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AP Biology Ecology Lecture Overview

Apr 27, 2025

AP Biology Lecture: Ecology

Introduction

  • Presenter: Tiffany Jones from Georgia AP Bio Penguins
  • Resource Overview:
    • Daily Review on Instagram
    • 374-page review guide available online
    • FRQ (Free Response Questions) practice videos available
    • Quizzes and games for exam practice
    • Website: ww.APbop.we.com

Topics Covered

  1. Energy Flow in Ecosystems

    • Organisms require energy to maintain order and grow.
    • First Law of Thermodynamics: Energy cannot be created or destroyed; it is transformed and transferred.
    • Second Law of Thermodynamics: Every energy transfer increases the system's entropy.
    • Body Temperature Regulation:
      • Endotherms: Regulate temperature through metabolism.
      • Ectotherms: Use external behaviors to regulate temperature.
    • Trophic Structure:
      • Autotrophs (photosynthetic and chemosynthetic organisms)
      • Heterotrophs (primary/secondary/tertiary consumers)
      • Energy Transfer: Only 10% of energy is passed to the next trophic level.

  2. Animal Behavior and Communication

    • Types of Communication:
      • Visual (e.g., fireflies)
      • Auditory (e.g., elephants)
      • Tactile (e.g., grooming in baboons)
      • Chemical (e.g., pheromones in ants)
    • Functions: Establish dominance, find food, establish territory.
    • Altruistic Behaviors: Decrease own fitness to increase group fitness.
    • Sexual Selection:
      • Intersexual Selection (mate choice)
      • Intrasexual Selection (competition among same sex)

  3. Population Ecology

    • Exponential Growth: Unlimited resources, represented by a J-shaped curve.
    • Logistic Growth: Limited resources, represented by an S-shaped curve.
    • Density-Dependent Factors: Disease, predation, competition.
    • Density-Independent Factors: Natural disasters, human activities.

  4. Community Ecology

    • Species Diversity:
      • Measured by richness and evenness.
      • Calculated using a specific formula.
    • Species Interactions:
      • Predator-prey, herbivory, competition, parasitism, mutualism, commensalism.
    • Keystone Species: Critical for ecosystem balance (e.g., sea otters).
    • Invasive Species: Non-native species that disrupt ecosystems.

  5. Practice Questions and Q&A

    • Explanation of data interpretation from graphs.
    • Performing a Chi-Square test to analyze biological data.
    • Constructing food webs based on organism interactions.
    • Understanding species interactions (e.g., cuckoo and warbler).
    • Addressing student questions about ecological concepts, experimental design, etc.

Resources and Review Sessions

  • Cram session on Saturday, [date and time TBD]
  • Collaboration with Marco Learning for additional review sessions.
  • Other recommended resources: Absolute Recap, ET.com.

Key Takeaways

  • Understand the flow of energy in ecosystems and the role of different trophic levels.
  • Recognize various forms of animal communication and their ecological significance.
  • Grasp the factors influencing population growth and community interactions.
  • Practice interpreting ecological data and performing statistical tests.
  • Utilize available resources for comprehensive exam review and preparation.

Note: These notes provide an overview of the key concepts discussed in the ecology lecture and are intended as a study aid for students preparing for exams on this topic.

Full transcript