APES EXAM REVIEW SUPER SET

Ap test

Ecosystem

a location of interacting biotic and abiotic components.

Producer

An organism that can make its own food by using energy from its surroundings (autotroph) such as though photosynthesis (phototroph) or other metabolic reactions (chemotroph).

Photosynthesis

process by which producers convert water and carbon dioxide into glucose and oxygen using energy from the sun.

Cellular Respiration

Process by which cells convert glucose and oxygen into energy (ATP), carbon dioxide, and water.

Consumer

organism that must obtain its energy by eating other organisms (herbivore, omnivore, carnivore, insectivore, detritivore)

Primary Consumer

organism that must obtain energy by consuming producers (herbivore or omnivore)

Secondary Consumer

An organisms that eats primary consumers (omnivore, carnivore or insectivore)

Tertiary Consumer

An organism that eats secondary consumers.

Food Chain

A sequence of consumption from producers through consumers- following the flow of energy

Food Web

complex model displaying the possible pathways of energy and matter through an ecosystem

Scavengers

consumer that consumes dead animals

Detritivores

organism that specializes in breaking down dead plant or animal tissues

Decomposers

fungi or bacteria that recycle nutrients from dead tissues and wastes back into an ecosystem

Gross Primary Productivity (GPP)

the total amount of biomass produced via photosynthesis over a given amount of time

Net Primary Productivity (NPP)

the energy captured by producers in an ecosystem minus the energy producers use to live (energy left for the consumers).

Ecological Efficiency

the proportion of consumed energy that can be passed from one trophic level to another (average is 10%).

Trophic Pyramid

a representation of the distribution of energy and the relationship among trophic levels- producers at the bottom, moving up to primary and secondary consumers.

Biosphere

The region of out planet where life resides, the combination of all ecosystems on Earth.

Biogeochemical Cycles

the movements of matter within and between ecosystems (also called nutrient cycles)

Hydrologic Cycle

the movement of water through the biosphere (water cycle)

Transpiration

the release of water from leaves during photosynthesis

Evapotranspiration

the combined amount of evaporation and transpiration.

Runoff

water that moves across the land surface and into streams and rivers

Carbon Cycle

the flow of carbon through the environment. Carbon is the backbone of all organic molecules. Reservoir or sink is the Ocean and biomass.

Nitrogen Cycle

the flow of nitrogen through the environment. Requires many bacteria to transform its states. The reservoir or sink is the atmophere (78% N2)

Macronutrients

The key elements that organisms need in relatively large amounts: Mostly (CHNOPS) nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and sulfur- also Ca, K and Mg

Limiting Nutrient

a nutrient required for the growth of an organism but available in a lower quantity than other nutrients

Nitrogen Fixation

a process by which soil bacteria (associated with legume roots) can convert nitrogen gas molecules N2 directly into ammonia NH3. Lightning can also N2-->NO3

Leaching

the transportation of dissolved molecules through the soil via groundwater

Phosphorus Cycle

the flow of phosphorus through the environment. P is macronutrient used for ATP, cell membranes and DNA.

Watershed

all land in a given landscape that drains into a particular stream, river, lake, or wetland

Precipitation

Rain, hail, sleet or snow….water returning from atmosphere to land.

Infiltration/percolation

The movement of water into the ground through soil and spaces in rock.

Aquifer

A underground storage of water; groundwater

Combustion

The combination with O2 to burn up a material such as fossil fuel or wood. Releasing gases such as COx, SOx, and NOx

Deforestation

The removal of forests in large areas for timber and land clearing (farms and development).

CaCO3 (Calcium carbonate)

Found in shells of sea animals -- and once sedimentation has occurred in limestone.

Plant Assimilation

Also known as uptake. The process by which plants can take in nutrients from the soil: H2O, NO3, NH4, PO4, SO4

Denitrification

Process in which soil bacteria (denitrifying bacteria) convert NO3 back into atmospheric Nitrogen (N2O and N2)

Ammonification (Decomposition)

Process in which soil bacteria convert decaying organic material into NH4 (ammonium)

Cultural eutrophication

When an excess of Nitrates and Phosphates end up in aquatic systems (from fertilizer, sewage, detergents, etc.) Causes 3 step: Algal bloom--> bacterial bloom -->hypoxic- causing consumer/fish death

Sulfur cycle

Movement of sulfur through biosphere. Sulfur is macronutrient, part of structure of come amino acids and vitamins. It is released through combustion and becomes part of smog and acid rain.

hypoxic

dangerously reduced level of dissolved oxygen (DO) in water. Causes fish death/most consumers

fertilizer

any substance such as manure or a man-made mix containing nitrates and phosphates used to make plants/crops grow better

anerobic respiration

The chemical breakdown of food without oxygen. Also called fermentaiton.

Symbiosis

A relationship in which two different organisms live in close association with each other (mutualism, commensalism, parasitism).

competition

the struggle between organisms to survive in a habitat with limited resources

Pathogen

An organism that causes disease

parasite

An organism that lives on or in a host and causes harm to the host

resource partitioning

the differentiation of niches that enables similar species to coexist in a community

climate

The average weather conditions in an area over a long period of time

ocean acidification

when CO2 dissolves in seawater, it reacts with water to form carbonic acid, which lowers ocean pH. This in turn effects organisms which shells made of CaCO3.

sample size

the number of times a measurement is replicated in data collection, or number of individuals in a study.

