Ecology and the Biosphere
Why study ecology? Perhaps you are interested in learning about the natural world and how living things have adapted to the physical conditions of their environment. Or, perhaps you’re a future physician seeking to understand the connection between human health and ecology. Humans are a part of the ecological landscape, and human health is one important part of human interaction with our physical and living environment. This pathway provides an in-depth look at the scope of ecology; biogeography; terrestrial biomes; aquatic biomes; and climate & the effects of global climate change. The pathway also provides vocabulary support for these topics, as well as opportunities for learners to self-assess their understanding by analyzing figures and answering questions. Advanced Placement® and AP® are trademarks registered and/or owned by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse, this textbook.
Topics
- abiotic
- aboveground
- biomass
- abyssal zone
- algal bloom
- aphotic zone
- benthic realm
- biogeography
- biome
- biotic
- canopy
- channel
- clathrates
- climate
- conspecifics
- coral
- reef
- cryptofauna
- ecology
- ecosystem services
- emergent vegetation
- endemic
- estuary
- fall and spring turnover
- global climate change
- greenhouse effect
- greenhouse gases
- haze-effect
- cooling
- heterospecifics
- intertidal zone
- Milankovitch cycles
- neritic zone
- net primary productivity
- ocean upwelling
- oceanic zone
- pelagic realm
- permafrost
- photic zone
- planktivore
- predator
- Sargassum
- solar intensity
- source
- water
- thermocline
- weather