AP Biology Summer Assignment- Ms. Randolph
Due the first day of school, August 18, 2014
Welcome to AP Biology! The course is very fast- paced and I have very high expectations for your success.
To prepare us to work through the 1,248 pages in 57 chapters, the following are your required summer
assignments. Please e-mail any questions you may have: nandi.randolph@polk-fl.net (Note: You may
need to wait a few days for an answer as I will only be checking it about once a week.)
ASSIGNMENT #1: Biological Scavenger Hunt (75 points)
Collect 25 of the biological items from the following Specimen List. This assignment is worth 75 points,
however, you may want to collect MORE to allow for some items not meeting the requirements.
To show that you’ve seen the items, you must submit either:
 A photograph of the object OR
 A hand-drawn image of the object in its found location OR
 A newspaper or magazine article that has that item as its primary subject (must include a correct
citation for the article and the article must have been written during this summer- June through
August, 2014) OR
 An internet article/image of the organism (limited to 5 submissions maximum)
*Every organism submitted must be labeled with (1) specimen list title (ex: Adaptation of an animal) (2)
properly-formatted scientific name and (3) location of the organism. For example, a dog in your
neighborhood would be drawn or photographed and labeled as Canis familiaris, 45 Rye Rd., Lakeland, FL.
Grade breakdown for Scavenger Hunt: 1 point for each specimen, 1 point for each scientific name, and 1
point for location = 75 points
CAUTIONS: 1. Never touch plants or animals with exposed fingers! Avoid touching the organisms
but if you must, use gloves and/or forceps. 2. Remember, we don't want to deplete the
environment. Don’t kill the organisms! Photograph or draw them in their native habitat.
The submitted portfolio can be in a booklet form or a PowerPoint presentation.
Specimen List
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
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25.
26.
adaptation of an
animal
adaptation of a plant
abscisic acid
actin
amniotic egg
amylase
angiosperm
animal that has a
segmented body
annelid
anther & filament of
stamen
arthropod
archaebacteria
autotroph
auxin producing area
of a plant
basidiomycete
Batesian mimicry
biological
magnification
bryophyte
C4 plant
Calvin cycle
carbohydrate - fibrous
cambium
cellulose
chitin
chlorophyta
cnidarian
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
33.
34.
35.
36.
37.
38.
39.
40.
41.
42.
43.
44.
45.
46.
47.
48.
49.
50.
51.
52.
53.
54.
coelomate
conifer leaf
commensalism
connective tissue
cuticle layer of a plant
deciduous leaf
deuterostome
dicot plant with flower
& leaf
diploid chromosome
number
echinoderm
ectotherm
endosperm
endotherm
enzyme
epithelial tissue
ethylene
eubacteria
eukaryote
exoskeleton
fermentation
flower ovary
frond
fruit - dry with seed
fruit - fleshy with seed
gametophyte
gastropod
genetically modified
organism
gibberellins
55. glycogen
56. gymnosperm cone
57. haploid chromosome
number
58. heartwood
59. hermaphrodite
60. insect
61. K-strategist
62. keratin
63. leaf - gymnosperm
64. lepidoptera
65. lichen
66. lignin
67. lipid used for energy
storage
68. littoral zone organism
69. long-day plant
70. meristem
71. modified leaf of a plant
72. modified root of a plant
73. modified stem of a
plant
74. monocot plant with
flower & leaf
75. muscle fiber - striated
76. mutualism
77. mycelium
78. mycorrhizae
79. myosin
80. nematode
81. niche
82. nymph stage of an
insect
83. parasite
84. parenchyma cells
85. phloem
86. pine cone - female
87. platyhelminthes
88. pollen
89. pollinator
90. porifera
91. prokaryote
92. protein - fibrous
93. protein - globular
94. protostome
95. pteridophyte
96. r-strategist
97. radial symmetry
98. rhizome
99. scale from animal with
two-chambered heart
100. spore
101. sporophyte
102. stem - herbaceous
103. stem - woody
104. stigma & style of carpel
105. tendril of a plant
106. thorn of a plant
107. unicellular organism
108. vascular plant tissue
109. xerophyte
110. xylem
ASSIGNMENT #2: Summer Reading (70 points)
Read the book A Parrot without a Name by Don Stap. This book is important for several reasons:
 It is a good illustration of the process of science.
 It shows how science does not always follow the tidy “scientific method” process that many of us
think it does. Real science is messy.
 It touches on many of the topics we will discuss in class during the school year: taxonomy, ecology,
adaptation, data collection, and evolution.
 It is an interesting read. You could even read this book while sitting on the beach this summer.
As you read, respond to the following questions. Some questions can be answered in one sentence, while
others may require an entire paragraph. Please write in complete sentences and type your answers.
1.
2.
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27.
Why are archaeological treasures not on display in places like Peru?
What is a Bothrops?
Why is taking inadequate field notes a problem?
Why does Peru still have abundant bird life?
Why does Peru historically have a great variety of species?
Why is the rainforest a “powerhouse of evolution”?
Explain how the most recent Ice Age is thought to have contributed to the rise of new species in
South America.
List at least 12 different habitat types found in Peru. (NOTE: A rainforest and a mountain are not
habitat types. You should be more specific. For example, “northern boreal forest” is a non-Peruvian
habitat type.)
What are peki-pekis?
What percent of the world’s remaining rainforest can be found in Latin America?
Explain the difference between “lumpers” and “splitters” as it refers to taxonomists.
What is the crucial criteria for separating species?
Why is it a bad thing to publish descriptions of new birds in very obscure journals or privately printed
“journals”?
Discuss the merits and drawbacks of killing birds for scientific collections.
While using somewhat circular logic, the author discusses the relevance of ornithology. Using
information from the text, answer the following question: “What does it matter if ornithology is in the
dark ages?”
Distinguish between “discovering” and “describing” a new bird species.
What are two possible explanations for a mixed-species flock?
How do twenty-four-hour ants get their name?
Why is it important to note the color of the feet and bill of a bird collected?
What is leishmaniasis? What is the cause? What are the symptoms?
What two events occurred in 1735 which had a major impact on botany and zoology? Why were
each of them significant?
What is binomial nomenclature and why is it important?
How did Darwin’s theory of evolution significantly change how organisms were classified?
What two factors may eventually make it impossible to continue the type of research described in
the book in Peru?
Who normally gets the credit for describing a new species? Why?
Why aren’t there many scientists conducting the type of research discussed in the book?
What name is given to the parrot without a name?
Additional questions- Answer and justify your answer with specific information.
28. How is science, as described in the book, similar to, and different than, your concept of science?
29. One of the things that people often forget is that science occurs in the context of social and
political climates. Choose a current issue in science and briefly discuss how it inter-relates with social
and political issues.
30. Do you think there is value in pursuing the type of scientific research described in the book?
ISBN Information:
A Parrot Without a Name: The Search for the Last Unknown Birds on Earth (1990) by Don Stap
Publisher: University of Texas Press
ISBN-10: 0394555961
ISBN-13: 9780394555966
You should be able to find it in the library. I found it online for as little as 27 cents! Check half.com or
amazon.com
ASSIGNMENT #5: Review Packet (55 points)
To get you comfortable with the information that you went through in Bio I Hon, you need to
complete the review packet. Click on the link to download the document. If you cannot print out all the
pages (there are 51), simply type your answers directly on the document either in a different color or
highlight them. Once the packet is complete you can simply e-mail it to me