AP Biology Flashcards: Biodiversity
Written by AP Content Team, Verified for 2026 AP Exams, Last updated: May 2026
Review key ideas with interactive flashcards. This set includes 10 cards to help you master important concepts.
Two ecosystems exist. Ecosystem A has 50 species. Ecosystem B has 10 species. Which is likely to be less resilient to a sudden environmental change?
Ecosystem B is likely less resilient because ecosystems with fewer components and less diversity are less resilient to environmental changes.
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Two ecosystems exist. Ecosystem A has 50 species. Ecosystem B has 10 species. Which is likely to be less resilient to a sudden environmental change?
Ecosystem B is likely less resilient because ecosystems with fewer components and less diversity are less resilient to environmental changes.
Define a keystone species.
A keystone species is a species that has a disproportionately large effect on its ecosystem relative to its abundance.
What happens to an ecosystem's structure when a component is added or removed?
The addition or removal of any component, whether abiotic or biotic, will affect the ecosystem's overall short-term and long-term structure.
What does it mean for a keystone species to have an effect 'relative to its abundance'?
It means that even if the species is not numerous, its impact on the ecosystem is very large and disproportionate to its population size.
What is the potential long-term consequence of removing a keystone species from its habitat?
The removal of a keystone species often leads to the collapse of the ecosystem.
Identify three factors that are critical for maintaining ecosystem diversity.
Keystone species, producers, and essential abiotic and biotic factors are all critical for maintaining diversity within an ecosystem.
Why are ecosystems with low diversity often less resilient?
Ecosystems with fewer components and less diversity are less resilient because the removal of any single component has a greater impact on the ecosystem's overall structure.
Does the removal of only biotic components affect an ecosystem's structure?
No, the removal of any component, including essential abiotic factors, will affect the overall short-term and long-term structure of an ecosystem.
What is the relationship between ecosystem diversity and its resilience to environmental changes?
Ecosystems with greater diversity are generally more resilient to changes in the environment. Conversely, ecosystems with fewer components and less diversity are often less resilient.
An ecosystem with very few species of producers is hit by a disease that wipes out the dominant producer. How will this affect the ecosystem's resilience?
This ecosystem will be less resilient. The removal of a critical component like a producer in an ecosystem with low diversity will negatively affect its overall structure.