8.6 Biodiversity
in AP Biology
Biodiversity can be considered at three main levels: Genetic diversity, Species diversity, Ecosystem diversity.
8.5 Community Ecology
in AP Biology
A biological community is an assemblage of populations of various species living close enough for potential interaction.
8.4 Effect of Density of Populations
in AP Biology
A birth rate or death rate that does not change with population density is density independent. If a death rate increases or a birth rate decreases with increasing density, it is density dependent.
8.3 Population Ecology
in AP Biology
Population ecology is the study of factors affecting the size of a population and how it changes over time.
8.2 Energy Flow Through Ecosystems
in AP Biology
Ecosystem dynamics involve two main processes: energy flow and chemical cycling.Energy enters most ecosystems as sunlight, is converted to chemical energy by autotrophs, passed to heterotrophs as food, and dissipated as heat.
8.1 Responses to Environment
in AP Biology
Ecology is the scientific study of the interactions between organisms and the environment. These interactions determine both the distribution of organisms and their abundance.
7.11 Origins of Life on Earth
in AP Biology
Two major hypothesis for life on Earth. Panspermia: Life from extraterrestrial life. Abiogenesis: Life from non-life. Requires 4 major milestones to occur.
7.10 Variation in Populations
in AP Biology
Variants that are well adapted to one environment may not be well adapted to another environment.
7.9 Extinction
in AP Biology
Extinction is the loss of a group of organisms, such as a species. Levels of biodiversity are determined by rates of speciation and rates of extinction.
7.8 Speciation
in AP Biology
Speciation, the origin of new species, is at the focal point of Darwin’s evolutionary theory. Evolutionary theory must explain how new species originate and how populations evolve.