AP Biology Book Notes
 Animal Behavior/ Ecology
o Behavior
 How organisms cope with their environment. Animals
communicate through chemicals called pheromones, which are
chemical signals between members of the same species.
Types of Behavior
Actions
Type
Instinct
Learned
Imprinting
(Learned)
Classical
Conditioning
(Learned)
Operant
Conditioning
(Learned)
Insight
(Learned)
Circadian
Rhythm
(Learned)
Social
Agonistic
(Social)
Dominance
Hierarchy
(Social)
Territoriality
(Social)
Altruistic
(Social)
An inborn, unlearned behavior. This is sometimes triggered by environmental
signals called releasers. These can be taken over by learned behaviors over a long
period of time. An innate behavior is called a fixed pattern, organism does this
even if not advantages.
A change in behavior because of a previous experience.
Learning things right after birth from their parents. Also, recognize members of
their species early in life.
When organisms associate certain sights or noises to something they like and when
they see or hear the noise they get ready to act.
When an organism learns by performing the action once to receive a reward.
Habituation is when animal learns to not respond to stimulus.
Ability to figure out a behavior that generates a desired outcome.
This is when organisms relate certain times of a day for an action. When an
organism does something on a daily basis, and learns to do this every day at the
same time. EX: Sleep, Wake Up, Eat
Help members of the species survive and reproduce.
Aggressive behavior that occurs as a result of competition for food or other
resources. Typical is fighting.
When members in a group have established which members are the most dominant.
Dominant is leader.
Common behavior when food and nesting sites are in short supply. Usually within a
group to protect important resources.
Defined as unselfish behavior that benefits another organism in the group at the
individual’s expense because it advances genes.
o Ecology
 The Earth is made up of very specific parts to distinguish life
and the environment. These include the biosphere, ecosystem,
community, and population.
Ecology
Description
Part
Biosphere
Ecosystem
Community
Population
All life places. Can be divided into large regions called biomes.
Self-contained regions including living and non-living things.
A group of interacting plants and animals that show interdependence.
Individuals in same place in same species.
Major Biomes
Description
Biome
Tundra
Taiga
Temperate
Deciduous
Forest
Grasslands
Deserts
Tropical Rain
Forest
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Region – Northern most
Plant Life – Few, mainly grasses
Characteristics – Permafrost, short growing season
Animal Life – Small game
Region – Northern Forest
Plant Life – Non-Permafrost plants
Characteristics – Very cold, Long winters
Animal Life – Small game
Region – North and East America, Western Europe
Plant Life – Most normal plants with few exceptions
Characteristics – Moderate Precipitation, Cold Winters, Warm Summers
Animal Life – Large Game
Region – Midwest America, Eurasia, Africa, South America
Plant Life - Grasses
Characteristics – Hot Summers, Cold Winters, Unpredictable Rainfall
Animal Life – Medium game, many mammals
Region – Western U.S.
Plant Life – Sparse, Drought-Resistant Plants
Characteristics – Arid, Low Rainfall, and Extreme Temperature Shifts
Animal Life – Small Game
Region – South America
Plant Life – Diverse Types
Characteristics – High Rainfall and Temperatures, Impoverished Soil
Animal Life – Reptiles and Birds mainly
Community
Organism Level
Producer
Consumer
Decomposer
Niche
Have all building blocks to produce their own food. (Autotroph)
Forced to find their energy sources in the outside world. (Heterotroph)
Organisms that break down organic matter into simpler products. (Fungi)
Symbiotic Relationships
Description
Type
Mutualism
Commensalism
Parasitism
Both organisms benefit.
One organism lives off the other without harming host.
Organism lives but harms the host.
o Population Ecology

Every population has a carrying capacity (K) or the maximum
number of individuals in a given habitat. Another factor is
population density. This is determined by DependentIndependent Factors and Density-Dependent Factors. Also
there are 2 types of growth in a habitat or ecosystem, logistic
growth or exponential growth. Lastly, there are 2 type of
survival strategist in an ecosystem R-strategist or K-strategist.
Growth
Description
Type
Exponential
Logistic
When a population is in an ideal environment, unrestricted growth because of
abundance of resources needed for life. (J-Shaped)
When a population begins becoming restricted because of a lack of resources for
future generations to live and sustain life. (S-Shaped)
Population Density Factors
Affect
Factors
DensityIndependent
DensityDependent
Factors that affect the population regardless of the density of the population.
EX: Severe Storms or Extreme Climate Change
Factors that affect the population that depend on the density of the population.
EX: Resource Depletion, Competition, and Predation
R vs. K
Strategy
Type
R
K
Produce lots of offspring, making sure a few lived. Less cared about offspring.
Produce little offspring, taking great care of offspring so they live.
o Human Impact on Environment

We have disturbed the current ecological balance by trying to
benefit ourselves while harming wildlife. Some things we have
done to contribute to this are Greenhouse Effect, Ozone
Depletion, Acid Rain, Desertification, Deforestation, Pollution,
and Reduction in Biodiversity.
Source of Impact
Greenhouse Effect
Ozone Depletion
Acid Rain
Desertification
Deforestation
Pollution
Reduction in
Biodiversity
Human Impact
Effect on the Environment
Higher temperatures causing polar ice caps to melt and flooding to occur.
Depletion of the atmospheric protection of organisms from the sun.
This, damages water systems, plants and the soil, also it leads to erosion.
When land is overgrazed.
When we cut down large amounts of trees.
Causes the destruction of our ozone, more sun UV radiation.
As we destroy habitats, we destroy animal numbers, and have even made
animals go extinct. Some of these were even beneficial to us but we
overused them.