AP BIOLOGY Test Booklet

Unit 8 Practice

1. Belding’s ground squirrels (Spermophilus beldingi) live in closely related groups. When they feed in the open,
certain individuals (guard squirrels) watch for predators instead of feeding. The guard squirrels give an alarm call
when a predator is sighted, allowing the rest of the group to run to safety. Researchers have noted that, because the
alarm call draws attention to the guard, the guard is more likely to be caught by the predator and therefore has a
lower survival rate in comparison with the other squirrels.

Which of the following best explains the behavior of the guard squirrels?
The behavior of the guard squirrels increases the survival of close relatives that share the genes of the guard
(A)
squirrels.
The guard squirrels confuse the predator, lowering the predator’s success rate because the predator cannot
(B)
tell which squirrel is producing the sound.
Guard squirrels typically have recessive alleles, and by sacrificing themselves, they lessen the chance that
(C)
recessive alleles will get passed on.
Guard squirrels are typically females who have already reproduced, so they are no longer needed by the
(D)
group.

2. High concentrations of cadmium in the water negatively affect steelhead trout. In a river community, steelhead trout
are part of the trophic structure shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1. The trophic structure of a river community

Which of the following is the most likely immediate effect of an increase in runoff containing cadmium on the
trophic structure of the river community?
(A) The population of Cladophora will decrease, resulting in an increase in the trout population.
(B) There will be a large decrease in the trout population, resulting in an increase in damselfly nymphs.
Increased stream volume will provide more area for the trout to reproduce, causing a large increase in the
(C)
population of algae.
(D) The population of trout will decrease because the population of damselfly nymphs will decline.

AP Biology Page 1 of 10
 Test Booklet

Unit 8 Practice

Certain reef-building corals contain photosynthetic, symbiotic algae that have the ability to make
dimethylsulphoniopropionate ( ), a chemical involved in the marine sulfur cycle. is released into the
surrounding water, where it is converted to the gas dimethyl sulfide ( ) by microorganisms and enters the
atmosphere. Once in the atmosphere, it triggers the formation of sulfate aerosols, which induce cloud formation and block
sunlight from heating up the water.

The symbiotic algae produce when they are stressed by a high water temperature. If water temperature is too
high, corals will expel the symbiotic algae that produce . Researchers measured the amount of produced
by juvenile and adult coral and their symbionts under normal and thermally stressed conditions. The data are shown in the
graphs in Figure 1.

Figure 1: concentration in juvenile and adult corals and their symbionts in normal and thermally-stressed
conditions. Error bars represent .

The researchers also measured the density of the symbiont as well as the photosynthetic yield in adult corals at the two
temperatures. Photosynthetic yield is an index measure of energy output compared to sunlight energy input in which
larger photosynthetic yield values represent photosynthetic organisms producing more energy.

Figure 2: Variation in symbiont density and photosynthetic yield in adult corals grown in normal and thermally-stressed
conditions. Error bars represent .

3. Which of the following best describes the effect of temperature on corals’ ability to produce as shown in
Figure 1?

Page 2 of 10 AP Biology
 Test Booklet

Unit 8 Practice

(A) Both juvenile and adult corals produce less at than at .

(B) Both juvenile and adult corals produce less at than at .
(C) The amount of produced over time increases at in juveniles only.
(D) The amount of produced over time increases at in adults only.

4. Which of the following best describes the production of by coral and coral symbionts?
(A) A negative feedback mechanism that increases the environmental change
(B) A negative feedback mechanism that reverses the environmental change
(C) A positive feedback mechanism that increases the environmental change
(D) A positive feedback mechanism that reverses the environmental change

5. Which of the following best describes the difference between the total amount of produced by adults
compared to juveniles at the start of the trial?
(A) Adult corals produced times more than juveniles produced.
(B) Adult corals produced times less than juveniles produced.
(C) Adult corals produced times more than juveniles produced.
(D) Adult corals produced times less than juveniles produced.

6. In addition to the effect of temperature on produced by corals and their symbionts, which of the following
relationships is also being considered in this experiment?
(A) Effect of varying light levels and coral species
(B) Effect of additional produced by symbionts and the corals' age
(C) Effect of age and varying light levels
(D) Effect of coral species and additional produced by symbionts

7. Which of the following best describes the scientists’ findings concerning the density of symbionts presented in
Figure 2 ?
(A) The symbiont density at on day was less than the density on day of the experiment.
(B) The symbiont density at on day was less than the density on day of the experiment.
(C) The symbiont density at was different from the density at on days and of the experiment.
(D) The symbiont density at was higher than the density at for the entire length of the experiment.

