AP Biology
Miss Simcox
esimcox@cherrycreekschool.org
Dear AP Biology Student,
Welcome to AP Biology class for the 2013-2014 school year! I am looking forward to a great school year and
hope that this letter will help you to prepare for what lies ahead. AP Biology will be both a challenging and
rewarding experience. Students enrolled in AP Biology must understand the workload and reading level that
this class demands. AP Biology, a university-level course, requires approximately 50 pages of reading per
week as well as intensive study time. Your grades will be based on performance on university-level exams and
quizzes in addition to lab work. This course will maintain the rigor necessary for you to score well on the AP
Biology Exam.
AP Biology covers a wide range of topics in life science (ecology, genetics, biochemistry, plant and human
systems, etc.). The AP Biology Exam covers a very large quantity of material that cannot be completely
covered in a one year high school course. It is assumed that you have an introductory course in biology and
are already prepared in the basic concepts included in that introductory level class. Additionally, you will
need to do some summer reading. Vocabulary words, study questions, and essay questions can be found
throughout pages 3-8 of this document. You will not be issued your textbook (Biology, Campbell, 7th Edition)
for AP Biology until the start of the school year. The summer reading can be done by accessing the following
college-level biology book online:
http://www.emc.maricopa.edu/faculty/farabee/biobk/biobooktoc.html
This summer reading assignment includes the following:
Assignments: Chapter 55
Population Ecology
Chapter 56
Community and Ecosystem Dynamics
Chapter 57
The Biosphere and Mass Extinctions
Additionally, I recommend you purchase an AP Biology study guide through Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble, or any
other booksellers. Among those used by former AP Biology students:
Cliff’s AP Biology
Philip E. Pack
How to Prepare for the AP Biology
Gabrielle I. Edwards and Marion Cimmino
To improve your retention of the material learned, you will need to purchase of the Campbell Active Reading Guide.
This workbook will provide the framework to successfully learn the concepts found on the AP Exam and will be used as a
homework manual for the school year. You will not need this workbook until we begin class in the fall. Refer to the
next page for the steps to purchase this workbook.
Upon completion of the reading portion of this assignment, you will then need to complete four (4) AP essay questions
which will be due on the first day of class (i.e. this is not extra credit; it is required a for a grade). You may always
collaborate with other students on the study questions; however, the AP essays must be your own, original work.
Please email me with any questions you have during summer break.
Thank you,
Miss Simcox
How to Purchase the AP Biology Active Study Guide
ISBN: 0132603861
1. Go to the Pearson website. The link below will bring you to the ordering page:
http://www.pearsonschool.com/index.cfm?locator=PS1294&PMDbSiteId=2781&PMDbSolutionId=6724&PMD
bSubSolutionId=&PMDbCategoryId=811&PMDbSubCategoryId=23496&PMDbSubjectAreaId=&PMDbProgramI
d=78581&PMDbProductId=426624&elementType=programComponents
2. You need to order the Active Reading Guide, ISBN 0132603861 for $12.97. Note: This guide
accompanies the 9th edition of Campbell. It works well with the 7th edition we will be using in class.
3. Enter the number of copies. Then click Guest Checkout of students and parents. Follow the
instructions to complete your order.
4. We will not need the guide until the second week of school, so speak to me in the fall if there are any
questions or concerns.
AP Biology Vocabulary Word List
Unit: Ecology
The vocabulary words below are a fairly thorough list of terms that will come up multiple times as we explore
the various topics within the ecology unit. These words may also guide the vocabulary that is expected as you
complete your essay questions. These are not “due” at the beginning of our school year. In fact, you may
remember the definitions for some of these words based on the introductory biology class you have already
completed. I would recommend doing something (i.e. flashcards, Cornell notes definitions, bubble map for
related words, etc.) with these vocabulary words (especially the ones that are brand new to you) so that you
can keep up with me when I use them throughout lectures, labs, etc. In other words, I will assume that you
have previously accessed this vocabulary.
Ecology
Ecosystem
Succession
Chaparral
Photic zone
Intertidal zone
Benthic zone
Abiotic factor
Biosphere
Climograph
Taiga
Wetlands
Neritic zone
Abyssal zone
Biotic factor
Rainshadow
Tropical dry forest
Tundra
Aphotic zone
Oceanic zone
Tropical deciduous
Forest
Savanna
Permafrost
Benthic
Pelagic zone
Population
Clumped dispersion
Fecundity
Density
Random dispersion
Survivorship curve
Dispersion
Uniform dispersion
Life history
Geographical range
Biogeography
Exponential
population growth
Carrying capacity
Logistic population
growth
K-related species
Density-dependent
factor
Intraspecific
competition
R-related species
Community
Secondary
compounds
Batesian mimicry
Coevolution
Cryptic coloration
Mullerian mimicry
Predator
Aposematic
coloration
Parasitism
Ecological niche
Commensalism
Trophic structure
Secondary succession
Fundamental niche
Mutualism
Keystone predator
Climax community
Realized niche
Diversity
Exotic species
Inhibition
Trophic level
Tertiary consumer
Primary productivity
Primary producer
Decomposer
Gross primary
productivity
Limiting nutrient
Primary consumer
Food chain
Net primary
productivity
Secondary
productivity
Nitrification
Biological
magnification
Standing crop
biomass
Energy pyramid
Denitrification
Biodiversity
Biogeochemical cycle
Eutrophication
Prey
Mimicry
Competitive exclusion
principal
Symbiosis
Stability
Primary succession
Facilitation
Secondary consumer
Food web
Biomass
Ecological efficiency
Ammonification
Greenhouse effect
AP Biology Study Questions
Unit: Ecology
Study questions are intended to highlight the important points of each chapter. They should be completed;
however, they will not be collected or graded. Use them as a base of knowledge to answer the assigned essay
questions.
