1. Unit at a Glance
Unit 1. Ecology [C6]
Textbook Readings
Chapters 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55
Essential Knowledge
2.A.1All living systems require constant input of free energy.
2.D.1 All biological systems from cells and organisms to populations, communities, and ecosystems are
affected by complex biotic and abiotic interactions involving exchange of matter and free energy
2.D.2 Homeostatic mechanisms reflect both common ancestry and divergence due to adaptation in different
environments.
2.D.3 Biological systems are affected by disruptions to their dynamic homeostasis.
2.E.3: Timing and coordination of behavior are regulated by various mechanisms and are important in
natural selection.
3.E.1. Individuals can act on information and communicate it to others.
4.A.5: Communities are composed of populations of organisms that interact in complex ways.
4.A.6: Interactions among living systems and with their environment result in the movement of matter and
energy.
4.B.3: Interactions between and within populations influence patterns of species distribution and abundance.
4.B.4: Distribution of local and global ecosystems
changes over time.
4.C.4: The diversity of species within an ecosystem may influence the stability of the ecosystem.
Laboratory Exercises
AP® Biology Laboratory 11: Animal Behavior [C8] [C4]
o Goal: To determine habitat preferences in the sow bug, to observe mating behavior in
Drosophila (wet lab)
AP® Biology Laboratory 12B & 12C: Aquatic Primary Productivity [C8] [C4]
o Goal: To measure and analyze the primary productivity of natural waters, to understand the
effect of light and nutrients on photosynthesis, to describe the relationship between dissolved
oxygen and the processes of photosynthesis and respiration as they affect primary
productivity in an ecosystem
Equations and Formulas
Rate and Growth
o Rate
o Population Growth
o Exponential Growth
o Logistic Growth
o Primary Productivity Calculation
Test
Traditional test using a free response essay question and numerous multiple choice questions.

2. Topics addressed in past AP exams
Chapter 50: Introduction to Ecology
Biotic vs. abiotic factors
Zonation in lakes vs. oceans
Survey of aquatic biomes
Survey of terrestrial biomes
Chapter 51: Behavioral Ecology
Fixed action patterns
Imprinting
Kinesis vs. taxis
Pheromones
Habituation
Classical conditioning
Sexual selection
Altruism
Kin selection
Chapter 52 Population Ecology
Patterns of dispersion
Survivorship curves
Exponential growth vs. logistic growth
Carrying capacity
Density dependent vs. density independent
Chapter 53: Community Ecology
Competitive exclusion principle
Habitat vs. niche
Resource partitioning and character displacement
Mimicry
Parasitism, commensalism, mutualism
Trophic structure
Keystone species
Ecological succession
Chapter 54: Ecosystems
Energy flow
Gross and net productivity
Pyramid of net production
Pyramid of numbers
Cycles: carbon, water, nitrogen, phosphorus
Acid precipitation
Greenhouse effect
Ozone depletion
Biological magnification
Chapter 55: Conservation Biology
Biodiversity
Four major threats to biodiversity
Bioremediation