UNIT 2 -- ECOLOGY (21 CLASS PERIODS)
READING, LEARNING AND ACTIVITY GUIDE
TOPICS TO KNOW:
 Interactions of biotic and abiotic factors in ecosystems
 The effects of human impact on ecosystems (ozone depletion, acid rain, global climate change
due to greenhouse effect, biomagnification, invasive species, decreased biodiversity)
 Climate and weather
 Heat energy transfer between the oceans and the atmosphere
 Global and local climates
 Definition of populations
 Methods of estimating and measuring population size and density
 Factors that influence population size and density (infectious agents, genetic diversity and the
ability of populations to respond to environmental changes, climate changes and responses of
populations to them)
 Population growth models
 Density-dependent and density-independent limiting factors of population growth
 Life history strategies and their evolution
 Predicting population size and density over time
 Interspecific interactions and their types
 The fundamental and realized niche
 The competitive exclusion principle and resource partitioning
 Dominant and keystone species
 Disturbance and ecological succession
 Parasite and host relationships and their coevolution
 The first and second laws of thermodynamics and their influence on ecosystems
 The flow of energy through ecosystems
 Food chains and food webs
 Primary and secondary production in ecosystems
 The recycling of matter in ecosystems (carbon, water, nitrogen and phosphorous cycles)
 Human impact on global element cycle
 Biodiversity and its significance
 Animal behaviors
 Learned behaviors in animals
 Hibernation, migration, circadian rhythms
 Mating behaviors
TEXT BOOK SECTIONS:
Nature's Principles (www.nature.come/principles) -- Modules 169-
ON-LINE PRESENTATIONS AND SOURCES:
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Crash Course Biology -- Animal behavior:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EyyDq19Mi3A&list=PL3EED4C1D684D3ADF
Crash Course Biology -- Ecology (biomes review):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izRvPaAWgyw&list=PL3EED4C1D684D3ADF
Bozemanbiology at http://www.bozemanscience.com/ap-biology -- Including lectures: 020, 026,
046, 047, 049, 050, 051, 054, 055
MATH:
 Growth rate calculations
 Energy dynamics calculations (net and gross primary and secondary production)
 Chi-Square Calculations
LABS:
 Animal behavior lab -- complete lab report
TEST DATE:
 October 15, 2014