AP Biology
Ecology Unit 8
Review
1. Define ecology:
2. Defining key terms. The following terms provide a foundation for the study of ecology.
a. Population:
b. Community:
c. Ecosystem:
d. Biosphere:
e. Habitat:
f. Niche:
Population Ecology
1. Define population ecology:
2. Population abundance and distribution are described by the following terms. Define
each term.
a. Size:
b. Density:
c. Dispersion:
d. Age structure:
e. Survivorship curves (Draw a diagram to illustrate)
i. Type I:
ii. Type II:
iii. Type III:
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AP Biology
Ecology Unit 8
3. The following terms are used to describe population growth. Define each term.
a. Biotic potential:
i. What five factors contribute to the biotic potential of a species?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
b. Carrying capacity:
c. Limiting factors:
i. Density-dependent:
ii. Density-independent:
4. Population ecologists describe two general patterns of population growth. Define and
draw diagrams for each.
a. Exponential growth (J-shaped curve)
b. Logistic growth (S-shaped curve or sigmoid curve). On your graph show
where the carrying capacity is located.
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Ecology Unit 8
5. Explain what population cycles are, and give an example.
Community Ecology

Define predation:

More specifically, predators can be categorized as followed. Define and give an
example of each.
o True predator
o Parasite
o Parasitoid
o Herbivore

Define symbiosis:

Describe the three forms of symbiosis and give an example of each.
o Mutualism
o Commensalisms
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Ecology Unit 8
o Parasitism
Ecological Succession

Describe ecological succession:

Describe a climax community:

There are two kinds of succession. Describe and give examples of each.
o Primary succession
o Secondary succession
Ecosystem
1. A major goal in the study of ecosystems is to examine the production and utilization of
energy. To assist in this goal, plants and animals are organized into groups called trophic
levels that reflect their main energy source, as follows. Describe each of the following.

Primary producers:

Primary consumers:

Secondary consumers:

Tertiary consumers:

Detritivores:
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AP Biology
Ecology Unit 8
2. Construct an ecological pyramid showing the relationship between trophic levels.
3. Describe ecological efficiency.
a. What percent of the available energy in a trophic level is transfer to the next
trophic level?
4. Two kinds of flow charts are often used to show the flow of energy between specific
organisms. Arrows used in a flow chart indicate the direction of energy flow. Draw an
example of a food chain and a food web.
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AP Biology
Ecology Unit 8
Biogeochemical Cycles
Biogeochemical cycles describe the flow of essential elements from the environment to living
things and back to the environment. The following list the major storage locations (reservoirs)
for essential elements, the processes through which each element incorporates into terrestrial
plants and animals (assimilation), and the processes through which each element returns to the
environment (release).
 Describe each cycle and identify the reservoirs, assimilation, and release.
1. Hydrologic cycle (water cycle)

Reservoirs

Assimilation

Release
2. Carbon cycle

Reservoirs

Assimilation

Release
3. Nitrogen cycle

Reservoirs

Assimilation

Release
4. Phosphorus cycle

Reservoirs
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AP Biology
Ecology Unit 8

Assimilation

Release
Biomes
The biosphere is divided into regions called biomes that exhibit common environmental
characteristics. Each biome is occupied by unique communities or ecosystems of plants and
animals that share adaptations which promote survival within the biome. The following is a list
of the major biomes.
 Summarize their characteristics.
1.
Tropical rain forests
2.
Savannahs
3.
Temperate grasslands
4.
Temperate deciduous forests
5.
Deserts
6.
Taigas
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Ecology Unit 8
7.
Tundras, include permafrost
8.
Fresh water biomes
9.
Marine biomes
Human Impact on the Biosphere
Human activity damages the biosphere. Exponential population growth, destruction of habitats
for agriculture and mining, pollution from industry and transportation, and many other
activities all contribute to the damage of the environment. Some of the destructive
consequences of human activity are below.
 Give a summary of each of the following and describe the effect on the
environment.
1. Greenhouse effect
2. Ozone depletion
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AP Biology
Ecology Unit 8
3. Acid rain
4. Desertification
5. Deforestation
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Ecology Unit 8
6. Pollution (air, water, land)
a. DDT
b. Sewage
c. Runoff fertilizer
d. Algal blooms
e. Eutrophication
7. Reduction in species diversity
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AP Biology
Ecology Unit 8
Essay Question #1 - Answer the following essay question.
Describe how limiting factors regulate the growth of populations.
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AP Biology
Ecology Unit 8
Essay Question #2 - Answer the following essay question.
a. Describe the process of succession for a lake as it develops into a forest.
b. Compare and contrast the succession of a lake and the eutrophication of a lake
polluted by fertilizer or sewage.
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AP Biology
Ecology Unit 8
Essay Question #3 - Answer the following essay question.
Explain how two closely related species can occupy the same habitat seemingly competing
for the same kinds of resources.
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AP Biology
Ecology Unit 8
Essay Question #4 - Answer the following essay question.
Describe the cycling of nitrogen in an ecosystem.
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