1. AP Biology Summer Workshop July 10th – July 14th
Welcome
AP Biology
Summer Workshop
July 10th – July 14th

2. An Introduction to Ecology and the Biosphere
Chapter 50
An Introduction to Ecology and the Biosphere

3. The Scope of Ecology
The scientific study of interactions between organisms and their environment.
Ecology incorporates the hypothetico-deductive approach, using observations and experiments to test hypothetical explanations.
Ecologists study the interactions between the biotic and abiotic environments.

4. Abiotic Components
All nonliving chemical and physical factors in the environment.
Light
temperature
climate
water
nutrients
rocks and soil

5. Biotic Factors All the living factors present in an environment.
Animals
plants
single-celled organisms
multi-celled organisms

6. Aquatic Biomes
Aquatic biomes occupy the largest area of the biosphere.
Major parts of aquatic biomes are:
photic zone - where sufficient light reaches
aphotic zone - no light reaches
benthic zone - bottom of all aquatic biomes made of sand, organic, and inorganic sediments.

7. Aquatic Biomes (con’t)
Freshwater Biomes include:
Oligotrophic lakes - deep and nutrient poor due to unproductive phytoplankton.
Eutrophic lakes - shallow with a high nutrient content
Rivers and Streams - bodies of water continuously moving
Wetlands - are covered with water that supports aquatic plants
Estuaries - salt and freshwater mix

8. Aquatic Biomes (con’t)
Marine Biomes include:
Intertidal Zone - exposed to daily tidal fluctuations and wave action
Coral Reefs - cnidarians secrete a calcium carbonate shell that seres as the support for all reef species.
Oceanic Pelagic Biome - open ocean where zooplankton feed on phytoplankton which serves as the food source for nekton (free-swimming)

9. Terrestrial Biomes
Distribution of terrestrial biomes is based mainly on regional variations in climate.
Vertical Stratification - canopy, low-tree stratum, shrub understory, ground layer, forest floor, and root layer.
Permafrost - permanently frozen soil

10. Tropical Forests Vertical stratification high rainfall
most biodiverstiy
nutrient poor soil due to increased decomposition of dead organic matter by bacteria

11. Desert Sparse rainfall (30 cm or less)
surface temp. above 60 C during the day
Plants have adaptations to retain water such as needles, thick waxy cuticle, and CAM photosynthesis.

12. Tundra
High winds and cold temperatures create alpine tundra plant communities.
Frozen top layer of soil
Little annual rainfall
moose and reindeer graze on the small plants and lichens

13. Principle of Allocation
An organisms organized way of partitioning energy in order to maintain homeostasis.
escape from predators
obtaining nutrients
growth
reproduction
homeostasis