Name: AP Biology Summer Assignment YOU MUST KNOW The role of abiotic factors in the formation of biomes. How biotic and abiotic factors affect the distribution of biomes. How changes in these factors may alter ecosystems. HINT: You may access this information in your AP Biology Test Prep booklet and additional information via the Powerpoints on my web page (Ch.52-An Introduction to Ecology & the Biosphere. These are posted under the Summer AP Bio Study tab. Concept 52.1 Ecology integrates all areas of biological research and informs environmental decision making. 1. Describe the components of each level of ecological study in the diagram below.
Concept 52.2 Interactions between organisms and the environment limit the distribution of species. 2. What are biotic factors? What are abiotic factors? 3. List AND describe examples of biotic factors that can limit geographic distribution. 4. List AND describe examples of abiotic factors that can limit geographic distribution. 5. How does dispersal influence species distribution?
Concept 52.3 Aquatic biomes are diverse and dynamic systems that cover most of Earth. 6. What are the most important factors influencing aquatic biome distribution? 7. What is the difference between a lake that is oligotrophic and one that is eutrophic? 8. What is a wetland? Are wetlands considered to be species rich or poor? Explain. 9. What is an estuary? Are estuaries considered to be species rich or poor? Explain. Concept 52.4 The structure and distribution of terrestrial biomes are controlled by climate and disturbance. 10. What are the most important factors influencing terrestrial biome distribution? Describe how each factor you list affects terrestrial biome distribution.
11. Fill in the Following Chart Outlining Major Characteristics of Biomes: Biome Defining Abiotic Characteristics How do the Abiotic Characteristics affect the Distribution of Species (Biotic Characteristics)? Discuss several adaptations found in plants and animals that are successful in this biome. Savannas Desert Chaparral Temperate Grassland
Temperate Broadleaf Forest Coniferous Forest Tundra Tropical Forest
YOU MUST KNOW 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. HINT: You may access this information in your AP Biology Test Prep booklet and additional information via the Powerpoints on my web page (Ch.53-Population Ecology). These are posted under the Summer AP Bio Study tab. Concept 53.1 Dynamic biological processes influence population density, dispersion, and demographics. 1. What is the relationship between population density and dispersion? 2. How can an ecologist use the mark-recapture method to estimate the number of individuals in a population? 3. What is the difference between immigration and emigration? How does each affect population density? 4. Describe three patterns of dispersal: a. b. c.
5. What is territoriality? How is it of adaptive value to an organism? 6. Define the following terms: a. Demographics: b. Life Table: c. Survivorship Curve: 7. Compare the survival strategies of different species and give an example of each type. Include a sketch of the graph for each growth strategy. a. Type I: b. Type II: c. Type III:
Concept 53.2 Life history traits are products of natural selection. 8. Life histories are very diverse. Compare and contrast species that exhibit semelparous and interoparous reproductive strategies. Discuss when each strategy might be of adaptive advantage to an organism. You may need to look this up on the internet. 9. Natural selection cannot maximize all reproductive variables simultaneously. Give examples of tradeoffs and life history strategies. Concept 53.3 The exponential growth model describes population growth in an idealized, unlimited environment. 10. Write the formula for population growth WITHOUT limits define the variables & draw/label an example of the graph. Why is this type of growth considered idealized or unattainable in nature?
Concept 53.4 The logistic growth model describes how a population grows more slowly as it nears its carrying capacity. 11. Define carrying capacity. Discuss factors that cause a population to reach its carrying capacity: 12. Write the formula for population growth WITH limits define the terms & draw/label an example graph. Why is this more realistic than the exponential growth model? 13. What happens to a population with the number of individuals approaches the carrying capacity? 14. Compare k-selected and r-selected species. Provide examples of each. What is the adaptive value of each strategy?
Concept 53.5 Many factors that regulate population growth are density dependent. 15. Identify factors that regulate population size: 16. Compare density-dependent and density-independent factors limiting populations give examples of each. Discuss WHY each factor is considered density-dependent or density-independent. 17. Review the figure on slide 45 of the Powerpoint for Ch. 53. Discuss how the predator/prey relationship is an example of a density-dependent limiting factor. What trends are recognizable from the graph?
