AP Biology Ecology Project - Due 4/18/2019 at the start of 2A/3A

There are three sub-projects within this project. Each sub-project has multiple components. The
completion of this project will substitute for our unit on Ecology.

Project Basics
●This project is individual
●You may use your resources (i.e. Google, your text, your yellow book, Bozeman,
and/or your peers),but be careful to not plagiarize as that would result in a major
infraction (Score of 0 on the assignment + Saturday Suspension)
●You must complete all work on a separate sheet of paper (written or typed is fine).
●The project is due on Thursday, April 18th at the start of 2A/3A

Sub-Project 1:​ ​Food Chain, Trophic Levels, and Energy Flow Through an Ecosystem
1. Select an ecosystem from the list below:
❏ Rainforest
❏ Temperate forest
❏ Coral Reef

2. Discuss or create the following as they relate to your specific ecosystem:

❏ Create a food web AND energy pyramid with at least ten organisms from your
ecosystem. Be sure that your organisms have the correct connections.
❏ Identify terms as “producers,” “consumers,” “autotrophs,” and “heterotrophs” on your
food web AND energy pyramid.
❏ Discuss the importance of producers – what would happen to an ecosystem if you did
not have any producers? Where do producers get their energy? Identify this source
and briefly describe the process (this should be a nice review - hint, hint).
❏ Explain why is there energy loss as you go higher in the food pyramid? Aka, why do
tertiary consumers only retain a small portion of energy that lower trophic levels
consumed?

3. Complete the two FRQs below:

Sub-Project 2: Animal Behavior
(Note: None of these parts can involve humans).

1. Explain the difference between innate and learned behavior. Give examples of these in
animals (Hint:consider circadian rhythms, migration, hunting practices, mating practices,
etc).

2. Watch the TED talk here:

https://www.ted.com/talks/robert_wright_the_evolution_of_compassion​ After watching
the TED talk, discuss what altruism implies for populations and future generations.

3. Complete the FRQ below:

Sub-Project 3: Symbiosis
1. Define symbiosis and the different types of symbiosis below. Come up with examples of
each.
❏ Mutualism
❏ Parasitism
❏ Commensalism

2. Complete the two FRQs below: