LWE: Study Guide π
The Living World-Ecosystems Study Guide
This study guide will help you study for the module exam by highlighting the most important concepts on the exam. It is not a definitive list of every topic that could appear on the exam and should not be used in lieu of the textbook and course content.
π± If you need help with any of the essential knowledge listed in the study guide or answering any of the questions, please watch the AP Daily video for that standard in AP Classroom.
π¨ Do not begin your test until you have completed all self-assessments, assignments, and the review items and feel confident in your understanding of this material.
Biomes ποΈ (click to reveal)
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- ERT-1.A.1 - In a predator-prey relationship, the predator is the organism that eats another organism (the prey).
- ERT-1.A.2 - Symbiosis is a close and long-term interaction between two species in an ecosystem. Types of symbiosis include mutualism, commensalism, and parasitism.
- ERT-1.A.3 - Competition can occur within or between species in an ecosystem where there are limited resources. Resource partitioning - using the resources in different ways, places, or at different times - can reduce the negative impact of competition on survival.
- ERT-1.B.1 - A biome contains characteristic communities of plants and animals that result from, and are adapted to, its climate.
- ERT-1.B.2 - Major terrestrial biomes include taiga, temperate rainforests, temperate seasonal forests, tropical rainforests, shrubland, temperate grassland, savanna, desert, and tundra.
- ERT-1.B.3 - The global distribution of nonmineral terrestrial natural resources, such as water and trees for lumber, varies because of some combination of climate, geography, latitude and altitude, nutrient availability, and soil.
- ERT-1.B.4 - The worldwide distribution of biomes is dynamic; the distribution has changed in the past and may again shift as a result of global climate changes.
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- Identify...
- the prey and predator in a predator-prey relationship.
- the cause(s) of competition.
- mutualism, commensalism, and parasitism.
- the abiotic and biotic factors that determine a particular biome.
- the freshwater biome with the most moving water.
- the types of organisms that live in the different areas of freshwater biomes.
- which marine biome is located in nutrient-rich water and which in nutrient-poor water.
- Describe...
- the types of adaptations both members of the predator-prey relationship must improve their chances of success.
- the types of symbiosis - which is positive/negative for which member of the relationship.
- Justify...
- the importance of competition.
- the consequences of a terrestrial biome suddenly becoming much colder/warmer/drier/wet/etc.
- Make a claim as to what would happen to an aquatic biome if it suddenly became much colder/warmer/saltier/fresh/etc.
- Explain...
- how to reduce the effects of competition.
- how species interact.
- why an organism would not utilize its entire niche.
- how the abiotic factors in a terrestrial area (climate, geography, latitude, altitude, nutrient availability, soil) determine the biotic factors in an area.
- why the primary productivity of marine algae important (especially carbon dioxide absorption).
- how the abiotic factors in an aquatic area (salinity, turbidity, nutrient availability, and temperature) determine the biotic factors in an area.
- Identify...
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Carbon Cycle πͺ¨ (click to reveal)
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- ERT-1.D.1 - The carbon cycle is the movement of atoms and molecules containing the element carbon between sources and sinks.
- ERT-1.D.2 - Some of the reservoirs in which carbon compounds occur in the carbon cycle hold those compounds for long periods of time, while some hold them for relatively short periods of time.
- ERT-1.D.3 - Carbon cycles between photosynthesis and cellular respiration in living things.
- ERT-1.D.4 - Plant and animal decomposition have led to the storage of carbon over millions of years. The burning of fossil fuels quickly moves that stored carbon into atmospheric carbon, in the form of carbon dioxide.
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- Identify...
- human impacts on the carbon cycle.
- the equation for photosynthesis and cellular respiration (HINT: memorize one. The other is the exact opposite.)
- Describe...
- the carbon cycle.
- the reservoirs in the carbon cycle.
- how deforestation affects the carbon cycle.
- how fossil fuels are formed (basics...we will get into the details later)
- Explain...
- the steps and reservoir interactions in the carbon cycle.
- how the usage of fossil fuels affects the carbon cycle.
- Identify...
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The Nitrogen Cycle π©οΈ (click to reveal)
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- ERT-1.E.1 - The nitrogen cycle is the movement of atoms and molecules containing the element nitrogen between sources and sinks.
- ERT-1.E.2 - Most of the reservoirs in which nitrogen compounds occur in the nitrogen cycle hold those compounds for relatively short periods of time.
- ERT-1.E.3 - Nitrogen fixation is the process in which atmospheric nitrogen is converted into a form of nitrogen (primarily ammonia) that is available for uptake by plants and that can be synthesized into plant tissue.
- ERT-1.E.4 - The atmosphere is the major reservoir of nitrogen.
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- Identify human impacts on the nitrogen cycle.
- Describe the nitrogen cycle.
- Explain...
- the steps and reservoir interactions in the nitrogen cycle.
- the difference between ammonification, nitrogen fixation, nitrification, and denitrification.
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The Phosphorous Cycle π¦· (click to reveal)
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- ERT-1.F.1 - The phosphorus cycle is the movement of atoms and molecules containing the element phosphorus between sources and sinks.