8. Which of the following best explains the result of adult corals being exposed to elevated temperatures for extended
periods?
(A) They are able to obtain more energy from their symbionts because the algae are receiving more light.
(B) They are able to obtain more energy from their symbionts because the efficiency increases slightly over time.
(C) They are able to obtain less energy from their symbionts because the algae have been expelled.
They are able to obtain less energy from their symbionts because more is being produced at lower
(D)
temperatures.

AP Biology Page 3 of 10
 Test Booklet

Unit 8 Practice

High levels of certain plant nutrients in runoff can lead to rapid growth of algae (an algal bloom) in aquatic ecosystems.
These algal blooms are generally followed by algal death and decomposition, which consumes large amounts of dissolved
oxygen in the water and results in oxygen levels insufficient to support aerobic respiration. This process is known as
eutrophication. The amount of algae present in a body of water can be estimated from the amount of chlorophyll a in a
sample of the water. A researcher studying eutrophication collected samples at different times of the year in a freshwater
ecosystem. The samples were analyzed for total nitrogen and chlorophyll a concentration (Figure 1) as well as total
phosphorus and chlorophyll a concentration (Figure 2).

Figure 1. Amount of chlorophyll a in relation to the Figure 2. Amount of chlorophyll a in relation to the
amount of total nitrogen amount of total phosphorous

9. Which of the following investigations would enable researchers to test the claim that an increased concentration of
algae has a negative effect on the number of aquatic invertebrates in the ecosystem?
(A) Examining the contents of the digestive tracts of aquatic invertebrates and looking for the presence of algae
(B) Examining the growth rate of algae in the absence of aquatic invertebrates
(C) Counting the number of aquatic invertebrates at different concentrations of chlorophyll a in the water
Counting the number of aquatic invertebrates at different concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus in the
(D)
water

10. A massive increase in the growth of a specific species of algae resulted in record-breaking levels of a potentially
dangerous toxin being released into the water. A researcher hypothesizes that the unusual growth of this algal
species was caused by an increase in water temperature. The researcher designs an experiment to test the
hypothesis.

Which of the following is the dependent variable in the researcher’s experiment?

(A) The growth of the algae
(B) The temperature of the water
(C) The concentration of toxin in the water
(D) The different species of algae growing in the water

Page 4 of 10 AP Biology
 Test Booklet

Unit 8 Practice

11. Many fish species, such as fathead minnows, release a pheromone when their skin cells are damaged. Researchers
placed pike, a predator of fathead minnows, in a choice chamber and released the minnow pheromone at one end of
the chamber. The researchers observed that the pike oriented themselves toward the end of the chamber where the
pheromone was released.

Which of the following questions will best guide a follow-up investigation about the role of pheromones in locating
prey?
(A) How do pike determine that the fathead minnow pheromone is present in the water?
(B) Why do pike prey on fathead minnows?
(C) Do pike have natural predators in the environment?
(D) Do pike release pheromones that are detected by fathead minnows?

12. Wolves, once native to Yellowstone National Park, were hunted to the point of complete extinction in the park. As a
result, the elk population in the park flourished, putting extra demands on the carrying capacity of the park. Many
other species, such as certain trees and beavers, were negatively affected by the increase in elk.

Years later, wolves were reintroduced into the park. While the elk population decreased after the wolves returned,
the beaver and songbird populations began to increase as did the populations of various plant species.

Which of the following best explains how wolves are a keystone species in this ecosystem?
Wolves help balance the population sizes of other species, allowing more species to thrive in the wolves’
(A)
presence than in their absence.
Wolves prey on certain species, increasing competition among other species, which results in a decrease in
(B)
biodiversity in the ecosystem.
Wolves are not affected by factors that typically limit the population size; therefore their population can grow
(C)
exponentially, increasing the demand on the parks’ resources.
Wolves prey on other species without having any natural predators themselves; therefore their presence
(D)
significantly decreases many populations within the community.

AP Biology Page 5 of 10
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Unit 8 Practice

13.

Figure 1. Key physiological points in the human sleep-wake cycle

The human sleep-wake cycle is regulated by melatonin. The synthesis of melatonin is regulated by light exposure
(Figure 1). The human body typically develops a sleep-wake rhythm that does not respond quickly to change.

Long-term exposure to extended periods of bright light after sunset is most likely to affect a person in which of the
following ways?
(A) Melatonin synthesis will be increased, and the entire sleep-wake cycle will be shifted by several hours.
(B) Melatonin synthesis will be increased, and the person will quickly fall asleep.
(C) Melatonin synthesis will be inhibited, and the person will have difficulty sleeping.
(D) Melatonin synthesis will be inhibited, and the person will quickly fall asleep.

