AP Biology notes

• chapter 50 ecology 
• ecology is the scientific study of the interactions between organisms and their enviorment ( Eco = homes...study of organisms in their homes) 
• the environment of any organism includes the following components 
• abiotic factors: non-living chemical and physical factors such as temperature, light, water, and nutrients 
• Biotic factors: the living components 
• population: s population is a group of individuals of the same species living in a particular geographic area 
• population ecology examines factors that affect population size and composition 
• Community: a community consists of all the organisms of all the species that inhabit a particular area 
• Community ecology examines the interactions between populations, and how factors such as predation, competition, and disease affect community structure and organization 
• Organism- Population -Community-Ecosystem- Biosphere 
• Ecosystem: an ecosystem consists of all abiotic factors in addition to the entire community of species that exist in a certain area (biotic) 
• ecosystem ecology examines the energy flow and cycling of chemicals among the various abiotic and biotic components 
• ecologists have long recognized distinct global and regional patterns in the distrubution of organisms 
• problems with introduced species. transplanted species often explode to occupy an new area. The African honeybee and zebra mussel are good examples of this expolsion 
• biotic factors affect the distrubution of organisms. Example: predator removal expirements can show how predators limit distrubution of prey species 
• abiotic factors affect distrubution of organisms 
• temperature: some organisms can only tolerate specific ranges of temperature 
• water: some organisms can only tolerate either fresh or salt water 
• sunlight provides energy that drives nearly all ecosystems 
• the intensity and quality of light, and photoperiod can be important to the developments and behavior of many organisms 
• Abiotic factors \
• wind amplifies the effect of temperature by increasing heat and water loss ( wind-chill factor) 
• Rocks and soil: the physical structur and mineral composition of soils and rocks limit distrubution of plants and the animals that feed upon them 
• climate is the prevailing wather conditions in an area 
• temperature, water, light and wind are major components of climate 
• temperature and water are the major climatic factors that determine distrubution of organisms 
• clamte and biomes 
• climate determines the makeup of biomes, the major types of ecosystems. 
• transplanted species often explode to occupy a new area 

