Download AP Biology – Ecology Unit Study Guide – C. Gray Mitchell This list is

AP Biology – Ecology Unit Study Guide – C. Gray Mitchell
This list is intended as a guide and is not all – inclusive.
You must know:
 The difference between a taxis and kinesis
 The various examples of social behaviors and their role in the success of an animal population
 Various forms of animal communication
 The role of altruism in kin selection
 Both proximate and ultimate causes of behavior.
 The role of biotic & abiotic factors in the formation of biomes
 Key features of freshwater and marine biomes
 Major terrestrial biomes and their characteristics.
 How density, dispersion, and demographics can describe a population.
 The differences between exponential and logistic models of population growth.
 How density-dependent and density-independent factors can control population growth.
 What determines carrying capacity and differences between r and K selected species.
 How to identify variables and use formulas that describe population growth – dN/dt, N, K, r
 The role of competitive exclusion in interspecific competition.
 The symbiotic relationships of parasitism, mutualism, and commensalism.
 The impact of keystone species on community structure.
 The difference between primary and secondary succession.
 How energy flows through the ecosystem by understanding food chains and food webs.
 The difference between gross primary productivity and net primary productivity.
 The carbon, nitrogen, and water biogeochemical cycles.
 Examples of biological magnification.
 Causes of global warming/greenhouse effect.
 Causes of ozone depletion and the effect it has on life.
 Causes of acid rain and its effect.
 Temperature influences on the oxygen content of a body of water.
 Eutrophication-cause and effect.
 How to design a controlled experiment: ID control, manipulate IV, measure DV, hold constants,
graph/explain data. “DRY MIX” = DV on Y axis & IV or TIME on X axis
As a result of completing investigation 10 (energy flow) and 12 (behavior), you should be able to
answer the following questions without use of any resources:
1. Distinguish between Gross Primary Productivity (GPP) and Net Primary productivity (NPP)
2. Identify how we measured NPP in our Fast Plant lab (still haven’t completed but is in your lab
manual – convert dry mass to energy when given conversion factor).
3. Define the term biomass and explain why it is a measure of primary productivity.
4. Calculate, determine, explain the transfer of energy through trophic levels.
5. Explain recycling of matter in ecosystems.
9. How to design a controlled experiment: ID control, manipulate IV, measure DV, hold constants,
graph/explain data.