Pre-AP_Biology_2025_Midterm_Exam_Review

Pre-ap bio mid term review

Ecology

The study of interactions among organisms and their environment.

Ecosystem

A community of living organisms and their physical environment interacting as a system.

Biotic factors

Living components of an ecosystem, such as plants and animals.

Abiotic factors

Non-living components of an ecosystem, such as climate and soil.

Cycling of Matter

The process by which matter is recycled in an ecosystem.

Energy Flow

The transfer of energy through an ecosystem, typically from sunlight to producers and then to consumers.

Geosphere

The solid Earth, including rocks, minerals, and landforms.

Atmosphere

The layer of gases surrounding Earth.

Hydrosphere

All the water on Earth, including oceans, rivers, and groundwater.

Biosphere

The global sum of all ecosystems; the zone of life on Earth.

Biogeochemical cycle

The movement of elements and compounds through living organisms and the environment.

Water Cycle

The continuous movement of water through evaporation, condensation, and precipitation.

Carbon Cycle

The series of processes by which carbon compounds are interconverted in the environment.

Nitrogen Cycle

The process by which nitrogen is converted between its various chemical forms.

Population

A group of individuals of the same species living in a specific area.

Growth Rate

The change in population size over time.

Density

The number of individuals per unit area.

Distribution Patterns

The way in which individuals are spaced within an area.

Exponential Growth Model

A growth model that describes populations that grow rapidly when resources are plentiful.

Logistic Growth Model

A growth model that describes populations whose growth slows as resources become limited.

r-selected species

Species that reproduce quickly and often in unstable environments.

K-selected species

Species that reproduce more slowly and have fewer offspring in stable environments.

Trophic Levels

The hierarchical levels in an ecosystem, comprised of producers, consumers, and decomposers.

Energy Pyramid

A graphical representation of energy flow in an ecosystem, depicting energy at different trophic levels.

10% Rule

The ecological principle stating that only about 10% of the energy from one trophic level is passed on to the next.

Biodiversity

The variety and variability of life forms within a given ecosystem.

Genetic Diversity

The variety of genes within a species.

Species Diversity

The variety of species within a given area.

Ecosystem Diversity

The variety of ecosystems in a given area.

HIPPO

An acronym representing the threats to biodiversity: Habitat destruction, Invasive species, Pollution, Population growth, Overharvesting.

Biome

A large geographic biotic unit, a major community of plants and animals with similar life forms and environmental conditions.

Primary Succession

The process of community development on previously uninhabited land.

Secondary Succession

The process of ecosystem recovery after a disturbance.

Climax Community

A stable, mature community that undergoes little or no change in species composition.

Pioneer Species

The first species to colonize previously uninhabited land.

Natural Selection

The process by which individuals with favorable traits are more likely to survive and reproduce.

Survival of the Fittest

The concept that the individuals best adapted to their environment survive and reproduce.

Adaptation

A trait that enhances an individual's fitness in a particular environment.

Genetic Drift

Random changes in allele frequencies in a population, often having a significant effect in small populations.

Bottleneck Effect

A sharp reduction in population size due to environmental events or human activities.

Founder Effect

A situation in which a small group becomes isolated from a larger population, leading to a reduced genetic diversity.

Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium

A principle stating that allele and genotype frequencies in a population remain constant from generation to generation in the absence of evolutionary influences.

Speciation

The formation of new and distinct species in the course of evolution.

Prezygotic Barriers

Reproductive barriers that occur before fertilization.

Postzygotic Barriers

Reproductive barriers that occur after fertilization.

Allopatric Speciation

Speciation that occurs when populations are geographically isolated.

Sympatric Speciation

Speciation that occurs without geographic separation.

Homologous Structures

Body parts in different species that share a common ancestry.

Analogous Structures

Body parts in different species that have similar functions but different evolutionary origins.

Vestigial Structures

Body parts that have lost their original function through evolution.

Cladogram

A diagram that shows the evolutionary relationships among various biological species.

