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AP®BiologyCollege BoardExam QuestionsUnit 8: EcologyEcosystems

Ecosystems (College Board AP® Biology): Exam Questions

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Ecosystems

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Animals may use visual, auditory, and chemical signals which lead to changes in behavior. These signals can affect reproductive success.

Which of the following best explains how an animal uses signaling behavior to enhance reproductive fitness?

  • Animals may use random movement to determine the location of suitable environmental conditions, ensuring access to a food source.

  • The fight-or-flight response increases blood flow to the muscles, allowing prey organisms to run quickly.

  • Colorful flowers attract insect pollinators, increasing the transfer of pollen between flowers.

  • Animals may use scent marking to indicate the extent of a territory and deter other members of the same species.

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All living organisms need energy to maintain their tissues, grow and reproduce. Different groups of organisms rely on different modes of nutrition in order to gain energy.

Which of the following correctly describes mechanisms by which living organisms capture energy in ecosystems?

  • Heterotrophic and chemosynthetic organisms both gain their energy from the carbon compounds in other living organisms.

  • Photosynthetic organisms gain their energy from carbon compounds gained from the soil.

  • Chemosynthetic and photosynthetic organisms are examples of autotrophs.

  • Heterotrophic organisms produce their own organic molecules using inorganic substances.

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Certain species of male frogs produce mating calls to attract females. Researchers conducted an experiment measuring the success rate of males with different call patterns. The results are shown below:

Call type

Average number of mates gained

Short calls

3

Long calls

7

Based on the data, what is the most likely explanation for the reproductive advantage of long calls?

  • Long calls are energetically cheaper to produce, allowing males to conserve energy.

  • Long calls provide a stronger visual cue, making males easier to locate.

  • Long calls serve as an indicator of male fitness, increasing their attractiveness to females.

  • Long calls establish territorial boundaries and prevent competition between males.

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In response to seasonal temperature changes, different species have evolved unique strategies to survive harsh winter conditions. The table below describes adaptations observed in three species that experience extreme cold.

Species

Observed adaptation

Arctic fox

Thickening of fur and increased metabolic activity

Emperor penguin

Reduced blood flow to extremities, maintaining core body temperature

Brown bear

Decreased heart rate and metabolic slowdown during winter months

Which of the following best explains how these adaptations increase survival?

  • These adaptations are behavioral responses that allow the organisms to maintain thermoregulation.

  • Each adaptation involves changes in reproductive strategies, delaying reproduction until environmental conditions improve.

    Survival is maximized because all three species reduce metabolic activity during winter months, ensuring lower energy expenditure when resources are scarce.

  • These adaptations involve physiological responses, allowing the organisms to regulate internal conditions and maintain homeostasis in extreme environments.

  • The adaptations are examples of cooperative behaviors, where individuals in a population work together to improve survival.

    All three adaptations are driven by the same evolutionary pressure—reducing heat loss—suggesting that metabolic slowdown is the most effective winter survival strategy for mammals and birds alike.

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