Chapter 55 Population Ecology
1. Define and determine the distinguishing characteristics among: Biosphere, ecosystem, community,
population, and organism.
2. Distinguish between density and dispersion.
3. Explain how ecologists measure the density of a species.
4. Describe conditions which may result in clumped dispersion, random dispersion, and uniform dispersion
of populations.
5. Describe the characteristics of populations which exhibit Type I, Type II, and Type III survivorship curves.
6. Explain how carrying capacity of the environment affects the intrinsic rate of increase of a population.
7. Explain how density-dependent factors affect population growth.
8. Describe how weather and climate can function as density-independent factors in controlling population
growth.
9. Distinguish between r-selected and k-selected populations (You will need to investigate this information
using a different website…please let me know if you have any questions).
Chapter 56 Community and Ecosystem Dynamics
1. Explain the importance of temperature, water, light, soil and wind to living organisms.
2. Describe the characteristics of the major biomes: tropical forest, savanna, chaparral, temperate
grassland, temperate forest, taiga, tundra.
3. Compare and contrast the types of freshwater communities.
4. Using a diagram, identify the various zones found in the marine environment.
5. Explain the relationship between species richness, relative abundance and diversity.
6. List 4 properties of a community and explain the importance of each.
7. Explain how intraspecific competition may affect community structure.
8. Describe the competitive exclusion principal and explain how competitive exclusion may affect
community structure.
9. Distinguish between an organism’s fundamental niche and realized niche.
10. Explain the role of predators in community structure
11. Distinguish among parasitism, mutualism, and commensalism.
12. Distinguish between primary and secondary succession.
13. List the factors involved in limiting species to a particular range.
14. List and describe the importance of the four consumer levels found in an ecosystem.
15. Explain how gross primary productivity is allocated by the plants in an ecosystem.
16. Explain why productivity declines at each trophic level.
17. Distinguish between energy and biomass pyramids.
Chapter 57 The Biosphere and Mass Extinctions
1. Describe the hydrologic (water) cycle.
2. Describe the carbon cycle and explain why it is said to result from the reciprocal processes of
photosynthesis and cellular respiration.
3. Describe the nitrogen cycle and explain the importance of nitrogen fixation to all living organisms.
4. Explain how phosphorus is recycled locally in most ecosystems.
5. Explain why the soil in tropical rainforests contains lower levels of nutrients than soil in temperate
forests.
6. Describe how deforestation can affect nutrient cycling within an ecosystem.
7. Explain why toxic compounds usually have the greatest effect on top-level carnivores.
8. Describe how increased atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide could affect Earth.
9. Describe the causes and effects of acid rain.
Additional Information
****Note: The reading sections assigned are found ONLINE. In case you are curious, below is the list if
chapters in our textbook (which you will not get until the start of the school year) that correspond to the
online reading chapters:
Assignments: Chapter 46, pages 1061-1092
Chapter 47, pages 1093-1117
Chapter 48, pages 1118-1144
Chapter 49, pages 1145-1171
AP Biology Essay Questions
Unit: Ecology
THIS IS THE ONLY PART OF YOUR SUMMER ASSIGNMENT THAT WILL BE COLLECTED AND GRADED ON THE
FIRST DAY OF CLASS. Please don’t wait until the last minute to write these essays; much less complete the
assigned reading, review the vocab words, or work on the study questions. Remember, the ecology unit is
mostly covered through this summer assignment. We will not spend much time on this topic once the school
year starts. The essay questions below are assigned to both cover the ecology essay requirement of the
course and to prepare you for the ecology portion of the AP Biology Exam (remember, the AP Exam is the pot
of gold at the end of the rainbow).
Your answers to the following questions must be in essay form. Outline form (i.e. bullets points and/or
random sentences) is not acceptable. Labeled diagrams may be used to help supplement discussion, but in no
case will a diagram alone suffice. Give specific information in your answers and be sure to answer all parts of
the question. Use the last pages of this document for additional information concerning essays for the AP
Biology exam.
1. Describe how limiting factors regulate the growth of populations. Give specific examples in your answer.
2. Describe the process of ecological succession from a pioneer community to a climax community. Include
in your answer a discussion of species diversity and interactions, accumulation of biomass, and energy
flow.
