AP Environmental Science Study Guide Units 1-2

Flashcards covering key vocabulary and definitions for AP Environmental Science Units 1-2.

Abiotic

Nonliving components of Earth, e.g., atmosphere, hydrosphere, and lithosphere.

Biotic

Living components of Earth, e.g., animals, plants, fungi, protists, and bacteria.

Population

A group of organisms of the same species.

Community

Populations of different species that occupy the same geographic area.

Habitat

The area or environment where an organism lives.

Ecological Niche

The role and position a species has in its environment.

Competition

Occurs when two individuals are competing for resources in the environment.

Resource Partitioning

Occurs when species can coexist and share resources without conflict.

Predation

Occurs when one species feeds on another.

Mutualism

A symbiotic relationship where both organisms benefit.

Commensalism

A symbiotic relationship where one organism benefits and the other is neither harmed nor helped.

Parasitism

A symbiotic relationship where one organism benefits by harming the other.

Ecozone/Ecoregion

Small regions within ecosystems that have similar physical features.

Food Chain

A sequence that shows how energy flows step by step from producers to consumers.

Biological Macromolecules

Organic molecules that store energy in their chemical bonds.

Cell Respiration

The process where cells make ATP from carbohydrates and biomolecules.

Photosynthesis

The process by which plants and algae convert solar energy into chemical energy.

Autotrophs

Organisms that produce organic compounds from simple substances in the environment.

Heterotrophs

Organisms that consume other organisms in a food chain.

J-Curve Model

A model of population growth representing exponential growth.

K-selected Organisms

Organisms that reproduce later in life and show parental investment.

R-selected Organisms

Organisms that reproduce early with little care for offspring.

Extinction

Occurs when a species cannot adapt quickly enough to environmental change and all members die.

Biodiversity

The number and variety of organisms found in the world or in a particular habitat.

Natural Selection

The process where advantageous traits increase in frequency in a population over time.

Speciation

The formation of new species from preexisting species.

Habitat Fragmentation

The process where a natural habitat is reduced and divided into smaller patches.

Population Density

The number of individuals of a population that inhabit a certain unit of land or water area.

Carrying Capacity

The maximum population size that can be supported by the available resources in a region.

Density-dependent Factors

Factors that affect population size and growth based on the population density.

Eutrophication

The phenomenon where a body of water becomes rich in nutrients, promoting excessive algae growth.

Carbon Footprint

A measure of environmental impact expressed as the amount of carbon dioxide emissions.

Ecological Footprint

A measure of human demand on the Earth's ecosystems.

Agricultural Innovations

Advancements in farming techniques that enhance production efficiency.

Hygroponics

A method of growing plants in nutrient-rich water instead of soil.

Pollution

The introduction of contaminants into the natural environment that cause adverse changes.