ap bio

Energy Flow

The movement of energy through ecosystems.

Ecosystem Survival

Depends on energy availability and adaptability.

Disruption Adaptation

Ecosystems must adapt to environmental changes.

Organism Communication

Essential for responding to environmental disruptions.

Behavioral Mechanisms

Responses involving changes in behavior to stimuli.

Physiological Mechanisms

Internal responses to environmental changes.

Stimulus

Environmental change triggering an organism's response.

Migration

Behavioral response to changes in day length.

Metabolism Slowing

Physiological response to conserve energy.

Audible Signals

Sounds used by organisms for communication.

Chemical Signals

Pheromones that elicit responses in other organisms.

Electrical Signals

Used by sharks to locate prey underwater.

Tactile Signals

Touch used for expressing affection or dominance.

Visual Signals

Warning coloration to deter predators.

Aposematism

Bright coloration signaling toxicity to predators.

Natural Selection

Favors signals increasing survival and reproduction.

Cooperative Behaviors

Actions enhancing fitness of individuals and populations.

Murmurations

Starlings flying in large groups for protection.

Meerkat Cooperation

Grooming and lookout behaviors among meerkats.

Fitness Increase

Enhanced survival through cooperative behaviors.

Social Hierarchies

Established through communication and signaling.

Resource Finding

Signals help locate mates and resources.

Meerkats

Social animals that ward off predators collectively.

Energy Flow

Transfer of energy through organisms in ecosystems.

Endotherms

Organisms that generate internal heat for temperature.

Ectotherms

Organisms that rely on environmental heat sources.

Metabolic Rate

Energy used by an organism per unit time.

Surface Area to Volume Ratio

Influences heat loss in smaller organisms.

Energy Storage

Accumulation of energy in fat tissues.

Photosynthesis

Process by which producers convert sunlight into energy.

Coral Bleaching

Death of coral due to rising ocean temperatures.

Adaptations

Traits that help organisms maintain energy levels.

Behavioral Regulation

Ectotherms change behavior to manage body temperature.

Predator Defense

Group behavior to protect against larger threats.

Population Size Changes

Alterations due to energy availability in ecosystems.

Energy Availability

Crucial for organism health and ecosystem stability.

Producers

Organisms that create energy through photosynthesis.

Net Gain in Energy

Leads to growth or energy storage in organisms.

Net Loss of Energy

Can cause mass loss or death of organisms.

Thermal Energy

Heat produced by metabolic processes in endotherms.

Organism Growth

Result of energy acquisition and storage.

Environmental Impact

Changes in habitat affecting energy flow dynamics.

Temperature Regulation

Mechanisms organisms use to maintain optimal body heat.

Trophic levels

Steps in food and energy transfer in ecosystems.

Producers

Organisms that capture energy from physical sources.

Primary consumers

Herbivores that consume producers for energy.

Secondary consumers

Carnivores that eat primary consumers.

Tertiary consumers

Carnivores that eat secondary consumers.

Quaternary consumers

Top carnivores that eat tertiary consumers.

Food chain

Linear representation of energy transfer between organisms.

Food web

Complex network showing interconnections of food chains.

Autotrophs

Organisms that produce their own energy.

Photoautotrophs

Organisms that use sunlight for energy.

Chemoautotrophs

Bacteria that derive energy from chemical sources.

Heterotrophs

Organisms that obtain energy from other organisms.

Decomposers

Organisms that break down dead organic material.

Detritivores

Organisms that consume organic waste from dead matter.

Kleptoplasty

Heterotrophs incorporating chloroplasts from autotrophs.

Elysia crispata

Sea slug that performs kleptoplasty with algae.

Energy loss

Energy dissipated as heat between trophic levels.

Bottom-up regulation

Ecosystem control starting from producers' population.

Biomass

Total mass of organisms at a trophic level.

Phytoplankton

Photosynthetic organisms at the base of marine food webs.

Zooplankton

Small animals that feed on phytoplankton.

Zooplankton

Small aquatic organisms crucial for food webs.

Biodiversity

Variety of life in an ecosystem.

Trophic Levels

Hierarchical levels in an ecosystem's food chain.

Top Predators

Species at the highest trophic level.

Top-Down Regulation

Population control from higher trophic levels.

Food Web Collapse

Ecosystem failure due to imbalanced populations.

Man-Made Dams

Human structures altering natural ecosystems.

Isolated Rainforest Islands

Fragmented habitats affecting species interactions.

Crocodiles

Top predators influencing ecosystem health.

Plant-Eating Animals

Species that consume vegetation, affecting plant populations.

Habitat Reduction

Loss of living spaces for various species.

Top Predators

Organisms that control populations of other species.

Crocodiles

Top predators limiting seed and plant feeders.

Reproductive Strategies

Methods organisms use to reproduce based on energy.

Unstable Environments

Habitats with limited energy, leading to many offspring.

Survival Rate

Likelihood of offspring surviving to adulthood.

Stable Environments

Habitats with abundant energy, leading to fewer offspring.

Population Ecology

Study of interactions affecting population sizes and growth.

Population Size (N)

Total number of individuals in a population.

Birth Rate (B)

Rate at which new individuals are born.

Death Rate (D)

Rate at which individuals die in a population.

Population Growth Rate

Change in population size over time (dN/dt).

Exponential Growth

Unrestricted population growth, J-shaped curve.

Maximum Growth Rate (r max)

Highest per capita growth rate of a population.

Carrying Capacity (K)

Maximum population size an environment can sustain.

Density-Dependent Factors

Limitations based on population density, like disease.

Density-Independent Factors

Limitations not related to population density, like weather.

Logistic Growth

Population growth that levels off as resources are limited.

Resource Availability

Access to food and habitat affecting population growth.

Alleles

Gene variants passed to the next generation.

Offspring Production

Number of young produced by an organism.

Population Interactions

Complex relationships among individuals and their environment.

J-Shaped Curve

Graphical representation of exponential population growth.

Carrying Capacity

Maximum population supported by resources in an environment.

Population Growth Rate

Decreases as population size approaches carrying capacity.