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  1. AP Biology
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Glossary

A

Autotrophs

Criticality: 3

Organisms that produce their own organic compounds (food) from simple inorganic substances, usually using light or chemical energy.

Example:

Cyanobacteria in the ocean are autotrophs, performing photosynthesis to create their own food and contributing significantly to global oxygen production.

B

Biodiversity

Criticality: 2

The variety of life in a particular habitat or ecosystem, encompassing the diversity of genes, species, and ecosystems.

Example:

The Amazon rainforest is renowned for its immense biodiversity, hosting millions of species of plants, animals, and microorganisms.

E

Ectotherms

Criticality: 3

Organisms whose body temperature largely depends on external environmental sources, often regulating it through behavioral adaptations.

Example:

A lizard basking on a warm rock is an ectotherm, absorbing heat from its surroundings to raise its body temperature for optimal activity.

Endotherms

Criticality: 3

Organisms that maintain a relatively constant internal body temperature largely independent of the external environment, primarily through metabolic processes.

Example:

A human shivering in the cold is an endotherm, using muscle contractions to generate heat and keep their core body temperature stable.

Energy Availability

Criticality: 2

The total amount of usable energy present within an ecosystem, primarily determined by the productivity of its producers.

Example:

A lush rainforest has high energy availability due to abundant sunlight and water, supporting a vast array of plant and animal life.

Energy Flow

Criticality: 3

The unidirectional movement of energy through an ecosystem, typically starting from the sun, moving to producers, and then to various levels of consumers.

Example:

The energy flow in a grassland ecosystem begins with sunlight captured by grasses, then moves to grazing zebras, and finally to the lions that prey on the zebras.

H

Heterotrophs

Criticality: 3

Organisms that obtain energy and nutrients by consuming other organisms or organic matter.

Example:

A hungry wolf is a heterotroph, relying on hunting deer to get the energy it needs to survive and reproduce.

Hibernation

Criticality: 1

A state of minimal activity and metabolic depression in endotherms, characterized by reduced body temperature, slower breathing, and lower metabolic rate, typically during winter.

Example:

A groundhog entering hibernation in its burrow will drastically lower its heart rate and body temperature to conserve energy throughout the cold months.

K

K-selected species

Criticality: 2

Species characterized by slow reproduction, producing few, larger offspring, and investing significant parental care, typically found in stable environments near carrying capacity.

Example:

An elephant is a K-selected species, giving birth to a single calf after a long gestation and investing years in its upbringing and protection.

M

Metabolic Rate

Criticality: 2

The rate at which an organism converts chemical energy from food into other forms of energy, including heat and energy for cellular processes.

Example:

A hummingbird has an incredibly high metabolic rate, burning through energy rapidly to power its constant wing movements and maintain its tiny body temperature.

N

Net Gain (Energy Balance)

Criticality: 2

A state where an organism consumes more energy than it expends, leading to energy storage, growth, or reproduction.

Example:

After a successful hunt, a bear experiences a net gain of energy, allowing it to build up fat reserves for hibernation.

Net Loss (Energy Balance)

Criticality: 2

A state where an organism expends more energy than it consumes, resulting in a decrease in mass and potentially leading to starvation or death.

Example:

During a harsh winter with scarce food, a deer might experience a net loss of energy, causing it to lose weight and become more vulnerable.

P

Photosynthesis

Criticality: 3

The process by which photosynthetic organisms convert light energy into chemical energy, typically in the form of glucose.

Example:

A towering redwood tree uses photosynthesis to transform sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide into the sugars it needs to grow, forming the base of its forest ecosystem's energy.

S

Species Distribution

Criticality: 1

The geographical area where a particular species can be found, influenced by environmental factors and resource availability.

Example:

The species distribution of polar bears is limited to Arctic regions because they are adapted to cold climates and rely on sea ice for hunting seals.

T

Thermoregulation

Criticality: 2

The process by which an organism maintains its internal body temperature within a narrow optimal range, despite fluctuations in external temperature.

Example:

When a dog pants on a hot day, it's engaging in thermoregulation to cool down by evaporating water from its tongue and respiratory tract.

Trophic Level

Criticality: 3

An organism's specific position in a food chain or food web, indicating its primary source of energy.

Example:

In a pond ecosystem, algae occupy the first trophic level as producers, while small fish eating the algae are at the second trophic level.

r

r-selected species

Criticality: 2

Species characterized by rapid reproduction, producing many small offspring, and providing minimal parental care, often thriving in unstable or unpredictable environments.

Example:

A dandelion is an r-selected species, producing thousands of tiny seeds that disperse widely, hoping a few will land in a suitable spot to grow.