Name: ___________________________________________
Date: ___________________________
AP Biology Reading Guide Chapter 52 – Introduction to Ecology
1. Define ecology.
2. Define each of the following levels of biological hierarchy. For each, list one topic that an
ecologist investigating that level might study.
a. Population
b. Community
c. Ecosystem
d. Landscape
e. Biosphere
3. Define climate. What are four factors that are components of climate?
4. Name three factors that can modify climate patterns.
5. What is the difference between biotic and abiotic factors?
6. Label the axes of this figure, and identify each of the biomes shown in the figure.
7. Describe each biome in terms of typical vegetation (flora) and animal life (fauna).
a. Tropical forest
b. Desert
c. Savanna
d. Chaparral
e. Temperate Grassland
f.
Taiga
g. Temperate Broadleaf (Deciduous) Forest
h. Tundra
8. Distinguish between the following pairs of terms
a. Photic/aphotic
b. Benthic/pelagic
c. Oligotrophic/eutrophic
d. Littoral zone/ limnetic zone
e. Zooplankton/phytoplankton
9. Define the following aquatic biomes, and give two characteristics of each:
a. Wetland
b. Estuary
c. Intertidal Zone
d.
Oceanic pelagic zone
e. Coral reef
f.
Marine benthic zone
10. What are four biotic factors that can limit species distribution? What are four abiotic factors?