis Mini-Report DUE, Group Presentations
2. NOTES: Slides 31-35
3. Species Mini-Report
Friday 10/26/2012 (Properties & Changes of Ecosystems)
1. Species Mini-Report DUE, Group Presentations
2. NOTES: Slides 36-43
3. Ecological Succession Worksheet
Monday 10/29/2012 (Species Extinction)
1. NOTES: Remainder of the Slides
2. Biodiversity Lab
Wednesday 10/31/2012 (Biodiversity)
1. Biodiversity Lab
Monday, 11/5/2012
1. Ecosystems & Biodiversity Unit Exam