AP Biology Notes

• Welcome to  AP Biology. This course is intended to be equivalent to an introductory Biology course found at the freshman University level and reflects the outline provided by the College Board. The curriculum framework aims o support and further conceptual knowledge using the "Four Big Ideas". These ideas are taught using several "Enduring Understandings", Specific Essential Knowledge", "Learning Objectives" and "Science Practices" which include science inquiry and reasoning. The new framework is intended to nurture the students analytic skills necessary to understand and asses the rapidly growing science of Biology. 
• Course Requirements: 
• Complete all reading assignments and reading notes 
• participate in a write up lab reports for all required experiments 
• complete study guides, class activities , and class notes 
• keep a notebook with class work, notes book and lab book 
• keep a lab book with required laboratory write-ups  
• complete test and quizzes 
• take the AP biology exam at the end of the school year. Two part 63 multiple choice and 6 grid in questions, 2 long free response and 6 short answer questions 
• course needs 
• 3 ring binder ( bring to class everyday) 
• notes book 
• lab book 
• composition book with graph paper to be used for required lab write-ups 
• text book- Biology 6th Ed. by Neil Campbell and Jane Reece 
• Grading Policy: This is a 6 week Trimester grades will be determined by the following 
• Laboratory Reports 25% 
• Homework 25% 
• Tests 50% 
• Grading Scale 
• 89.5-100  A 
• 79.5-89.4 B
• 69.5- 79.4 C
• 59.5-69.4 D 
• The Big Ideas 
• Big Idea 1: The process of Evolution drives the Diversity and Unity of Life 
• Big Idea 2: Biological systems, Store Revive, Transmit and Respond to Information essential to Life Processes 
• Big Idea 4: Biological systems Interact, and these systems and their interactions posses complex properties 
• The 7 science practices 
• science practice 1: the student can use representations and models to communicate scientific phenomena and solve scientific problems 
• scientific practice 2: the student can use mathematics appropriately 
• scientific practice 3: the student can engage in scientific questioning to extend thinking or to guide investigations within the contest of the AP course 
• scientific practice 4: The student can plan and implement data collection strategies appropriate to a particular scientific question 
• scientific practice 5 : the student can preform data analysis and evaluation of evidence 
• scientific practice 6 : the student can work with scientific explanations and theories 
• science practice 7: the student is able to connect and relate knowledge across various scales, concepts and representations in and across  domains. 
• Tips for writing AP Biology Exam Essays: 
• Do's 
• The first thing you should do is to carefully read the question. The second thing you should do is read the question, and the third thing you should do is read the question. Be sure that you answer the question that is asked and only that question, and that you answer all parts of it. if you are given a choice of parts to answer, choose carefully. Don't answer all parts in that case 
• Briefly outline the answer to avoid confusion and disorganization. Pay close attention to the Vern's used in the directions ( such as "describe", "explain", "compare", "give evidence for", "graph", "calculate", etc.) and be sure to follow those directions. Thinking ahead helps to avoid scratch outs, Astrix's, skipping around, and rambling. 
• write an essay. Outlines and diagrams, no matter how elaborate and accurate, are not essays and will not get you much, if any credit by themselves.  Exceptions : If you are asked as a part of an essay on a lab to calculate a number, this part does not require an essay , but be sure to show how you got your answer ( show the formulas you are using and the values you have inserted into those formulas) ; or, if you are asked to draw a diagram in the question, do so, but be sure to annotate it carefully and thoroughly 
• Define and/ or explain the terms you use. say something about each of the important terms that you use. The AP Exam will not ask for a list of buzzwords. Use high-level vocabulary but use it in context 
• Answer the question parts in the order called for and label them "a" "b" etc. as they are labeled in the question It is best not to skip around within the question. the four essay questions do not have to be answered in any particular order. The readers will find your answer. Put the number in the box at the top of the page to make it easy to find your answer
• write clearly and neatly. It is a foolhardy to antagonize or confuse the reader with lousy penmanship 
• go into detail that is on the subject and to the point. Be sure to include the obvious ( for example. "light is necessary for photosynthesis). Answer the questions thoroughly 
• if you cannot remember a word exactly, take a shot at it -- get as close as you can. Even if you don't remember the name for a concept, describe the concept. 
• use a ball point pen with dark black ink. If it "bleeds through to the other side of the paper, don't write on the back of the page. That will make it easier for the reader 
• Remember that no detail is too small to be included as long as it is to the point. Be sure to include the obvious-- most points are given for the basics anyway. 
• If you use a diagram, carefully label it (it will get no point otherwise) and place it in the text at the appropriate place-- not detached at the end. Be sure to refer to the diagram in your essay 
• Widen your margins a little. This will make the essay easier for most folks to read. 
• Bring a watch to the exam so that you can pace yourself. You have four essays with about 22 minutes for each answer. The proctor will not give you time cues 
• Understand that the exam is written to be hard. The national average for the essay section will be under 50 % correct, that is less than 5 points out of a possible 10 on each essay. It is very likely that you will not know everything. This is expected, but you will know something about each essay, so relax and do the best you can. Write through answers 
• If you are asked to design or describe an experiment, include these things 
• hypothesis and/or predictions 
• identify independent variable(s)-- what treatments will you apply 
• identify dependent variable (s) -- what will measure to see if the independent variable had an effect 
• describe how you will measure the independent variable, AND why it will work in this case 
• identify several to be controlled (VERY IMPORTANT) 
• describe organisms/material/apparatus to be used 
• describe what you will actually do ( how will you apply the treatment) 
• describe how the data will be graphed and analyzed
• state how you will draw a conclusion (compare your results to hypotheses and predictions) 
• your experiment design needs to be at least theoretically possible and it is very important that your conclusions/ predictions be consistent with 
• the principles involved and with the way you set up to experiment. Make sure the experiment is internally consistent 
• If you are asked to draw a graph, include these things 
• set up the graph with the independent variable( manipulated variable) along the x-axis and dependent variable (responding variable) along the y-axis 
• mark off axes in equal (proportional ) increments and label with proper units 
• plot points and attempt to sketch in the curve (line). 
• if more than one curve is plotted, write a label on each curve ( this is better than a legend) 
• label each axis with the variable name and include the units in which it is measured  
• give your graph an appropriate title 
• Don'ts 
• Dont waste time on background information or a long introduction unless the question calls for historical development or historical significance. Answer the question 
• Don't ramble-- get to the point and dont shoot the bull-- say what you know and go on to the next question. You can always come back if you remember something 
• Don't use a pencil and don't use a pen with an ink color other than black. Don't us a felt tip pen because the ink seeps through the page and makes both sides of the paperhard to read. Don't scratch out excessivlet. One or two lines through the unwanted words should be sufficent, and don't write more than a very few words in the margin. Finally don't write sloppily It is easy for a grader to miss an important word when he/she cannot read your handwriting 
• Don't panic or get angry because you are unfamiliar with the question. You probably have read or heard something about the subject -- be calm and think 
• Don't worry about spelling every word perfectly or using exact grammar. These ar not part of the standards the graders use. It is important to know, however, that poor spelling and grammar will hurt your chances
• There is no need to say the same thing twice. While introductory paragraphs may be important in English class on the AP exam they are a waste of valuable time. This also goes for restating the question. Don't restate it, just answer it 
• If given a choice of two or more topics to write about, understand that only the first one(s) you write about will count. You must make a choice and stick with it. If you decide that your first choice was a bad one, then cross out that part of the answer so the reader knows clearly which part you wish to be considered for credit 
• Don't leave questions blank. Remember that each point you earn on an essay question is equivalent of two correct multiple choice questions, and there is no penalty for a wrong guess, bad spelling, or bad grammar. Make an effort on every question. Don't quit