❮ 221Ecology in Further Detail
IN THIS CHAPTER
Summary:This chapter covers the main concepts of ecology, including popu-
lation growth, biotic potential, life history strategies, and predator–prey rela-
tionships. This chapter also discusses concepts such as succession, trophic
levels, energy and biomass pyramids, biomes, and biogeochemical cycles.Key Ideas
✪Three main types of dispersion patterns: clumped, uniform, and random.
✪Two main types of population growth: exponential (J-shaped) and logistic
(S-shaped.)
✪Two primary life history strategies: K-selected and R-selected populations.
✪Three main symbiotic relationships: commensalism, mutualism, and parasitism.
✪Defense mechanisms: aposematic coloration, Batesian mimicry, cryptic
coloration, deceptive markings, and Müllerian mimicry.
✪Biomes that come up on the AP exam: desert, savannah, taiga, temperate
deciduous forest, temperate grassland, tropical forest, tundra, and water.
✪Have a general understanding of the biogeochemical cycles (carbon,
nitrogen, and water).Introduction
Ecologyis the study of the interaction of organisms and their environments. This chapter
covers the main concepts of ecology, including population growth, biotic potential, life
history “strategies,” and predator–prey relationships. The chapter will also look at within-
community and between-community (intra- and intercommunity) interactions. Finally we
will talk about succession, trophic levels, energy pyramids, biomass pyramids, biomes, and
biogeochemical cycles.CHAPTER
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KEY IDEAhttp://www.ebook3000.com