New CED Unit % of exam
Unit 2: The Living World: Biodiversity 6-8%
Objective
2.1 – Introduction to Biodiversity
biodiversity includes genetic, species, habitat
more genetic diversity better for stress response
bottleneck reduces genetic variety
more species = better recovery from disruption
loss of habitat hurts specialists first
ESSENTIONAL KNOWLEDGE
ERT-2.A.1 Biodiversity in an ecosystem includes genetic, species, and habitat
diversity.
ERT-2.A.2 The more genetically diverse a population is, the better it can respond
to environmental stressors. Additionally, a population bottleneck can lead to a
loss of genetic diversity.
ERT-2.A.3 Ecosystems that have a larger number of species are more likely to
recover from disruptions.
ERT-2.A.4 Loss of habitat leads to a loss of specialist species, followed by a loss
of generalist species. It also leads to reduced numbers of species that have large
territorial requirements.
ERT-2.A.5 Species richness refers to the number of different species found in an
ecosystem.
2.2 – Ecosystem Services
4 types: provisioning, regulating, cultural, supporting
provisioning give resources like food, water
regulating control climate, disease
humans can disrupt services = damage ecosystems
ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE
ERT-2.B.1 There are four categories of ecosystem services: provisioning,
regulating, cultural, and supporting.
ERT-2.C.1 Anthropogenic activities can disrupt ecosystem services, potentially
resulting in economic and ecological consequences.
2.3 – Island Biogeography
studies species on islands
islands get new species from colonization
island species often specialists
invasive species can outcompete specialists
ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE
ERT-2.D.1 Island biogeography is the study of the ecological relationships and
distribution of organisms on islands, and of these organisms’ community structures.
ERT-2.D.2 Islands have been colonized in the past by new species arriving from
elsewhere.
ERT-2.E.1 Many island species have evolved to be specialists versus generalists
because of the limited resources, such as food and territory, on most islands. The
long-term survival of specialists may be jeopardized if and when invasive species,
typically generalists, are introduced and outcompete the specialists.
2.4 - Ecological Tolerance
tolerance = range of conditions species can handle
examples: temp, salinity, sunlight
narrow range = more sensitive
applies to individual or whole species
ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE
ERT-2.F.1 Ecological tolerance refers to the range of conditions, such as
temperature, salinity, flow rate, and sunlight that an organism can endure before
injury or death results.
ERT-2.F.2 Ecological tolerance can apply to individuals and to species.
2.5 – Natural Disruptions to Ecosystems
natural disruptions can be worse than human ones
events can be periodic, episodic, or random
climate and sea level change over time
big changes = habitat loss
animals migrate short or long term
ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE
ERT-2.G.1 Natural disruptions to ecosystems have environmental consequences that
may, for a given occurrence, be as great as, or greater than, many human-made
disruptions.
ERT-2.G.2 Earth system processes operate on a range of scales in terms of time.
Processes can be periodic, episodic, or random.
ERT-2.G.3 Earth’s climate has changed over geological time for many reasons.
ERT-2.G.4 Sea level has varied significantly as a result of changes in the amount
of glacial ice on Earth over geological time.
ERT-2.G.5 Major environmental change or upheaval commonly results in large swathes
of habitat changes.
ERT-2.G.6 Wildlife engages in both short- and long-term migration for a variety of
reasons, including natural disruptions.
2.6 – Adaptations
adaptations happen over time from genetics
fast or slow changes can be threats
species adapt, move, or die
survival needs response to environment
ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE
ERT-2.H.1 Organisms adapt to their environment over time, both in short- and long-
term scales, via incremental changes at the genetic level.
ERT-2.H.2 Environmental changes, either sudden or gradual, may threaten a species’
survival, requiring individuals to alter behaviors, move, or perish.
2.7 – Ecological Succession
primary succession = starts with bare land
secondary succession = starts after disturbance
keystone species shape ecosystem
indicator species show ecosystem health
pioneer species start succession
succession changes biomass, diversity, productivity
ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE
ERT-2.I.1 There are two main types of ecological succession: primary and
secondary succession.
ERT-2.I.2 A keystone species in an ecosystem is a species whose activities have a
particularly significant role in determining community structure.
ERT-2.I.3 An indicator species is a plant or animal that, by its presence,
abundance, scarcity, or chemical composition, demonstrates that some distinctive
aspect of the character or quality of an ecosystem is present.
ERT-2.J.1 Pioneer members of an early successional species commonly move into
unoccupied habitat and over time adapt to its particular conditions, which may
result in the origin of new species.
ERT-2.J.2 Succession in a disturbed ecosystem will affect the total biomass,
species richness, and net productivity over time.
(source: Standards are from the AP College Board CED for AP Environmental Science)