Concept 53.6 The human population is no longer growing exponentially but is still increasing rapidly. 18. Look at the growth curve of the human population. How does it compare to the growth curves earlier in the chapter? Do you think the human population is growing exponentially or logistically? Have we reached our carrying capacity? Discuss trends and events throughout history that have contributed to growth in the size of the human population on the planet. 19. Look at the age structure diagrams of different countries. Discuss the pyramids for all four populations (similarities/differences). How might the age structure influence social policy? Space provided on next page.
YOU MUST KNOW The difference between a fundamental niche and a realized niche. 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. HINT: You may access this information in your AP Biology Test Prep booklet and additional information via the Powerpoints on my web page (Ch.54-Community Ecology). These are posted under the Summer AP Bio Study tab. Concept 54.1 Community interactions are classified by whether they help, harm, or have no effect on the species involved. 1. What is a community? 2. How is co-evolution significant in community ecology?
3. What is interspecific competition? What is intraspecific competition? 4. Ecologists call relationships between different species in a community interspecific interactions. Define the interaction terms. Fill in the chart of INTERSPECIFIC interactions: Interaction Effects on Population Density Example Competition: Predation (includes parasitism): Mutualism: Commensalism: 5. What is the competitive exclusion principle? How is this of adaptive value to both species?
6. Define ecological niche. What factors are included in an organism s niche? How does a niche differ from an organism s habitat? 7. What is the difference between a fundamental and realized niche? 8. Define and give an example of resource partitioning. How is this of adaptive value to all species involved in this interaction? Concept 54.2 Dominant and keystone species exert strong controls on community structure. 9. Discuss the terms biodiversity, species richness, and relative abundance. 10. What is the trophic structure of a community?
11. What does a food web show that isn t indicated by a food chain? 12. What limits the length of a food chain? Discuss the difference between the energetic hypothesis and the dynamic stability hypothesis. 13. Define a keystone species and discuss their importance to a community. Provide a specific example. 14. Define a foundation species and discuss their importance to a community. Provide a specific example. 15. Define a dominant species and discuss their importance to a community. Provide a specific example. 16. How do the bottom-up and top-down model of community control differ?
Concept 54.3 Disturbance influences species diversity and composition. 17. What is a disturbance? Explain the intermediate disturbance hypothesis. 18. What is an ecological succession? 19. What is the MAIN difference between a primary and secondary succession? Give examples of factors that can cause EACH type of succession. 20. What are the characteristic stages of a primary succession? Discuss the importance of each stage. 21. What happens to biodiversity as a succession proceeds? What factors influence this increase or decrease in biodiversity? 22. What is the difference between a pioneer species and a climax species?
YOU MUST KNOW How energy flows through the ecosystem by understanding the terms in bold that relate to food chains and food webs. The difference between gross primary productivity and net primary productivity. The carbon and nitrogen biogeochemical cycles be able to draw, label, and describe. Biogeochemical cycles such and the carbon and nitrogen cycles, and how they may impact individual organisms and/or populations and ecosystems. HINT: You may access this information in your AP Biology Test Prep booklet and additional information via the Powerpoints on my web page (Ch.55-Ecosystems). These are posted under the Summer AP Bio Study tab. Concept 55.1 Physical laws govern energy flow and chemical cycling in ecosystems. 1. How does the definition of ecosystems expand on the concept of the community? 2. What is needed to maintain a self-sustaining ecosystem? 3. How do the first two laws of thermodynamics and the law of conservation of mass apply to ecosystems? 4. How can changes in free energy availability result in disruptions to an ecosystem?
5. Draw a diagram that illustrates energy and nutrient dynamics in an ecosystem. Explain your diagram. Concept 55.2 Energy and other limiting factors control primary production in ecosystems. 6. Define the following energy budget terms: a. Primary Productivity: b. Gross Primary Productivity: c. Net Primary Productivity: 7. Which ecosystems have the highest productivity per unit area? What factors do you think contribute to such high productivity? 8. Why is the open ocean so low in productivity?
9. Explain the factors that limit productivity in aquatic ecosystems AND discuss some consequences of altering the amount of limiting nutrient in these systems. 10. Explain the factors that limit productivity in terrestrial ecosystems. Which terrestrial ecosystems have the lowest productivity? Why? Concept 55.3 Energy transfer between trophic levels is typically only 10% efficient. 11. What is secondary productivity? What is production efficiency? What is trophic efficiency? 12. What happens to the size (i.e. number of individuals) at each level in the idealized pyramid as energy is transferred through the trophic levels? Why does this happen? 13. Explain what happens to the energy and biomass as it is passed through the trophic levels of a food chain or food web. Explain why this happens i.e. why is the transfer only 10% efficient?
