Download Ecology Objective Sheet

Ecology Objective Sheet
AP Environmental Science
Chapters 4 and 8
Name ____________________________
Date ____________ Period ___________
SKIP THREE LINES BETWEEN EACH ANSWER! Add new insights in a different colored pen – brain
research says so! 
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Define “trophic levels”. Distinguish between producers and consumers. List and distinguish four
types of consumers. Distinguish among scavengers, detritus feeders, and decomposers. Distinguish
between photosynthesizers and chemosynthesizers, aerobic respiration and anaerobic respiration. Be
able to draw and understand a food web.
What is the difference between abiotic and biotic factors? List three important physical factors and
three important chemical factors that have large effects on ecosystems.
Define and give examples of biotic relationships (intraspecific and interspecific competition, predation,
mutualism, commensalism, and parasitism).
Distinguish among the following roles played by species and give one example of each: native
species, nonnative species, indicator species and keystone species. Be able to explain the terms exotic
species and endemic species.
Write the formulas for respiration and photosynthesis. You will need to memorize these.
Describe the concept of range of tolerance (also called “law of tolerance”). Compare limiting factors
in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.
How is net primary productivity calculated? Which ecosystems show the highest average net primary
productivity?
Explain how an energy pyramid represents the flow of energy in a food chain without breaking the law
of conservation of energy. Explain how there may be exceptions to pyramids of number and biomass
but not energy.
9. Describe the ecological role of fire in forest and prairie ecosystems.
10. Contrast surface fires and crown fires in forests.
11. How and why was fire suppression promoted in the US? What major fire event helped to change this
policy?
12. How are prescribed burns used by forest and prairie managers?
13. How are wildfires different today from those of 50 years ago?
14. Describe the intermediate disturbance hypothesis. How does this relate to fires in prairies and forests?
15. What is the difference between a habitat and a niche? What is the difference between an organism’s
fundamental niche and its realized niche? How does resource partitioning relate to the establishment
of niches?
16. What is the difference between primary and secondary succession? Give examples of each. List the
categories of successional species and give one example of each. List three patterns that affect how
succession occurs.
17. Define ecosystem services. Given an ecosystem, be able to identify and describe at least 10 ecosystem
services provided by that ecosystem which are critical to life on earth.
18. Describe the four biogeochemical cycles: water, carbon/oxygen, nitrogen and phosphorus. For each,
know the pathways of the molecules and why organisms need each of these materials. (you may attach
the cycle handouts for this obj!)
Monday
Tuesday
Wed/Thurs Sept 18/19
Population Test
Turn in all Population objectives
I=PAT
HW – complete prelab using
Sept 23
Sept 24
Stamp Obj #1-6
Check seed
germination/
set standard
Notes- Ecology
basics
Check seed
germination
Notes – energy
pyramids
HW – study for
quiz Obj #1-6
Sept 30
Stamp Obj #15
Quiz Obj #7&8
HW – Complete
worksheet –
“eating at a
lower trophic
level”
Oct 1
AM tutorial – lab
report help!
Notes – Succession
HW – Work on lab
report
HW – finishing
touches on lab
report! Set alarm to
remind yourself to
bring closed toe
shoes to next class!
Oct 7
Oct 8
Stamp obj #16/17 Pds 4/6: FIELD
Notes: the
TRIP TO
nitrogen cycle
ARMAND
BAYOU!!!!!
HW – prepare for Pd 5: Quiz – obj
next class; field
#18; Aldo
journal entry #2
Leopold
due Monday
reading
10/14
HW – prepare for
next class;
field journal
entry #2 due
Monday 10/14
Oct 14
ECOLOGY
TEST – all
objectives due
Journal entry #2
due
Sept 25/26
Early Release Wed: pds 2,4,6
Thursday no late start, pds 1,3,5,7
Turn in “Eating at a lower trophic
level”
Last seed check and lab clean up
Analyze lab results, write rough draft
of conclusion
Notes – fire ecology
HW – Obj #7-14; Work on lab report –
Major grade!
Friday Sept 20
Set up salinity lab
Notes – Range of
tolerance
HW: Read p7181 and 177-182;
answer Obj #1-6
Ecology
objectives
Sept 26
Stamp obj #7-14
Video analysis:
Wolves in
Yellowstone
HW – obj #15
use text pags
180-185; work on
lab report; review
for quiz Obj
#7&8
Oct 2/3
LAB DUE- MAJOR GRADE!
(-20% for late work; lab will count
in second six weeks)
Oct 4
Notes –
Biogeochemical
cycles
Outside to Wolf Prairie!
Notes – Ecosystem services
HW – Obj #16
and 17
HW – take a break!
End of 1st six
weeks
Oct 9
Pd 5: FIELD
TRIP TO
ARMAND
BAYOU!!!!
HW – journal
entry #2
PSAT day
Oct 10
Oct 11
Pds 4/6:
Quiz- Obj #18
Debrief Armand
bayou trip
Review
HW – journal
entry #2
HW – field
journal
entry#2 due
Monday
10/14