AP Environmental Science-Unit 1 Important Vocabulary

Biogeochemical Cycles

The movement of abiotic factors between the living and nonliving components within ecosystems; also known as nutrient cycles (i.e., water cycle, carbon cycle, oxygen cycle, and nitrogen cycle).

The Water Cycle

Evaporation, condensation, precipitation, run off, transpiration, infiltration. Humans impact this by storing water in reservoirs, irrigation, deforestation, and putting chemicals in it

Condensation

The change of state from a gas to a liquid

Run off

The draining away of water (or substances carried in it) from the surface of an area of land, a building or structure, etc.

Transpiration

Evaporation of water from the leaves of a plant

Infiltration

Flow of water from the land surface into the subsurface

The Carbon Cycle

The organic circulation of carbon from the atmosphere into organisms and back again. Humans impact this by burning fossil fuels and cutting down trees,

The Nitrogen Cycle

The transfer of nitrogen from the atmosphere to the soil, to living organisms, and back to the atmosphere. Humans impact this by altering the amount of nitrogen that is stored in the biosphere.

Where are the four major areas of water storage on Earth?

Atmosphere, surface water, ground water, and living things

Abiotic Factors

Nonliving components of environment.

Biotic Factors

All the living organisms that inhabit an environment

Habitat

Where an organism lives and any aspect of the location

Niche

Full range of physical and biological conditions in which an organism lives and the way in which the organism uses those conditions

Organism

Any form of life. Belongs to any of the 6 kingdoms

Species

Group of organisms of same type that can reproduce to have fertile offspring

Population

A group of individuals that belong to the same species and live in the same area

Ecosystem

A biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment. All abiotic and biotic factors.

Producers/Autotrophs

Organisms that make their own food from compounds and energy obtained from the environment

Photosynthesis

Conversion of light energy from the sun into chemical energy

Salinity

A measure of the amount of dissolved salts in a given amount of liquid

Plankton

Small, weakly-swimming, free floating organisms

Decomposers

Organisms that break down the dead remains of other organisms

Phytoplankton

Photosynthetic algae found near the surface of the ocean

Euphotic Zone

Surface layer where photosynthesis is usually confined to

Where are nutrients found in abundance?

In shallow and cold waters

Coral Reef

The most diverse marine biome on Earth, found in warm, shallow waters beyond the shoreline. Only in waters 18-30 degrees celsius

Biome

A group of ecosystems that share similar climates and typical organisms

Desert

An area where evaporation exceeds precipitation and usually has little vegitation. Plants are well adapted to prevent water loss.

Grasslands

Usually occur in the interiors of continents in areas too moist for deserts and too dry for forests. Seasonal drought

Savanna

Has warm temperatures year round with alternating wet and long dry seasons. Plants have deep root systems, grasses and shrubs. Grazing animals

Tundra

Treeless arctic or alpine biome characterized by cold, harsh winters, a short growing season, and potential for frost any month of the year; vegetation includes low-growing perennial plants, mosses and lichens

Tropical Rainforest

Found around the equator and has a wet and warm climate year round allowing for the growth of a dense canopy of tall trees. Have shallow root systems. Soil is low in nutrients. 40% have been destroyed

Temperate Deciduous Forest

Forest in a temperate region, characterized by trees that drop their leaves annually

Taiga(Boreal Forest)

Subarctic climate with long, cold, dry winters, and short , mild summers. Dominated by coniferous evergreen trees. Plant diversity is low

Consumers

An organism that obtains energy and nutrients by feeding on other organisms or their remains

Parasitism

A relationship between two organisms of different species where one benefits and the other is harmed

Mutualism

A relationship between two species in which both species benefit

Commensalism

A relationship between two organisms in which one organism benefits and the other is unaffected

Intraspecific competition

Competition among members of the same species

Interspecific Competition

Competition between members of different species

Resource Partitioning

When species competing for similar scarce resources evolve specialized traits that allow them to share resources by using parts of them, using them at different times, or using them in different ways

What two factors are most important in determining the type of biome that exists in an area?

Temperature and precipitation

Coral bleaching

A phenomenon in which algae inside corals die, causing the corals to turn white. When this happens, the habitat for the animals are destroyed

Fresh Water Biomes

ponds, lakes, streams, rivers. **Vital source of drinking water**

The Ocean

a major storage reservoir of carbon

For a primary producer, the main function of photosynthesis is to manufacture

glucose

The two major processes involved in the carbon cycle are

photosynthesis and cellular respiration

The ultimate source of energy for terrestrial ecosystems is the

sun

Tropical rain forest soil

is quickly depleted of nutrients when the forest is removed

competitive exclusion

Strong competition can lead to local elimination of one of the species.

resource partitioning

The division of environmental resources by coexisting species such that the niche of each species differs by one or more significant factors from the niches of all coexisting species. Example: Birds and seed size