AP Biology Unit 8: Ecology — The Science of Interconnection

TLDR (Quick Summary)

• Ecology studies how organisms interact with each other and the environment.

• Understand energy flow (10% rule), population growth, biotic interactions, and ecosystem cycles.

• Recognize human impacts like climate change and eutrophication.

• ⚡ Download our AP Biology Unit 8 Cheat Sheet for key graphs, formulas, and mnemonics.

Why Unit 8 Matters

Ecology ties together everything you’ve learned in biology — from cell respiration to evolution — by showing how life forms a web of interactions.
On the AP exam, this unit often appears through data interpretation, graph analysis, and FRQs about population or ecosystem dynamics.

If you can explain how energy moves and how populations change, you’re set for 10–15% of the exam!

Ecosystem Organization

Every level in ecology builds on the one below it:
Organism → Population → Community → Ecosystem → Biome → Biosphere.

Each step adds complexity — from one individual to the entire planet.

Mnemonic: “Old People Can Eat Big Burgers.”

Energy Flow in Ecosystems

• Producers (autotrophs) capture sunlight and convert it into chemical energy.

• Consumers (heterotrophs) feed on others for energy.

• Decomposers recycle nutrients back into the soil.

The 10% Rule: only about 10% of energy passes from one trophic level to the next — the rest is lost as heat.

Tutor Tip: When analyzing energy pyramids, always start at the base (producers) and remember: energy flows one way, but matter cycles.

Population Ecology

Populations change based on birth, death, immigration, and emigration.

Key Concepts:

• Carrying capacity (K): the environment’s maximum sustainable population.

• Exponential growth: J-shaped, unlimited resources.

• Logistic growth: S-shaped, growth slows as resources run out.

Formula:
ΔN/Δt = rN
(Where r = growth rate, N = population size)

Mnemonic: “J before S — growth slows as space shrinks.”

Community Interactions

Organisms don’t exist alone — they form complex relationships:

Mnemonic: “Crazy Predators Make Clever Parasites.”

Ecological Succession

Ecosystems recover and change over time.

• Primary succession: begins on bare rock (no soil).

• Secondary succession: happens after a disturbance (soil intact).

• Pioneer species: first colonizers (lichens, mosses).

Over time, a climax community develops — stable and biodiverse.

Biogeochemical Cycles

Life depends on continuous cycling of matter:

• Carbon Cycle: photosynthesis and respiration balance CO₂.

• Nitrogen Cycle: bacteria fix nitrogen for plant use.

• Phosphorus Cycle: moves through rocks, soil, and organisms (no gas form).

• Water Cycle: powered by evaporation, condensation, precipitation.

Mnemonic: “Can Never Pass Water.”

Human Impacts

Humans alter every major ecosystem process:

• Climate change: excess CO₂ traps heat.

• Eutrophication: fertilizer runoff → algal blooms → oxygen loss.

• Deforestation: destroys habitats, increases CO₂.

• Invasive species: outcompete native populations.

AP FRQs often ask: “Predict how human activity affects ecosystem stability.”
Always include the cause (human action) and effect (biodiversity or nutrient cycle impact).

Common Pitfalls

• Confusing energy flow (one-way) with matter cycling (recycled).

• Forgetting that density-dependent factors (like disease) scale with population size.

• Mixing up primary vs secondary succession.

• Misinterpreting growth graphs (label your axes!).

Start with our free Unit 8 Cheat Sheet and get personalized support from Ivy-League tutors. Book your free AP Biology strategy session today.