Name: _____________________________________________ Date: ____________________________ Period: ______
AP Biology Exam Review : Ecology
Textbook Chapters: 52 (Population Ecology), 53 (Community Ecology), 54 (Ecosystems), 55 (Conservation Biology and
Restoration Ecology), 51 (Behavioral Ecology…brain portion in other review)
Helpful Videos and Animations:
Bozeman Biology: Ecosystems
Bozeman Biology: Ecosystem Change
Bozeman Biology: Ecological Succession
Bozeman Biology: Populations
Bozeman Biology: R and K Selection
Bozeman Biology: Cooperative Interactions
Bozeman Biology: Communities
Bozeman Biology: Niche
Bozeman Biology: Biogeochemical Cycling
Bozeman Biology: Exponential Growth (shows how to calculate)
Bozeman Biology: Logistic Growth
Bozeman Biology: Animal Behavior
Topic Outline:
1. Population Ecology (Notes: Part A)
A. Population Density
 Methods of Measurement: Quadrant Technique vs. Mark and Recapture Technique
B. Population Distribution
 Uniform vs. Random vs. Clumped
C. Population Growth
 Know how to use the equations (see equations worksheet)
 Exponential vs. Logistic Growth (be able to recognize / explain the graphs)
 Carrying Capacity
 Limiting Factors (Density Dependent vs. Density Independent)
D. Demography
 Age structure pyramids
 Life history curves (Types I, II, and III)
 R-selected vs. K-selected population
2. Community Ecology (Notes: Part B)
A. Symbiosis
 Mutualism
 Commensalism
 Parasitism
 Competition (Niche, Resource Partitioning, Competitive Exclusion Principle)
 Predator Prey Relationships (population growth cycling, predator vs. prey adaptations)
B. The Importance of Species Diversity in a Community
C. Ecological Succession
 Primary vs. Secondary Succession
 Pioneer Species
 Climax Community
D. Animal Behavior
 Cooperative Behavior (ex: plant and pollinator)
 Altruistic Behavior (kin selection)
 Learned vs. Innate Behavior (ex: Fixed Action Patterns like yawning)
 Communication via pheromones (ex: warning pheromones or sex pheromones) or behaviors (ex:
bee waggle dance)
 Movement (taxis vs. kinesis)
3. Ecosystem Ecology
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
G.
H.
I.
Be able to analyze food chains and food webs / identify trophic levels
Location of decomposers on a food chain
Limits on food chain length: energetic hypothesis vs. dynamic stability hypothesis
Dominant species vs. keystone species vs. foundation species
Biotic vs. Abiotic Factors
How energy transfers relate to the second law of thermodynamics
Primary productivity (gross vs. net)
Limiting nutrients and eutrophication
Trophic Efficiency: energy pyramids vs. pyramids of biomass vs. pyramids of numbers
4. Biogeochemical / Nutrient Cycles (know the processes by which the atoms / molecules listed below are cycled
between living things and the non-living components of their environment ; also, be able to summarize reservoirs,
assimilation, and release for each cycle)
A. Carbon Cycle
B. Nitrogen Cycle
C. Water Cycle
D. Phosphorus Cycle
5. Ecological Issues
A. Dead Zones and Eutrophication
B. Ozone Depletion
C. Acid Rain
D. Global Warming
E. Biological Magnification
F. Invasive Species
G. Habitat Destruction
H. Habitat Fragmentation
I. Overhunting
Population Growth Equations Practice
Formulas:
Rate
Population Growth
Exponential Growth
Logistic Growth
dY/dt
dN/dt = B – D
dN
 rmax N
dt
dN
K N
 rmax N 

dt
 K 
dY = amount of change B = birth rate
K = carrying capacity
D = death rate
rmax = maximum per capita growth rate of population
Notes
dN
N change in population size
=
=
= population growth rate
t
dt
change in time
Example 1:
N = population size
There are 300 falcons living in a certain forest at the beginning of 2013. Suppose that every year there are 50 falcons
born and 30 falcons that die.
a. What is the population growth rate (include units)? Interpret the value.
b. What is the per capita growth rate of the falcons over a year? Interpret the value.
c. Fill in the table and the construct a graph.
Year
Population
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
d. Find the average rate of change for the falcon population from 2013 to 2018 (include units). Interpret the value.
Example 2:
Kentwood, Michigan had a population of 49,000 in the year 2013. The infrastructure of the city allows for a carrying
capacity of 60,000 people. rmax = .9 for Kentwood.
a. Is the current population above or below the carrying capacity? Will the population increase or decrease in the next
year?
b. What will be the population growth rate for 2013 (include units)?
c. What will be the population size at the start of 2014.
d. Fill in the following table. Then graph year vs. population size.
Year
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
Population size
Population growth rate
e. What happened to the population size over the years? What happened to the population growth rate over the years?
f. Explain your answer from part (e) using what you know about carrying capacity.
g. Explain your answer from part (e) using the formula:
dN
K N
 rmax N 

dt
 K 