Student Exemplar:
Jane Doe
AP Biology –Per 7/8
Mrs. Mooradian
September 1, 2013
AP Biology: Summer Assignment 2013
Ecology Unit
Chapter 52- Introduction to Ecology: Population Ecology
1. Define ecology and distinguish among the ecological levels: population, community,
ecosystem, and biosphere.
Ecology is the study of how living organisms and the physical environment interact in an
immense and complicated web of relationships. The different ecological levels order from one
species to the entire collection of Earth’s living organisms. A population is a group consisting
of members of the same species living together in a certain area at the same time. The
boundaries of the area are defined by the ecologist who is studying it. Next, a community is
all of the populations in a definite area or habitat, again being defined by the observer. An
ecosystem, the next level, is the community along with its nonliving, physical environment.
The largest level of ecology, the biosphere, is the entire collection of Earth’s living organisms.
Each level contains the previous making it easier to breakdown and study.
CHAPTER 51- Animal Behavior
1. Contrast ethology and behavioral biology
2. Contrast innate behavior and learned behavior
3. Define “fixed action patterns/behavioral patterns” and describe an example
4. Briefly describe each of these learned behaviors and provides an example for each:
Habituation, Imprinting, Classical Conditioning and Operant Conditioning.
5. Define and describe an example of insight learning. In which types of animals is insight
learning best developed?
6. Cite examples of biological rhythms and suggest some of the mechanisms responsible for
them.
7. List some reasons for animal migration and describe 3 mechanisms responsible for them.
8. Describe an animal society and identify the potential advantages of cooperative behavior.
9. Describe several methods of communication practiced by animals. Include a discussion of
the importance of pheromones.
10. Describe what a dominance hierarchy is. What might be the advantage of this social
function?
11. Relate the concepts of inclusive fitness and kin selection to altruism.
CHAPTER 52- Introduction to Ecology: Population Ecology
1. Define ecology and distinguish among the following ecological levels: population,
community, ecosystem, and biosphere
2. Distinguish between biotic and abiotic factors in nature and give 3 examples of each.
Discuss how changes in one of your abiotic factor examples could affect the populations of
organisms in the ecosystem.
3. Define population density and dispersion. Describe the types of population dispersion.
Give an example of each.
4. Define carrying capacity.
5. Distinguish between exponential growth (J-curve) and logistic growth (S-curve). Draw a
representative graph for each.
6. The regulation of population size can be affected by density-dependent and density
independent factors. Distinguish between these & give an example of each.
7. How might pigs at a trough be an example of exploitation competition? Of interference
competition?
8. Examine the graph on p. 1134. Briefly explain the purpose and conclusion of the
experiment.
9. Distinguish between r-strategists and K-strategists. Can a species be classified as 100%
either r or K? Explain.
10. Draw and explain the 3 types of survivorship curves. Briefly, relate each to r selection and
K selection.
11. Draw a graph of the human population growth pattern. Do you think we will reach a
carrying capacity? Explain.
12. Explain how a single child born in the United States can have a greater effect on the
environment and natural resources than a dozen children born in Kenya.
13. Draw an age structure diagram to indicate a population that is growing. Explain.
Chapter 53: Community Ecology
1. Define community ecology and explain the importance of studying it.
2. Explain how acorns, gypsy moths and Lyme disease are related.
3. Describe the multidimensional nature of an ecological niche and its realized niche.
4. Define and give examples of these population interactions: interspecific, competition,
intraspecific competition, predation.
5. Explain the competitive exclusion principle. Describe an example.
6. Define and explain an example of resource partitioning.
7. Describe animal defenses against predators that deal with coloration and mimicry. Give
examples of each.
8. Describe several defenses that plants have evolved to protect against herbivores.
9. Explain symbiosis and distinguish among mutualism, commensalism, and parasitism.
Give examples of each.
10. In your opinion, are humans a dominant species or a keystone species? Explain.
11. How is species richness of a community related to (1) geographic isolation; (2) the
structural complexity of habitats?
Chapter 54: Ecosystems and the Biosphere
1. Define: producers/autotrophs; consumers/heterotrophs, detritivores;
saprotrophs/decomposers. Give several examples of each.
2. Compare how matter and energy operate in ecosystems. (Are they recycled?)
3. Draw a food chain that consists of five organisms. Always begin with a producer. Label
which organisms are producers (autotrophs) and which are consumers (heterotrophs).
4. Define Biomass.
5. Draw and explain typical pyramids of energy (productivity), biomass, and numbers showing
the levels of primary, secondary and tertiary consumers. Compare them.
6. Define gross primary productivity and net primary productivity. Write an equation that
shows the relationship between gross and primary productivities. Name the terrestrial and
aquatic ecosystems having the greatest productivity.
7. Discuss the results of the experiment in Figure 54-6. Incorporate these vocabulary words
into your discussion: persistence; bioaccumulation; biological magnification.
8. Briefly describe the physical forces involved in the water (hydrologic) cycle.
9. List and briefly characterize the main steps of the nitrogen cycle.
10. Of what importance is the phosphorous cycle? How is it different from the other physical
cycles?
11. Briefly describe how photosynthesis and cellular respiration contribute to the carbon
cycle.
12. Describe the various fates of solar radiation that reaches Earth. (Figure 54-13)
13. What is the energy source that powers the wind?
14. It is said that without the sun, almost all life on Earth would cease. Discuss an example of
life on Earth that successfully lives without the Sun.
Chapter 55: Ecology and the Geography of Life
1. Define Biome. Name the 9 major terrestrial biomes and briefly describe these four
characteristics about each: climate; soil; characteristic plants; characteristic
animals. Also give an example of where each biome can be found on Earth. Use
“bullet format” under each biome name. There will be 5 “bullets” of information
about each biome.
2. Explain the similarities in the changes in vegetation observed with increasing altitudes and
increasing latitude (focus on p1195).
3. Briefly (in the “bullet” format described above) describe the following ecosystems:
freshwater (flowing); freshwater (standing); estuary; marine (intertidal); marine (benthic);
marine (coral reef); marine (neritic); marine (oceanic). Provide 5-6 “bullets” of information
about each.
4. Explain the cause and importance of “lake turnover” in the spring and fall.
5. Define biogeography and explain what can be learned by studying it.
Chapter 56: Global Environmental Issues
1. Define biological diversity (biodiversity) and explain the value in maintaining high levels of
biodiversity in an ecosystem.
2. Many threatened or endangered species have certain characteristics in common.
Describe 4 of these characteristics and provide an example of an organism exhibiting each.
3.
Define: endemic species and explain why these are so threatened.
Define: invasive species and explain why these are so harmful.
4.
Make a list of human activities that contribute to the decline of biodiversity. (Minimum of
6). Provide examples of species that are declining due to each of these activities.
5.
Name and describe the two problem-solving approaches that help to save organisms
from extinction. Provide examples of each.
6.
Discuss the ecological benefits of forests and describe the consequences of
deforestation.
7.
Name at least 3 greenhouse gases and explain how greenhouse gases contribute to
global warming.
8.
Describe how global warming may affect sea level, precipitation patterns, organisms
and food production.
9.
Cite the causes and potential effects of ozone destruction in the stratosphere.
10.
Describe how human population growth is related to destruction of natural habitats.