Ecology Unit Study Guide: AP Biology
Ecology Unit Study Guide AP Biology
Study Guide: Read through these concepts. If you are not sure of what the concept is or means search for the answer in your textbook and write it on a separate sheet of paper. If you know these terms you should do well on the test.
Chapter 52 – Ecology and the Biosphere
1. Distinguish among the following types of ecology: organismal, population, community, ecosystem, and landscape.
2. Explain how dispersal may contribute to a species’ distribution.
3. Distinguish between the following pairs of terms: potential and actual range, biotic and abiotic factors, macroclimate and microclimate patterns.
4. Explain how a body of water or mountain range might affect regional climatic conditions.
5. Define the following terms: photic zone, aphotic zone, benthic zone, abyssal zone, thermal stratfication, seasonal turnover, climograph, disturbance.
6. List and describe the characteristics of the major aquatic biomes.
7. List and describe the characteristics of the major terrestrial biomes
8. Compare the vertical layering of a forest and grassland.
Chapter 53 – Population Ecology
1. Define and distinguish between the following sets of terms: density and dispersion; clumped dispersion, uniform dispersion, and random dispersion; life table and reproductive table; Type I, Type II, and Type III survivorship curves; semelparity and iteroparity; r-selected populations and K-selected populations.
2. Explain how ecologists may estimate the density of a species.
3. Explain how limited resources and trade-offs may affect life histories.
4. Compare the exponential and logistic models of population growth.
5. Explain how density-dependent and density-independent factors may affect population growth.
6. Explain how biotic and abiotic factors may work together to control a population’s growth.
7. Describe the problems associated with estimating Earth’s carrying capacity for the human species.
8. Define the demographic
Study Guide: Read through these concepts. If you are not sure of what the concept is or means search for the answer in your textbook and write it on a separate sheet of paper. If you know these terms you should do well on the test.
Chapter 52 – Ecology and the Biosphere
1. Distinguish among the following types of ecology: organismal, population, community, ecosystem, and landscape.
2. Explain how dispersal may contribute to a species’ distribution.
3. Distinguish between the following pairs of terms: potential and actual range, biotic and abiotic factors, macroclimate and microclimate patterns.
4. Explain how a body of water or mountain range might affect regional climatic conditions.
5. Define the following terms: photic zone, aphotic zone, benthic zone, abyssal zone, thermal stratfication, seasonal turnover, climograph, disturbance.
6. List and describe the characteristics of the major aquatic biomes.
7. List and describe the characteristics of the major terrestrial biomes
8. Compare the vertical layering of a forest and grassland.
Chapter 53 – Population Ecology
1. Define and distinguish between the following sets of terms: density and dispersion; clumped dispersion, uniform dispersion, and random dispersion; life table and reproductive table; Type I, Type II, and Type III survivorship curves; semelparity and iteroparity; r-selected populations and K-selected populations.
2. Explain how ecologists may estimate the density of a species.
3. Explain how limited resources and trade-offs may affect life histories.
4. Compare the exponential and logistic models of population growth.
5. Explain how density-dependent and density-independent factors may affect population growth.
6. Explain how biotic and abiotic factors may work together to control a population’s growth.
7. Describe the problems associated with estimating Earth’s carrying capacity for the human species.
8. Define the demographic