AP Biology · Unit 8
Ecology
Move from organismal responses through energy, populations, communities, biodiversity, and ecosystem disruptions using evidence-based models.
Learning sequence
Choose a lesson
Topic 8.1
Responses, Behavior & Signaling
Distinguish behavioral from physiological responses and connect signaling to fitness.
Topics 8.1–8.2
Choice Experiments & Organismal Energy
Design a defensible choice experiment, then account for how an organism spends its energy.
Topic 8.2
Trophic Transfer & Productivity
Trace energy through trophic levels and calculate transfer efficiency and productivity.
Topic 8.2
Biogeochemical Cycles
Model the water, carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus cycles and predict the effect of a blocked step.
Topic 8.3
Population Growth
Calculate population change from births, deaths, immigration, and emigration, and model exponential growth.
Topic 8.4
Carrying Capacity & Density
Interpret logistic growth and sort density-dependent from density-independent regulation.
Topic 8.5
Community Structure & Diversity
Quantify richness and evenness, calculate a diversity index, and evaluate a sampling design.
Topic 8.5
Species Interactions & Succession
Classify interactions by sign and trace indirect effects through a trophic cascade.
Topic 8.6
Biodiversity, Resilience & Keystone Species
Explain how diversity supports resilience and analyze keystone-species removals.
Topic 8.7
Adaptation & Ecosystem Disruptions
Analyze invasive species, human impacts, and physical disturbance with evidence.
Topics 8.1–8.7
Unit 8 Assessment
Apply ecological equations, interaction models, food webs, diversity data, and disruption evidence.
Optional, not assigned
Enrichment, not scored
Enrichment, not scored
Earth from Space
Explore NASA satellite maps of vegetation, wildfires, ocean temperature, and phytoplankton, plus daily whole-Earth images.
Enrichment, not scored
Space Biology Gallery
Browse NASA photos and videos of plants, animals, and microbes studied in orbit.
Enrichment, not scored
Weather and Climate
Chart Pontotoc's recent temperature and rain, then compare climates that shape the world's biomes.