APES Final

What is control in an experiment?

Control refers to the standard of comparison in an experiment, used to measure the effect of the independent variable.

What is the independent variable in an experiment?

The independent variable is the factor that is manipulated or changed in an experiment to test its effects.

What is the dependent variable in an experiment?

The dependent variable is the factor that is measured or observed in response to changes in the independent variable.

What are habitat corridors?

Habitat corridors are strips of land that allow wildlife to move between isolated habitats.

What are renewable sources of energy?

Renewable sources of energy include solar, wind, biomass, geothermal, and hydroelectric energy.

What is ocean acidification?

Ocean acidification refers to the decrease in pH of the ocean due to absorption of excess carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

What fuel is used to produce nuclear energy?

Uranium is the primary fuel used to produce nuclear energy.

What is eutrophication?

Eutrophication is the process by which water bodies become overly enriched with nutrients, leading to excessive growth of algae.

What are the carbon, nitrogen and phosphorous cycles?

These are biogeochemical cycles that describe the movement of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus through the atmosphere, biosphere, and geosphere.

What is Integrated Pest Management (IPM)?

IPM is an environmentally friendly approach to pest management that combines various biological, mechanical, and chemical practices.

What are the methods of soil conservation?

Methods include cover crops, crop rotation, contour plowing, intercropping, and no-till farming.

What is monoculture?

Monoculture is the agricultural practice of growing a single crop species over a wide area.

What are CAFOs, and what environmental impacts do they have?

CAFOs are Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations that can cause pollution, reduce biodiversity, and contribute to greenhouse gas emissions.

What is a pesticide?

A pesticide is a chemical substance used to kill or control pests.

What are persistent organic pollutants?

Persistent organic pollutants are organic compounds that are resistant to environmental degradation and can accumulate in living organisms.

What is a pesticide treadmill?

A pesticide treadmill is the cycle of increasing pesticide application as pests develop resistance.

What are endocrine disruptors?

Endocrine disruptors are chemicals that interfere with the endocrine system, affecting hormone function.

What is a GMO?

A GMO (Genetically Modified Organism) is an organism that has been genetically altered using biotechnology.

What are advantages and disadvantages of GMOs?

Advantages include increased crop yield and pest resistance; disadvantages may involve ecological risks and health concerns.

Describe organic farming.

Organic farming is an agricultural system that avoids synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, focusing on sustainable practices.

What is soil salinization?

Soil salinization is the accumulation of soluble salts in soil, which can negatively affect crop growth.

What are the trophic levels in an ecosystem?

Trophic levels include producers, primary consumers, secondary consumers, and tertiary consumers, representing the flow of energy.

What is primary productivity?

Primary productivity is the rate at which energy is converted by photosynthetic and chemosynthetic autotrophs to organic substances.

What is the theory of Island Biogeography?

The theory of Island Biogeography explains the diversity of species on islands based on size and proximity to the mainland.

What are the aquatic biomes?

Key aquatic biomes include salt marshes, estuaries, mangroves, and coral reefs.

What are the benefits of preserving coastal wetlands?

Benefits include habitat for wildlife, flood protection, and water quality enhancement.

What are the aquatic zones?

Aquatic zones include littoral, limnetic, profundal, benthic, euphotic, and aphotic zones based on depth and light availability.

What is the Kyoto Protocol?

An international treaty that commits parties to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat global warming.

What is the Montreal Protocol?

An international treaty aimed at phasing out substances that deplete the ozone layer.

What are the major greenhouse gases?

Major greenhouse gases include carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and fluorinated gases.

What are the main effects of ozone depletion?

Effects include increased UV radiation reaching the Earth's surface, leading to health risks and environmental harm.

What are CFCs?

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are chemical compounds that harm the ozone layer and contribute to global warming.

What environmental impacts does global warming have?

Impacts include rising sea levels, increased frequency of extreme weather events, and alterations in ecosystems.

How do you calculate birth rate?

Birth rate is calculated by dividing the number of live births in a year by the total population and multiplying by 1,000.

What is replacement-level fertility?

Replacement-level fertility is the level of fertility at which a population exactly replaces itself from one generation to the next.

How do you interpret a population pyramid diagram?

A population pyramid diagram shows the distribution of various age groups in a population, indicating growth trends.

What are the four stages of demographic transition?

The stages are pre-industrial, transitional, industrial, and post-industrial, reflecting changes in birth and death rates.

What types of conditions indicate an El Niño event?

Conditions include warmer sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific, leading to weather pattern changes.

What are the effects of El Niño and La Niña?

El Niño can cause increased rainfall and warmer temperatures, while La Niña typically results in cooler ocean temperatures and altered weather patterns.

What is upwelling?

Upwelling is the process where deep, cold water rises to the surface, bringing nutrients that support marine life.

What is a thermocline?

A thermocline is a distinct layer in a body of water where the temperature changes more rapidly with depth.

Is air more or less dense at the poles or the equator? Why?

Air is more dense at the poles due to cooler temperatures compared to the warmer, less dense air at the equator.

What are convection currents?

Convection currents are circular movements of fluids caused by differences in temperature and density.

What causes the ocean’s surface currents?

Surface currents are primarily caused by wind patterns, the rotation of the Earth, and the position of landmasses.

What is the Coriolis Effect?

The Coriolis Effect is the deflection of moving objects, like winds and currents, due to Earth's rotation.

What is a rain shadow?

A rain shadow is a dry area on the leeward side of a mountain range where moisture-laden air loses its moisture.

How do the windward and leeward sides of a mountain differ?

Windward sides receive more rainfall due to rising air, while leeward sides are drier and warmer.

What are gill nets?

Gill nets are fishing nets that entangle fish by their gills, often used for catching various species.

What is the long line fishing technique?

Long line fishing involves setting out a main line with baited hooks, allowing for the capture of open-water fish.

What is purse seine fishing?

Purse seine fishing uses a large wall of netting to encircle schools of fish, then draws the net shut.

What is trawling net fishing?

Trawling involves dragging a net along the seabed to catch fish and other marine organisms.

What are pots and traps in fishing?

Pots and traps are enclosures used to catch fish or crustaceans, attracting them with bait.

What are the advantages of aquaculture?

Advantages include sustainable fish production and reduced pressure on wild fish stocks.

What are the disadvantages of aquaculture?

Disadvantages may include water pollution, disease spread, and habitat destruction.

What does 'fishing down the food chain' mean?

It refers to the practice of targeting smaller fish species as larger ones become depleted in fisheries.

What is tuberculosis?

Tuberculosis is a contagious bacterial infection primarily affecting the lungs.

What is Zika?

Zika is a viral infection transmitted by mosquitoes, associated with serious birth defects.

What is cholera?

Cholera is an infectious disease caused by consuming contaminated water or food, leading to severe diarrhea.

What is malaria?

Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by parasitic protozoans transmitted through infected mosquitoes.

What is West Nile Virus?

West Nile Virus is a mosquito-borne virus that can lead to neurological diseases in humans.