AP Environmental Science Vocabulary Review - Units 1-5

Flashcards for AP Environmental Science review, covering Unit 1-5 topics including biotic relationships, biomes, biogeochemical cycles, biodiversity, ecosystem services, island biogeography, ecological tolerance, natural disruptions, adaptations, ecological succession, species types, population dynamics, human population, plate tectonics, soil properties, atmosphere, wind patterns, geography, climate, El Nino/La Nina, resource management, energy sources, pollution.

Symbiosis

A close, long-term interaction between two species in an ecosystem.

Mutualism

A symbiotic relationship where both species benefit (+,+).

Commensalism

A symbiotic relationship where one species benefits and the other is unaffected (+,0).

Parasitism

A symbiotic relationship where one species (the parasite) benefits and the other (the host) is harmed (+,-).

Predation

A relationship where one species (the predator) benefits and the other (the prey) is harmed (+,-).

Limiting Resource

Any biotic or abiotic resource that controls a population size.

Interspecific Competition

Competition between two different species that is harmful for both and can lead to resource partitioning.

Intraspecific Competition

Competition between individuals of a single species that makes the species' gene pool stronger.

Resource Partitioning

When species use limiting resources in different ways, places, or times to reduce competition.

Climatograph

A graph that shows the temperature and precipitation of a biome.

Chemosynthesis

The synthesis of organic compounds by bacteria or other living organisms using energy derived from reactions involving inorganic chemicals.

Lithification

Rock formation at a plate boundary in the ocean.

GPP

Gross Primary Productivity, or photosynthesis from producers.

NPP

Net Primary Productivity. GPP - Cellular Respiration of Producers.

Autotroph

Primary Producer.

Heterotroph

Consumer.

Species Richness

How many different species are in a habitat.

Species Evenness

Relative abundance of species; determines dominant/rare species.

Population Bottleneck

When an event shrinks a species' gene pool, leading to fewer adaptations.

Generalist Species

Species that can adapt easily to different environments.

Specialist Species

Species evolved and adapted to a specific environment over generations.

Ecosystem Services

Benefits that humans freely gain from the natural environment and from properly-functioning ecosystems.

Provisional Services

Benefits to people that are extracted from nature (e.g., food, raw materials).

Regulating Services

Benefits provided by ecosystem processes that regulate environmental conditions (e.g. climate regulation).

Cultural Services

Non-material benefits contributing to people's development and artistic advances (e.g., recreation).

Supporting Services

Consistency of underlying natural processes that support the ecosystem and all other services (e.g., photosynthesis).

Habitat Fragmentation

When a terrestrial habitat or an island splits or is sectioned off, natural selection creates two different ecosystems over time.

Habitat Corridors

Bridges between fragmented habitats that reconnect them, maintaining genetic diversity.

Edge Species

Species that thrive in habitat transition zones.

Ecological Tolerance

The range of environmental conditions that an organism can tolerate before injury or death.

Keystone Species

Species that hold up and balance the whole food chain and ecosystem structure (e.g., sea otters, beavers).

Indicator Species

A plant or animal that demonstrates some distinctive aspect of the quality of the ecosystem by its presence/abundance/scarcity/chemical composition.

Biomass

The mass of all the biological material in a biome/ecosystem.

r-Selected Species

Typically smaller species that produce large amounts of offspring that typically die out, leaving a few reaching adulthood.

K-Selected Species

Mostly larger species that produce very few offspring, but typically have longer lifespans.

Survivorship

Percentage of a given species still surviving at any given point of that species’ typical lifespan.

Biotic Potential

The maximum reproductive capacity that a species can produce under ideal conditions.

Carrying Capacity

The maximum population size an environment can sustain over time.

Rule of 70

Formula to estimate doubling time: 70 / % growth rate = doubling time in years.

Malthusian Theory

That Earth’s population will exceed carrying capacity and experience a die-back event.

Infant Mortality Rate (IMR)

Deaths of infants out of 1000 births.

Replacement Level Fertility

Average children born per woman that would be required to keep the population constant.

GDP

Gross Domestic Product - Total market value of all finished goods and services produced in a country, divided by all who live there.

Soil Permeability

How much water can travel through the soil.

Water Holding Capacity

How much water does the soil hold?

NPK

Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium - measures the amount of these nutrients in soil.

Coriolis Effect

The way wind moves due to Earth's rotation; goes right in the Northern Hemisphere, left in the Southern Hemisphere.

Watershed

An area of land where all water drains into a central body of water.

Insolation

The amount of solar radiation that an area receives.

Rain-Shadow Effect

Explains the presence of deserts in unexpected locations due to mountains blocking moisture.

El Nino (ENSO)

A regular event that occurs every 3-7 years where surface temperatures are warmer in the Central and South Pacific, with weaker trade winds.

La Nina

Cooler surface temperatures in the Pacific, with strong trade winds.

Tragedy of the Commons

A shared resource is overused or depleted due to selfish individuals.

Saltwater Intrusion

Occurs as a result of overuse of aquifers and wells.

Salinization

Caused by irrigation evaporation leaving behind salt and minerals in the soil.

Integrated Pest Management (IPMs)

Uses multiple approaches to control pests, not solely pesticides.

Overburden

Soil removed when mining.

Spoils

Waste created by mining.

Tailings

Residue from mining operations.

Bycatch

Non-target organisms captured during fishing.

Aquaculture

The controlled cultivation of fish and other aquatic life, usually in high densities.

Overgrazing

Deteriorates grass and biodiversity in rangelands, leading to desertification and soil erosion.

CAFOs

Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations; less land needed but leads to high concentrations of methane and unhealthy conditions.

Cogeneration

When a fossil fuel is used to generate both heat and electricity.

Nuclear Fission

The splitting of a heavy, unstable nucleus into two lighter nuclei.

Montreal Protocol

An international treaty designed to phase out the use of CFCs, starting in 1987 to help the ozone layer.

GWP

Global Warming Potential. A measure of how much energy the emissions of 1 ton of a gas will absorb over a given period of time, relative to the emissions of 1 ton of carbon dioxide.

Endocrine Disruptors

Chemicals that block the endocrine (hormonal) system and can interfere with/mimic hormone production.

Bioaccumulation

The gradual accumulation of substances, such as pesticides or heavy metals, in an organism over time.

Biomagnification

The process by which the concentration of certain toxic substances increases as they move up the food chain.

Eutrophication

Algae bloom (excessive nutrient pollution from runoff).

Hypoxic Waterway

A body of water where oxygen levels are dangerously low.

Oligotrophic Waterway

A body of water with low nutrient levels.

Eutrophic Waterway

A body of water that is rich with nutrient levels, leading to excessive plant and algae growth along with low oxygen levels.

POPs

Persistent Organic Pollutants. Often, man-made chemicals that are highly toxic and stay in the environment for a long time can dangerously accumulate in the food chain.

Sanitary Municipal Landfill

A site designed for the safe disposal of municipal solid waste by burying it in a controlled manner.

Leachate

The liquid that drains or seeps from a landfill, containing dissolved and suspended materials, including toxic substances.

Sludge

Semi-solid residual material that remains after the treatment of wastewater.

Lethal Dose 50 (LD50)

A standard measure used in toxicology to indicate the dose of a substance that is expected to cause death in 50% of a test population.

Dose Response Curve

Illustrates the relationship between the dose of a substance and the magnitude of the biological response it produces.