AP Biology Unit 8 & 9 Final Exam Review

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering the immune system (specific/nonspecific immunity, lymphocytes, antigens/antibodies) and ecological principles (levels of organization, niches, species interactions, energy flow, and population dynamics) based on the AP Biology Unit 8 and 9 review notes.

Immunity

The ability of an organism to resist a pathogen or harmful agent, or the state of being insusceptible to a noxious agent or process.

Nonspecific immunity (Innate immunity)

The first line of defense that is present from birth, responds quickly, and treats any foreign particle as dangerous.

Specific immunity (Acquired/Adapted immunity)

The second line of defense that has a slower response but possesses memory of past pathogens and involves lymphocytes.

Lymphocytes

White blood cells that carry out the adaptive immune response, primarily categorized into B cells and T cells.

T cells

White blood cells (cytotoxic/killer or helper) that work together to attack pathogens and bring in reinforcements.

B cells

White blood cells that release weapons called antibodies to destroy pathogens.

Antigens

Surface molecules (protein or carbohydrate markers) on pathogens that allow immune cells to distinguish self from nonself.

Antibodies (Immunoglobulins)

Large, Y-shaped proteins produced by B cells that bind specifically to antigens to neutralize or mark pathogens for destruction.

Memory Cells

Cells formed from activated B and T cells after infection that allow for an extremely rapid and strong response during future exposures.

Humoral Immunity

An antibody response where B cells produce immunoglobulins that circulate in the blood and bind to antigens.

Cell-Mediated Response

An immune response where cytotoxic T cells destroy infected body cells, which is important for viral and intracellular infections.

Passive Immunity

The transfer of antibodies received from another being, such as receiving antibodies from a mother's milk.

Active Immunity

Immunity created by an organism's own production of antibodies, often induced by receiving a vaccine.

Primary Immune Response

The body's initial reaction to a pathogen where there is no immunological memory and the first and second lines of defense function to attack the invader.

Secondary Immune Response

A rapid response to a pathogen due to existing immunological memory, often occurring without the individual knowing they are ill.

Vaccines

Substances containing weakened or killed pathogens used to train the immune system to produce antibodies and memory cells.

MMR Vaccine

A vaccine that protects against Measles, Mumps, and Rubella; typically given as two doses between $9$ months and $6$ years of age.

Histamine and Cytokines

Chemicals released during the first step of the inflammatory response to initiate defense mechanisms.

Ecology

The study of relationships between living organisms and their environment, including both biotic and abiotic factors.

Biotic Factors

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

Abiotic Factors

Non-living components of an ecosystem, such as temperature, sunlight, rainfall, water, soil, minerals, and wind.

Population

A group of organisms of the same species living in the same area, such as a school of groupers.

Community

All the different populations living and interacting in the same area, such as fish, coral, algae, and crabs.

Ecosystem

A community of organisms plus all the associated abiotic factors in a specific environment.

Biome

A large region with a specific climate and characteristic organisms, such as a tundra, rainforest, or desert.

Biosphere

The most complex level of ecological organization, encompassing all parts of Earth where life exists.

Ecological Niche

The role an organism plays in its ecosystem.

Fundamental Niche

The full range of conditions a species could use if there were no competitors present.

Realized Niche

The actual niche a species occupies after competition limits its range.

Intraspecific Competition

Competition for resources occurring between members of the same species.

Interspecific Competition

Competition for resources occurring between members of different species.

Mutualism

A symbiotic relationship where both organisms benefit ($+/+$), such as bees and flowers.

Commensalism

A symbiotic relationship where one organism benefits and the other is unaffected ($+/0$), such as barnacles on whales.

Parasitism

A symbiotic relationship where one organism benefits and the other is harmed ($+/-$), such as ticks on dogs.

Dominant Species

Species that are very abundant or have a large biomass, whose removal may not necessarily cause the ecosystem to collapse.

Keystone Species

An organism that has a large effect on ecosystem structure despite having a small population size, such as sea otters.

Trophic Levels

The hierarchical levels in an ecosystem comprising producers, primary consumers, secondary consumers, tertiary consumers, and decomposers.

Detritivores

Organisms that feed on detritus, such as worms, shrimps, and many aquatic insects.

10% Rule

The principle that only $10\%$ of the energy at one trophic level is passed to the next; the rest is lost as heat or used for metabolism.

Biomagnification

The process where toxins become more concentrated at higher trophic levels, most heavily affecting tertiary consumers.

Autotrophs (Producers)

Organisms that produce their own food by synthesizing organic nutrients from inorganic materials using sunlight.

Heterotrophs (Consumers)

Organisms that rely on consuming other living organisms or organic matter for nutrients and energy.

Dispersion

The pattern of spatial distribution taken up by a population, which can be uniform, clumped, or random.

Carrying Capacity ($K$)

The maximum number of individuals an environment can support, where birth rate equals death rate and growth is zero.

Type I Survivorship Curve

A curve characterized by high survival early in life with most individuals dying at an old age, as seen in humans.

Type III Survivorship Curve

A curve characterized by high early death rates with few individuals surviving to adulthood, as seen in fish and insects.

Density-Dependent Factors

Factors that increase their effect as the population grows, such as competition, disease, predation, and food shortages.

Density-Independent Factors

Factors that affect all populations equally regardless of size, such as hurricanes, fires, and floods.

Invasive Species

Non-native organisms that spread rapidly and harm ecosystems because they lack natural predators and outcompete native species.