Concept 55.4 Biological and geochemical processes cycle nutrients between organic and inorganic parts of an ecosystem. 14. How does the movement of energy and nutrients DIFFER through an ecosystem? 15. Why is it essential that elements move through biogeochemical cycles in the ecosystem? 16. The Carbon Cycle: a. Biological importance: b. Forms available to life: c. Major reservoirs: d. Key processes involved in cycle: 17. The Water Cycle: a. Biological importance: b. Forms available to life: c. Major reservoirs: d. Key processes involved in cycle:
18. The Nitrogen Cycle: a. Biological importance: b. Forms available to life: c. Major reservoirs: d. Key processes involved in cycle: 19. The Phosphorus Cycle: a. Biological importance: b. Forms available to life: c. Major reservoirs: d. Key processes involved in cycle: 20. What is the impact of combustion on the carbon cycle? 21. Identify the role of each of the following in the nitrogen cycle: a. Nitrogen Fixation:
b. Ammonification: c. Nitrification: d. Denitrification: e. Assimilation: 22. How does the rate of decomposition affect the overall health of an ecosystem? 23. How does the rate of decomposition differ in a rainforest and a deciduous forest? What factors contribute to this difference? Explain. Concept 55.5 Human activities now dominate most chemical cycles on Earth. 24. Why is human population growth at the root of most environmental issues? Give specific examples. 25. What are the potential problems associated with nutrient enrichment (i.e. adding limiting nutrients to ecosystems) brought about by human activity? Discuss SHORT TERM and LONG TERM effects.
26. What are the potential problems associated with acid rain brought about by human activity? Discuss SHORT TERM and LONG TERM effects. 27. What are the potential problems associated with adding toxins to the environment brought about by human activity? Discuss SHORT TERM and LONG TERM effects including biological magnification. 28. What are some possible reasons for global warming called the greenhouse effect? 29. Is depletion of the ozone layer a possible reason for global warming? Explain.
30. What is the cause of depletion of the ozone layer? Why is this a problem? 31. List and describe several additional impacts humans have had on the environment. STOP COMPLETE YOUR VIRTUAL LAB NOW! Log Onto: http://www.phschool.com/science/biology_place/labbench/ Select: Lab 12: Dissolved Oxygen Complete the virtual lab record your responses in the virtual lab packet provided with your summer assignment.
YOU MUST KNOW The value of biodiversity, and the major human threats to it. How human activity is changing the Earth. HINT: You may access this information in your AP Biology Test Prep booklet and additional information via the Powerpoints on my web page (Ch.56-Conservation Biology & Restoration Ecology). These are posted under the Summer AP Bio Study tab. Concept 56.1 Human activities threaten Earth s biodiversity. 23. Describe the three levels of biodiversity. 24. Define biodiversity hot spots and explain why they are important. 25. What is bioremediation? Provide an example. 26. Why does reduced genetic diversity of small populations make them more vulnerable to extinction? Explain your answer.
27. Discuss the three major threats to biodiversity caused by human activity (habitat loss, introduced species, and overexploitation) and give examples of each. For each, discuss the immediate and long term impact on the community. a. Habitat Loss: b. Introduced Species: c. Overexploitation:
BIG IDEA 4: BIOLOGICAL SYSTEMS INTERACT, AND THESE SYSTEMS AND THEIR INTERACTIONS POSSESS COMPLEX PROPERTIES. Directions: Use your available textbook, supplemental booklets, Powerpoints, and internet resources to answer the application questions that follow. Each question should be answered in the space provided. Enduring Understanding 4.B Competition and cooperation are important aspects of biological systems. Essential Knowledge 4.B.3 Interactions between and within populations influence patterns of species distribution and abundance. 1. Interactions between populations affect the distribution and abundance of populations. Explain each of the following illustrative examples and describe how each demonstrates this concept. Provide specific examples and use appropriately labeled diagrams for each. Use your textbook or other reading sources to gather information. REMEMBER, your goal is to explain each illustrative example below AND link it to the bolded statement above (as well as the essential knowledge statement and enduring understanding statement): Competition, parasitism, predation, mutualism and commensalism can affect population dynamics. Relationships among interacting populations can be characterized by positive and negative effects, and can be modeled mathematically (i.e. predator/prey models).