- ERT-1.F.2 - The major reservoirs of phosphorus in the phosphorus cycle are rock and sediments that contain phosphorus-bearing minerals.
- ERT-1.F.3 - There is no atmospheric component in the phosphorus cycle, and the limitations this imposes on the return of phosphorus from the ocean to land make phosphorus naturally scarce in aquatic and many terrestrial ecosystems. In undisturbed ecosystems, phosphorus is the limiting factor in biological systems.
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- Identify...
- human impacts on the phosphorous cycle.
- the limiting factor in MOST natural systems.
- the primary ingredient in MANY fertilizers.
- Describe...
- the phosphorous cycle.
- the reservoirs in the phosphorous cycle.
- the BIGGEST difference between the phosphorous cycle and all of the other cycles we talk about in this course.
- Explain...
- the steps and reservoir interactions in the phosphorus cycle.
- Identify...
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The Water Cycle π§ (click to reveal)
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- ERT-1.G.1 - The hydrologic cycle, which is powered by the sun, is the movement of water in its various solid, liquid, and gaseous phases between sources and sinks.
- ERT-1.G.2 - The oceans are the primary reservoir of water at the Earthβs surface, with ice caps and groundwater acting as much smaller reservoirs.
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- Identify...
- the three phases of water.
- where most of the water on Earth is located.
- human impacts on the water cycle.
- Describe...
- the water cycle.
- the reservoirs in the water cycle.
- Justify...
- the importance (environmentally) of the fact that solid water floats.
- the importance of water's high specific heat.
- Explain the steps and reservoir interactions in the hydrologic cycle.
- Identify...
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Primary Productivity πΏ (click to reveal)
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- ENG-1.A.1 - Primary productivity is the rate at which solar energy (sunlight) is converted into organic compounds via photosynthesis over a unit of time.
- ENG-1.A.2 - Gross primary productivity is the total rate of photosynthesis in a given area.
- ENG-1.A.3 - Net primary productivity is the rate of energy storage by photosynthesizers in a given area, after subtracting the energy lost to respiration.
- ENG-1.A.4 - Productivity is measured in units of energy per unit area per time (e.g. kcal/m2/yr
- ENG-1.A.5 - Most red light is absorbed in the upper 1m of water, and blue light only penetrates deeper than 100m in the clearest water. This affects photosynthesis in aquatic ecosystems, whose photosynthesizers have adapted mechanisms to address the lack of visible light.
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- Identify...
- which organisms are responsible for primary productivity.
- the zones of the ocean.
- which zone gets the most light.
- which zone gets the least light.
- Explain...
- the difference between primary productivity, net primary productivity, and gross primary productivity.
- why the amount of light that reaches the zones of the ocean is important.
- Calculate NPP, GPP, and R.
- Identify...
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Ecosystem Energy Flow β‘οΈ (click to reveal)
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- ENG-1.B.1 - All ecosystems depend on a continuous inflow of high-quality energy in order to maintain their structure and function of transferring matter between the environment and organisms via biogeochemical cycles
- ENG-1.B.2 - Biogeochemical cycles are essential for life and each cycle demonstrates the conservation of matter.
- ENG-1.B.3 - In terrestrial and near-surface marine communities, energy flows from the sun to producers in the lowest trophic levels and then upward to higher tropic levels.
- ENG-1.C.1 - The 10% rule approximates that in the transfer of energy from one trophic level to the next, only about 10% of the energy is passed on.
- ENG-1.C.2 - The loss of energy that occurs when energy moves from lower to higher trophic levels can be explained through the laws of thermodynamics.
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- Identify...
- the different levels of the trophic pyramid.
- the 10% rule.
- Describe the importance of the 10% rule.
- Calculate the amount of biomass available to each trophic level using the 10% Rule.
- Explain...
- how energy flows and matter cycles through trophic levels.
- the biomass difference between trophic levels.
- Identify...
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Food Chains and Food Webs πΈοΈ (click to reveal)
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- ENG-1.D.1 - A food web is a model of an interlocking pattern of food chains that depicts the flow of energy and nutrients in two or more food chains.
- ENG-1.D.2 - Positive and negative feedback loops can each play a role in food webs. When one species is removed from or added to a specific food web, the rest of the food web can be affected.
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- Identify the direction of the flow of energy in a food chain and food web
- Explain...
- what can happen if a species is removed from a food web.
- what can happen if a species is added from a food web.
- Describe the difference between a food chain and a food web.
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Multiple-Choice π
- You will only be graded on what is submitted in Canvas.
- There are four choices for each question. Choose the best answer.
- On the actual AP exam, you will have 90 minutes to answer 80 questions. On this test, you will have 65 minutes to answer the questions on your test.
Free-Response π
- You will only be graded on what is submitted in Canvas.
- You can write your answers and upload them to Canvas OR write them directly in Canvas
- NOTE: if you are uploading your answers to Canvas, you are responsible for uploading your answers within the time frame allowed for the free-response test. You will not get extra time if your document does not upload in time.
- On this exam, you will have 35 minutes to answer your Free Response question. On the real AP exam, you should plan for about 22.5 minutes per FRQ.
Print out this study guide and save it to use when studying for the AP exam in May!
π¨οΈ The Living World Ecosystems Links to an external site.
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