Phylogenetic Tree

A branching diagram that represents the evolutionary history of a group of organisms.

Ecological Succession

The process of change in the structure of a community over time.

Trophic Structure

The feeding relationships among the various species in an ecosystem.

Community

An assemblage of different species living together in a defined area.

Fundamental Niche

The full range of environmental conditions under which a species can survive.

Realized Niche

The actual conditions and resources in which a species exists due to biotic interactions.

Optimum Range

The range of environmental conditions that are most favorable for a species.

Keenstone Species

A species that has a disproportionately large effect on its environment relative to its abundance.

Symbiosis

A close, long-term interaction between two different biological species.

Mutualism

A symbiotic relationship in which both species benefit.

Commensalism

A symbiotic relationship in which one species benefits and the other is neither helped nor harmed.

Parasitism

A symbiotic relationship in which one organism benefits at the expense of another.

Climate Change

Long-term changes in temperature, precipitation, and other atmospheric conditions.

Invasive Species

Non-native species that disrupt local ecosystems.

Habitat Destruction

The process by which natural habitat becomes unable to support the species present.

Evolutionary Scientists

Researchers who study the processes and evidence of evolution.

Lamarck

An early evolutionary scientist who proposed the theory of inherited characteristics.

Charles Darwin

The scientist known for his theory of evolution through natural selection.

Common Ancestor

An ancestor shared by two or more descendants in the evolutionary lineage.

Homology

Similarity in structure due to shared ancestry.

DNA Evidence

Genetic material that provides insights into evolutionary relationships.

Comparative Embryology

The study of the similarities and differences in the embryos of different species as evidence of evolution.

Diversity of Aquatic Biomes

The varied ecosystems found in water environments, such as lakes, rivers, and oceans.

Tropical Rainforest

A biome characterized by high rainfall and a vast diversity of species.

Savanna

A grassy plain in tropical and subtropical regions, with few trees.

Desert

A biome that receives very little precipitation and has a distinct temperature and plant ecosystem.

Temperate Grassland

A biome characterized by grasses and few trees, found in temperate regions.

Temperate Forest

A biome characterized by deciduous trees that lose their leaves in winter.

Boreal Forest

A biome consisting mostly of coniferous forests, found in northern regions.

Tundra

A biome characterized by cold temperatures and a short growing season.

Community Dynamics

The interactions and changes in a community over time.

Fundamental vs. Realized Niche

Difference between the full potential habitat of a species and the actual habitat it occupies.

Tolerance Range

The range of conditions within which a species can survive.

Pioneer Species

Species that first colonize previously disrupted or damaged ecosystems.

Main Processes of Water Cycle

Evaporation, condensation, precipitation, infiltration, and runoff.

Natural Selection Conditions

Overproduction, heritable variation, and variable fitness among individuals.

Five Conditions of Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium

Large population size, no migration, no mutations, random mating, and no selection.

Main Processes of Carbon Cycle

Photosynthesis, respiration, decomposition, and combustion.

Main Processes of Nitrogen Cycle

Nitrogen fixation, nitrification, denitrification, and ammonification.

Three Types of Distribution Patterns

Clumped, uniform, and random distribution.

Biodiversity Value

Biodiversity is important for ecosystem services, resilience, and human well-being.

Mass Extinctions

Events in which a significant percentage of all life on Earth became extinct.

Ecosystem Engineers

Species that significantly modify their environment and create new habitats.

Mass Extinctions Impact

Mass extinctions lead to significant changes in biodiversity and ecosystem structure.

Ecological Niches Importance

Different niches help minimize competition for resources among species.

Predation

The interaction where one organism (the predator) kills and eats another (the prey).

Competition

The struggle between organisms for the same resources in a given habitat.

Thomas Malthus

An economist whose theories on population growth influenced Darwin's concepts of natural selection.

Alfred Russel Wallace

A naturalist who independently proposed a theory of evolution through natural selection, co-publishing with Darwin.