Ecosystems (College Board AP® Biology)

Many species have circadian rhythms that exhibit an approximately 24-hour cycle. Circadian rhythms are controlled by both genetics and environmental conditions, including light.

Researchers investigated the effect of light on mouse behavior by using a running wheel with a motion sensor to record activity on actograms, as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1. Strategy for recording mouse activity data. When a mouse is active on the running wheel, the activity is recorded as a dark horizontal line on an actogram. When the mouse is inactive, no dark line is recorded.

For the investigation, adult male mice were individually housed in cages in a soundproof room at 25°C. Each mouse was provided with adequate food, water, bedding material, and a running wheel. The mice were exposed to daily periods of 12 hours of light (L) and 12 hours of dark (D) (L12:D12) for 14 days, and their activity was continuously monitored. The activity data are shown in Figure 2.

Figure 2. Actogram of mouse activity under L12:D12 conditions. Each row represents a 24-hour period, and the dark horizontal lines represent activity on the running wheel.

After 14 days in L12:D12, the mice were placed in continuous darkness (DD), and their activity on the running wheel was recorded as before. The activity data under DD conditions are shown in Figure 3.

Figure 3. Actogram of mouse activity under DD conditions. Each row represents a 24-hour period, and the dark horizontal lines represent activity on the running wheel. 

The nervous system plays a role in coordinating the observed activity pattern of the mice in response to light-dark stimuli. Describe ONE role of each of the following anatomical structures in responding to light-dark stimuli.

• A photoreceptor in the retina of the eye

• The brain

• A motor neuron

Based on an analysis of the data in Figure 2, describe the activity pattern of the mice during the light and dark periods of the L12:D12 cycle. 

The researchers claim that the genetically controlled circadian rhythm in the mice does not follow a 24-hour cycle. Describe ONE difference between the daily pattern of activity under L12:D12 conditions (Figure 2) and under DD conditions (Figure 3), and use the data to support the researchers’ claim.

To investigate the claim that exposure to light overrides the genetically controlled circadian rhythm, the researchers plan to repeat the experiment with mutant mice lacking a gene that controls the circadian rhythm. Predict the observed activity pattern of the mutant mice under L12:D12 conditions and under DD conditions that would support the claim that light overrides the genetically controlled circadian rhythm.

TABLE 1. EFFECT OF 0.1 mM CAFFEINE ON MEMORY IN BEES

In flowering plants, pollination is a process that leads to the fertilization of an egg and the production of seeds. Some flowers attract pollinators, such as bees, using visual and chemical cues. When a bee visits a flower, in addition to transferring pollen, the bee can take nectar from the flower and use it to make honey for the colony.

Nectar contains sugar, but certain plants also produce caffeine in the nectar. Caffeine is a bitter-tasting compound that can be toxic to insects at high concentrations. To investigate the role of caffeine in nectar, a group of researchers studied the effect of 0.1 mM caffeine on bee behavior. The results of an experiment to test the effect of caffeine on bees' memory of a nectar source are shown in Table 1.

On the axes provided, construct an appropriately labeled graph to illustrate the effect of caffeine on the probability of bees revisiting a nectar source (memory).

Based on the results, describe the effect of caffeine on each of the following:

• Short-term (10 minute) memory of a nectar source

• Long-term (24 hour) memory of a nectar source

Design an experiment using artificial flowers to investigate potential negative effects of increasing caffeine concentrations in nectar on the number of floral visits by bees. Identify the null hypothesis, an appropriate control treatment, and the predicted results that could be used to reject the null hypothesis.

Researchers found that nectar with caffeine tends to have a lower sugar content than nectar without caffeine. Plants use less energy to produce the caffeine in nectar than they do to produce the sugar in nectar. Propose ONE benefit to plants that produce nectar with caffeine and a lower sugar content. Propose ONE cost to bees that visit the flowers of plants that produce nectar with caffeine and a lower sugar content.

Based on the graph, describe a specific method of thermoregulation used by the species of animal. Provide support for your answer using the data.

On the labeled axis provided below, draw a line to indicate the most likely relationship between body temperature and environmental temperature in the species.

DIETARY COMPOSITION OF ORGANISMS IN AN AQUATIC ECOSYSTEM

The table above shows how much each organism in an aquatic ecosystem relies on various food sources. The rows represent the organisms in the ecosystem, and the columns represent the food source. The percentages indicate the proportional dietary composition of each organism. High percentages indicate strong dependence of an organism on a food source.

Based on the food sources indicated in the data table, construct a food web in the template below. Write the organism names on the appropriate lines AND draw the arrows necessary to indicate the energy flow between organisms in the ecosystem.

In an effort to control the number of midges, an area within the ecosystem was sprayed with the fungus Metarhizium anisopliae, which significantly decreased the midge population. Based on the data in the table, predict whether the spraying of the fungus will have the greatest short-term impact on the population of the stoneflies, the caddisflies, or the hellgrammites. Justify your prediction.

The following models represent all the interacting species in two different communities with some of the same species and feeding relationships. These models assume that both communities have the same initial biomass. The models can be used to understand the effects of human activities on the communities.

Figure 1. Models of two different communities with some of the same species

Describe a characteristic of a community that makes a species invasive in that community but not invasive in a different community.

Explain why removing species PP1 will have a greater effect on community B than on community A.

An invasive species (INV) that eats individuals of species SC2 is introduced into community B. Using the template in the space provided for your response, for community B, indicate the feeding relationship for this invasive species by correctly placing INV to represent the invasive species and an arrow to represent the feeding relationship within community B.

Explain how human activities that add toxins to the soil could change a community with many species at each trophic level, such as community A, into a community with few species at each trophic level, such as community B.