Enduring Understanding 4.B Competition and cooperation are important aspects of biological systems. Essential Knowledge 4.B.3 Interactions between and within populations influence patterns of species distribution and abundance. 2. Interactions between populations affect the distribution and abundance of populations. Explain each of the following illustrative examples and describe how each demonstrates this concept. Provide specific examples and use appropriately labeled diagrams for each. Use your textbook or other reading sources to gather information. REMEMBER, your goal is to explain each illustrative example below AND link it to the bolded statement above (as well as the essential knowledge statement and enduring understanding statement): Many complex symbiotic relationships exist in an ecosystem, and feedback control systems play a role in the functioning of these ecosystems. Discuss several examples of how feedback control mechanisms assist in the function of ecosystems particularly as it relates to symbiotic relationships found in these systems.
Enduring Understanding 4.B Competition and cooperation are important aspects of biological systems. Essential Knowledge 4.B.3 Interactions between and within populations influence patterns of species distribution and abundance. 3. A population of organisms has properties that are different from those of the individuals that make up the population. The cooperation and competition between individuals contributes to these different properties. Describe a specific example that illustrates this concept. Be thorough in your description and be sure to relate your chosen illustrative example back to the EU and the EK!!!
Enduring Understanding 4.B Competition and cooperation are important aspects of biological systems. Essential Knowledge 4.B.4 Distribution of local and global ecosystems changes over time. 4. Human impact accelerates change at local and global levels. Explain each of the following illustrative examples and describe how each demonstrates this concept. Provide specific examples and use appropriately labeled diagrams for each. Use your textbook or other reading sources to gather information. REMEMBER, your goal is to explain each illustrative example below AND link it to the bolded statement above (as well as the essential knowledge statement and enduring understanding statement): Logging, slash & burn agriculture, infrastructure development and global climate change threaten ecosystems and life on Earth. An introduced species can exploit a new niche free of predators or competitors, thus exploiting new resources. Introduction of disease can devastate native species (i.e. potato blight, small pox/native Americans)
Enduring Understanding 4.B Competition and cooperation are important aspects of biological systems. Essential Knowledge 4.B.4 Distribution of local and global ecosystems changes over time. 5. Geological and meteorological events impact ecosystem distribution. Explain each of the following illustrative examples and describe how each demonstrates this concept. Provide specific examples and use appropriately labeled diagrams for each. Use your textbook or other reading sources to gather information. REMEMBER, your goal is to explain each illustrative example below AND link it to the bolded statement above (as well as the essential knowledge statement and enduring understanding statement): El Nino Continental Drift Meteor Impact on Dinosaurs
Enduring Understanding 4.C: Naturally occurring diversity among and between components within biological systems affects interactions with the environment. Essential Knowledge 4.C.3 The level of variation in a population affects population dynamics. 6. Population ability to respond to changes in the environment is affected by genetic diversity. Species and populations with little genetic diversity are at risk for extinction. Explain how TWO of the following illustrative examples demonstrate this concept YOU MAY CHOOSE WHICH TOPICS YOU WOULD LIKE TO RESEARCH use your textbook or other reading sources to gather information. California condors Prairie chickens Potato blight causing the potato famine Corn rust affects on agricultural crops
Enduring Understanding 4.C: Naturally occurring diversity among and between components within biological systems affects interactions with the environment. Essential Knowledge 4.C.4 The diversity of species within an ecosystem may influence the stability of the ecosystem. 7. Natural and artificial ecosystems with fewer component parts and with little diversity among the parts are often less resilient to changes in the environment. Explain the genetic and evolutionary basis of this statement.
Enduring Understanding 4.C: Naturally occurring diversity among and between components within biological systems affects interactions with the environment. Essential Knowledge 4.C.4 The diversity of species within an ecosystem may influence the stability of the ecosystem. 8. Keystone species, producers, and essential abiotic and biotic factors contribute to maintaining the diversity of an ecosystem. The effects of keystone species on the ecosystem are disproportionate relative to their abundance in the ecosystem, and when they are removed from the ecosystem, the ecosystem often collapses. Research a specific keystone species (other than the jaguar or the sea otter) and describe how the removal of this species may lead to the overall collapse of the ecosystem in which it resides.