3. Living organisms play an important role in the recycling of many elements within an ecosystem. Discuss
how various types of organisms and their biological reactions contribute to the recycling of either carbon
or nitrogen in an ecosystem. Include in your answer one way in which human activity has an impact on
the nutrient cycle you have chosen.
4. Interdependence in nature is illustrated by the transfer of energy through trophic levels. The diagram
below depicts the transfer of energy in a food web of an arctic lake located in Alaska:
(a) Choosing organisms from FOUR (4) different trophic levels of this food web as examples, explain how
energy is obtained at each trophic level.
(b) Describe the efficiency of energy transfer between trophic levels and discuss how the amount of
energy available at each trophic level affects the structure of the ecosystem.
(c) If the cells in the dead terrestrial plant material that washed into the lake contained a commerciallyproduced toxin, what would be the likely effects of this toxin in the food web? Explain your answer.
ESSAYS ARE DUE ON THE FIRST DAY OF CLASS. LATE WORK WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. YOU ARE FREE TO
EMAIL YOUR ESSAY QUESTIONS AS YOU COMPLETE THEM IF YOU WOULD LIKE ADDITIONAL FEEDBACK.
AP Biology Tips for Writing Exam Essays
DO’s
1. Read the question VERY carefully. Yes, one may think this is obvious, but so many students struggle with
answering essay questions simply because they do not take the time to dissect the question being asked.
Be sure that you answer the question that is being asked and only that question, and that you answer all
parts of it. If you are ever given a choice of parts to answer, choose carefully. Don’t answer all parts in
that case.
2. Briefly outline the answer to avoid confusion and disorganization. Pay close attention to the verbs used in
the directions (i.e. “describe, explain, compare, give evidence for, graph, calculate,” etc.) and be sure to
follow those directions. Thinking ahead helps to avoid messy scratch-outs, scribbles, astrices, skipping
around, and rambling.
3. Write an essay. Outlines and diagrams, no matter how elaborate or useful to you in the planning process,
are not essays and will not result in much, if any, credit by themselves. Exceptions: If you are asked as
part of an essay on a lab to calculate a number, this part does not require an essay, but be sure to show
the steps of how you came up with your answer (i.e. show the formula you are using, the numerical
values you have inserted into those formulas, and display the proper units on the answer); or, if you are
asked to draw a diagram in the question, do so, but be sure to title and annotate it carefully and
thoroughly.
4. Define and/or explain the terms you use. Write something about each of the important terms. The AP
Exam will not ask for a list of “buzzwords.” Use high-level vocabulary, but use it within the appropriate
context.
5. Answer the question parts in the order called for and use the questions’ labels (i.e. “(a),” “(b),” “(c),” etc.).
It is best NOT to skip around within the question.
6. Write clearly and neatly. Don’t confuse the reader with poor penmanship- you will have a hard enough
time coming up with a thorough answer in a limited amount of time!
7. Go into detail on the particular subject; be sure that you get straight to the point. Include the obvious
when starting your response (i.e. “Light is necessary for photosynthesis because….”); answer the
question thoroughly.
8. If you cannot recall a particular vocabulary word exactly, take a shot at it anyway-try to get as close as you
can! Even if you don’t remember the name for a concept, describe the concept.
9. Remember that no detail is too small to be included as long as it is to the point. Be sure to include the
obvious- most points are given for knowledge of the basics anyway.
10. If you use a diagram, carefully label it (it will get no points otherwise) and place it within the text at the
appropriate place- not detached at the end. Be sure to then refer to your diagram in your essay answer.
AP Biology Tips for Writing Exam Essays
DONT’s
1. Don’t waste time on background information or a long introduction unless the question calls for historical
development or historical significance. Answer the question- don’t rewrite it!
2. Don’t ramble- get to the point. Write what you know and go on to the next question. You can always
come back if you remember something else to add.
3. Don’t use a pencil or a felt-tip pen; use black ink. Don’t scratch out excessively. One or two lines through
an unwanted word or sentence will be enough. Avoid writing more than a few words in the margin.
Again, be neat. The reader could miss something worth points if they have trouble navigating through a
messy essay.
4. Don’t panic or become angry because you are immediately unfamiliar with a question or how to answer
it. You have most likely heard or read something about the topic-stop and collect your thoughts before
proceeding.
5. Don’t obsess about spelling every word perfectly or using perfect grammar. These are not part of the
standards that the graders use. It is for you to know, however, very poor spelling and/or grammar can
hurt your chances of a good score.
6. There is no need to say something twice. While introductory paragraphs are important in formal essays
in an English class, they are essentially a waste of valuable time on an AP Exam essay question.
7. If you are given a choice of two or more topics to write about, understand that only the first one you
write about will be scored. You must make a choice and stick with it. If you decide your first choice was
a bad one, then cross out that part of the answer so the reader can easily tell which parts you wish to be
considered for credit.
8. Don’t leave questions blank. EVER. Remember that each point you earn on an essay question is the
equivalent of two correct multiple choice questions, and there is NO penalty for a wrong guess, bad
speling, or bad gramer (ha ha).