AP Biology Unit 8 Review

Front

What are the main causes of extinction?

Back

Habitat destruction, climate change, overexploitation, invasive species, and pollution.

Front

Define a population in ecological terms.

Back

A population is a group of individuals of the same species that live in the same area and interact with one another.

Front

Why are there typically no more than five trophic levels in a food chain?

Back

Energy is lost at each trophic level due to metabolic processes, heat loss, and inefficiencies in energy transfer.

Front

What is carrying capacity?

Back

The maximum number of individuals of a species that an environment can sustainably support.

Front

What type of interaction is exemplified by mosquito larvae living in the water of the northern pitcher plant without affecting it?

Back

Commensalism.

Front

What is the role of producers in an ecosystem?

Back

Producers, such as plants, convert solar energy into chemical energy through photosynthesis, forming the base of the food chain.

Front

Explain the concept of a food web.

Back

A food web is a complex network of feeding relationships among various organisms in an ecosystem, illustrating how energy and nutrients flow.

Front

What is the difference between a food chain and a food web?

Back

A food chain is a linear sequence of organisms through which nutrients and energy pass, while a food web is a more complex interconnection of multiple food chains.

Front

What is the significance of biodiversity in an ecosystem?

Back

Biodiversity enhances ecosystem resilience, productivity, and stability, allowing ecosystems to better withstand environmental changes.

Front

Define mutualism and provide an example.

Back

Mutualism is a type of symbiotic relationship where both species benefit; for example, bees pollinating flowers.