AP environmental science - Unit 1

Ecology

The study of how organisms interact with each other and their environment

Ecosystems

A community of different species interacting with each other and their nonliving environment

Cell

The smallest function unit of life

Organism

An individual living thing

Population

A group of individuals of the same species living in a particular place

Community

Populations of different species living in a particular place

Types of interactions among species include:

1. Competition

2. Predation

3. Parasitism

4. Mutualism

5. Commensalism

Competition

Two or more organisms or species compete for the same limited resources

Resource partitioning

Using resources in different ways, places, or at different times, which can reduce the negative impact of competition on survival

Predation

An interaction in which one animal kills and consumes another animal

Predator

kills and eats prey

Prey

Is killed and eaten by predator

Symbiosis

A close and long-term interaction between 2 species in an ecosystem.

Types of symbiosis include:

1. Mutualisms

2. Commensalism

3. Parasitism

Mutualism

Occurs when two organisms interact in a manner that is beneficial to both

Commensalism

An interaction that is beneficial to one species but has little to no impact on the other

Parasitism

It occurs when one organism benefits from living on or inside a host organism at its expense.

Parasite

The species that benefits

Host

The species that is harmed

Carbon

The chemical backbone of life on Earth

Where is carbon found?

It is found in all living (organic matter)

Where else can carbon be found?

1. Rocks

2. Oceans

3. Atmosphere

Carbon compounds help regulate the Earth’s ?

Temperature

Carbon makes up the _____ that sustains us:

food

Carbon provides us ____ that fuels our global economy

energy

The same carbon atoms are used repeatedly on Earth, cycling between the Earth and the _____?

atmosphere

Carbon moves from one storage reservoir to another through various _____?

mechanisms

Photosynthesis

A process where plants pull carbon dioxide from the atmosphere into the biosphere, using it to make food

Biosphere

The livable places on earth

The carbon becomes part of the plant and is stored as ____

starch

Where is starch stored as?

1. leaves

2. stems

3. roots

in the plant

This process (photosynthesis and the carbon cycle) allows carbon to enter the _____?

food chain

When organisms eat plants, they take in carbon, and some of it becomes part of their own ______?

bodies

Animals digest sugar molecules from plants to get ____ for their bodies

energy

What three things release carbon back into the atmosphere or soil, thus continuing the cycle?

1. Respiration

2. Exertion

3. Decomposition

When plants and animals die, most of their bodies are decomposed, and carbon atoms are returned to the _____?

atmosphere

Underground deposits

Where some bodies end up if they are not fully decomposed

Some examples of underground deposits?

1. Coal

2. Oil

Additional carbon is stored in the _____?

Ocean

Many animals pull carbon from water to use in ____, and when they die, carbon substances are deposited at the bottom of the ocean

shells

The oceans contain the Earth’s largest store of _____?

Carbon

Independent Variable

The variable that is intentionally changed to observe its effect on the dependent variable.

Which type of variable is the manipulated one?

The independent variable

Which axis represents the independent variable

The x- axis

Which axis represents the dependent variable

The y- axis

Dependent variable

The variable that is measured or observed; it is affected by changes in the independent variable

Which type of variable is the one that shows the response/ results

The dependent variable

Control group

The group in an experiment that does not receive the experimental treatment and is used as a baseline for comparison

Hypothesis

A testable prediction that explains a phenomenon or a relationship between variables

Replication

Repeating experiments to ensure that the results are reliable and not due to chance

Randomization

The process of randomly assigning subjects to different groups to avoid bias

Photosynthesis

Plants absorb CO2 from the atmosphere and convert it into glucose, releasing oxygen.

Cellular Respiration

Organisms break down glucose for energy, releasing CO2 back into the atmosphere

Decomposition

Decomposers break down dead organic matter, returning carbon to the soil and atmosphere

Fossil Fuels

Carbon stored in fossil fuels is released as CO2 when burned

Ocean Uptake

Oceans absorb CO2 from the atmosphere, storing it in water and marine organisms

Carbon Sinks and Sources

Sinks (e.g., forests and oceans) absorb more carbon than they release, while sources (e.g., burning fossil fuels) release more carbon than they absorb.

What are some human impacts for the Carbon Cycle?

1. Increased CO2 levels due to deforestation and burning fossil fuels contribute to climate change

2. Ocean acidification occurs as more CO2 is absorbed by oceans, impacting marine life.

Primary Succession

It occurs in lifeless areas where there is no soil (after a volcanic eruption). Pioneer species like lichens and mosses) are the first to colonize.

Secondary Succession

It occurs in areas where a disturbance has destroyed an existing community but left the soil intact (e.g., after a forest fire)

Pioneer Stage

The first organisms to colonize the disturbed area

Intermediate Stages

More species begin to inhabit the area as conditions improve, increasing biodiversity.

Climax community

A stable and mature community tha

Disturbances

Natural events like fires, storms, and human activities can initiate succession.

Species Interactions

Competition, predation, and symbiosis influence the progression of succession.

Ecology

The study of how organisms interact with each other and their environment

Energy Flow

Energy flows through ecosystems in one direction- from producers (autotrophs) to consumers (heterotrophs) and decomposers

Nutrient Cycling

Nutrients cycle through ecosystems through biogeochemical cycles (e.g., carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus cycles)

What are two human impacts on ecosystems?

1. Pollution, habitat destruction, and overexploitation are major threats to ecosystems

2. Conservation efforts aim to protect biodiversity and maintain ecosystem services.

Many industrial and natural activities return ___ into the atmosphere

carbon

Carbon in rocks and underground deposits is released very ____ into the atmosphere- a process that takes many years

Slowly

The burning of fossil fuels since the start of the ________ has dramatically increased the levels of carbon in the atmosphere

Industrial revolution

Fossil fuels release carbon stores very ____

slowly

Burning anything, especially fossil fuels, releases ____ carbon into the atmosphere

more

Increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere increases ______

Global warming

Deforestation: Fewer plants mean less _____ is removed from the atmosphere

CO2

Experimental group

The group you are testing

What is the structure of an experimental hypothesis?

If…then… statement

What is the structure of a null hypothesis?

no effect/ no difference

DRY MIX

Dependent Responding Y-axis / Manipulated Independent X- axis

What is succession?

Refers to a series of events in which life comes back

Climax species

They are what happens after successions

abiotic

non-living things

biotic

living