Page 6 of 10 AP Biology
 Test Booklet

Unit 8 Practice

A student is investigating photosynthesis in plants. The student planted grass seeds in a tray with three sections and grew
the grass under artificial lights for days (Figure 1). After days, the student collected all of the grass from section
and recorded its mass (Table 1). The student then placed a clear cover over section and placed an aluminum foil cover
over section (Figure 2). The student then placed the tray back under the artificial lights for seven additional days. On
day , the student collected and measured the mass of the grass from sections and (Table 1).

TABLE 1. MASS OF GRASS GROWN IN EACH SECTION

Section Day Mass was Measured Mass ( )

14 5.1
21 9.6
21 4.2

14. Based on the data, which of the following is the best approximation of the rate of growth per week in section
from day to day ?
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)

15. Which of the following best explains the observed difference in mass between the grass in section after days
and the grass in section after days?
(A) The grass in section required more energy for metabolic processes than the grass in section .
(B) The grass in section performed more photosynthesis than the grass in section .
(C) Only the grass in section used energy from the seed for growth and development.
(D) Mass lost by cell respiration in section was not replaced by photosynthesis.

AP Biology Page 7 of 10
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Unit 8 Practice

16. Which of the following best explains the connection between energy, growth, and the maintenance of an ordered
system in the experiment?
(A) Energy input from light is required for the grass to grow and maintain an ordered structure.
(B) The grass obtains the energy for growth and maintenance of order from nutrients from the soil.
The grass couples the release of energy from the light reactions with the production of oxygen ( ) used to
(C)
produce sugars for growth.
(D) Energy is required for the growth of the grass but not the maintenance of order.

17. Based on the data, which of the following is the most likely effect of a period of increased volcanic activity that
significantly decreases the amount of sunlight reaching a particular ecosystem for several years?
There will be a decrease in the population sizes of most species and a decrease in the number of trophic
(A)
levels.
The population sizes of plant species will stay the same, but the average biomass of individual plants will
(B)
increase.
There will be an increase in the population sizes of omnivores because they can eat other animals instead of
(C)
the plants.
(D) The biodiversity of the ecosystem will increase as new niches arise and become occupied by new species.

18. Which of the following is an appropriate null hypothesis for the student’s experiment?
(A) The absence of light negatively affects the mass of the grass.
(B) An increase in light promotes grass growth.
(C) A change in light intensity changes the rate of grass growth.
(D) The presence of light has no effect on the mass of the grass.

Page 8 of 10 AP Biology
 Test Booklet

Unit 8 Practice

19. Read each question carefully. Write your response in the space provided for each part of each question. Answers
must be written out in paragraph form. Outlines, bulleted lists, or diagrams alone are not acceptable and will not
be scored.

The Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) is a species of mammal whose only wild population is native to the
isolated island of Tasmania, off the coast of Australia. Tasmanian devils have a very low level of genetic diversity
across the entire species. Researchers hypothesize this lack of diversity is the result of several genetic bottlenecks
in the species’ history.

In 1996 a new disease called devil facial tumor disease ( ) appeared in the wild Tasmanian devil
population. can spread from one animal to another and causes the death of most affected animals. The
impact of on the Tasmanian devil population has resulted in a decrease in the total population of more
than 85% over the last two decades.

(a) Describe the process that maintained a stable Tasmanian devil population size before the appearance of
in 1996.

(b) Explain how the huge reduction of the Tasmanian devil population since 1996 affects the susceptibility of the
current population to new diseases in comparison with the susceptibility of the population before 1996.

(c) Tasmanian devils are top predators and are considered a keystone species in their community. Predict the
effect of the rapid reduction of the Tasmanian devil population on the rest of the community.

(d) Justify the prediction of part (c).

AP Biology Page 9 of 10
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Unit 8 Practice

20. Read each question carefully. Write your response in the space provided for each part of each question. Answers
must be written out in paragraph form. Outlines, bulleted lists, or diagrams alone are not acceptable and will not
be scored.

The pinewood nematode is a eukaryote that infects certain species of pine trees, feeds on the cells surrounding the
trees’ transport system, and ultimately kills the trees. Trees are infected when nematode-carrying beetles feed off
the trees and inject the nematode into the trees when they bite through the bark. Once infected, pine trees increase
the production of chemicals that serve as a defense mechanism for the trees by negatively affecting the nematodes.

Researchers have found that pinewood nematodes contain symbiotic bacteria that can degrade the pine trees’
defensive chemicals. To investigate the role these bacteria play in nematode survival in the presence of these
defensive chemicals, researchers pretreated nematodes with antibiotics and then exposed them to α , one
of the defensive chemicals produced by the pine trees.

(a) Describe the relationship between a parasite and its host.

(b) Explain how producing the enzymes that digest α is beneficial to the bacterial species living within
the nematodes.

(c) Predict the effect of the antibiotic treatments on the mortality rate of the nematodes when exposed to
α .

(d) Provide reasoning to justify your prediction in part (c).

Page 10 of 10 AP Biology