Replication

repeating the essence of a research study, to see whether the basic finding extends to other participants and circumstances

null hypothesis

a statement or idea that can be falsified, or proved wrong

non-point source pollution

Are diffused and can therefore be difficult to identify, such as pesticide spraying and urban runoff.

point source pollutant

Single, identifiable source of pollutant, such as a smokestack or waste disposal discharge pipe.

range of tolerance

the limits to the abiotic conditions that a species can tolerate

oxygen sag curve

is a plot of dissolved oxygen levels versus the distance from a source of pollution.

Oil Spill Mitigation Strategies

Clean up by burning, physical removal (Skimmers), chemical dispersants. Block spread using burms and floats.

endocrine disruptors

chemicals that interfere with endocrine (hormonal) systems of animals. Endocrine disruptors bind to cell receptors meant for natural hormones, either blocking or amplifying the effects of the hormone.

Lead

found in old pipes and old paint and its a neurotoxin and endocrine disrupter.

Wetlands

Areas with soil submerged/saturated plants in water for at least part of the year, but shallow enough for emergent plants.

dead zone

In a body of water, an area with extremely low oxygen concentration (Hypoxic) and very little life.

algal bloom

The rapid growth of a population of algae

Biological Oxygen Demand

measure of the amount of dissolved oxygen needed by aerobic decomposers to break down organic materials

Culturual Eutrophication

Due to increased Nutrients into water (N + P)
Increased plankton (algae) - algal blooms blanket water surface - increase in total biomass - increase in dead organic matter - increase bacteria and increased BOD - decline in dissolved O2 levels.

Thermal pollution

is a sudden increase or decrease in temperature of a natural body of water by human influence.

persistent organic pollutants (POPs)

Chemical compounds that persist in the environment and retain biological activity for a long time. (ie. DDT, PCBs, Dioxins)

PCBs

synthetic chemicals containing chlorine that are used in the manufacture of plastics and other industrial products. Endocrine disruptor, bioaccumulates in fat, biomagnifies in ecosystem.

Clean Water Act (CWA)

Establishes and maintains goals and standards for U.S. surface water quality for sage fishing and recreation. Regulates point source pollution.

Safe Drinking Water Act (1974)

Establishes drinking water standards for tap water safety, and requires rules for groundwater protection from underground injection.

CERCLA (Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, & Liabilty Act)

Also called the Superfund Act to clean up uncontrolled or abandoned hazardous-waste sites as well as accidents, spills, and other emergency releases of pollutants and contaminants into the environment. And the transportation of the hazardous waste. Works first legally to require the cleaning up, if this is not possible funding can be used to remediate the area.

Bioaccumulation

The build up of a persistent substance, such as a heavy metal or POP, in various tissues of a living organism.

Biomagnification

accumulation of persistant pollutants at successive levels of the food chain

Steps of wastewater treatment/sewage treatment

-Primary(physical removal of large debris)
-Secondary(biological breakdown of organic matter)
-Tertiary(chemical process of removing remaining pollutants)
-Disinfection(treated water is exposed to disinfectants)

effluent

liquid waste or sewage discharged into a river or the sea.

LD50

the amount of a chemical that kills 50% of the population being tested. Measured with dose response curve of bioassay results.

dysentery and cholera

caused by human or animal fecal contamination of food or water. Causes intestinal inflammation

mesothelioma

Caused by inhaled asbestos fibers and causes shortness of breath and chest pain

infectious disease

A disease that is caused by a pathogen and that can be spread from one individual to another. (Such as virus or bacteria)

non-infectious disease

a disease that cannot spread from one person to another (such as asthma or diabetes)

Vectors

Living organisms capable of carrying and transmitting infectious pathogens to other organisms.

Bubonic Plague

Caused by bacterium in the (vector) flea bite, these fleas are often spread by rotents (rats and ground squirrels). Lead to swollen lymph nodes.

Tuberculosis

An infectious disease that may affect almost all tissues of the body, especially the lungs. caused by bacterium. Can be treated with antibiotics (there are some antibiotic resistant strains).

Malaria

A plasmodium disease spread through vector mosquitoes implanting parasites in the blood. Attacks red blood cells.

SARS

severe acute respiratory syndrome (virus)

COVID-19

A contagious viral respiratory disease that may cause serious complications, especially in people who are more than 60 years old and/or who already have serious health concerns.

DO (Dissolved Oxygen)

The amount of oxygen freely available in water and necessary for aquatic life. (Decreases as BOD increases, and/or temperature increases)

Solid Sludge

Byproduct of wastewater treatment, can be used as ground cover, fertlizer and energy in a methane digester.

methane digester (biodigester)

uses anaerobic bacteria to break down animal waste and organic/food scraps to produce methane gas.--used to generate electricity or produce heat.

septic system

A relatively small and simple sewage treatment system, made up of a septic tank and a leach field, often used for homes in rural areas.

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)

Management of non-hazardous and hazardous solid waste including landfills and storage tanks. Set minimal standards for all waste disposal facilities and for hazardous wastes.

Ewaste

refers to discarded, obsolete, or broken electronic devices. Problematic because of the the number of heavy metals and toxic parts.

Incineration

The process of burning waste materials to reduce volume and mass, sometimes to generate electricity or heat. Produces harmful air pollution.

sanitary landfull

A place to deposit solid waste, with a impermable bottom layer and leachate collection system. Where a layer of earth is bulldozed over garbage each day to reduce emissions of gases and odors from the decaying trash, to minimize fires, and to discourage vermin.

Mercury

Hg- Heavy metal that is a bioacculating/biomagnifying/neurotoxin. Released from coal burning and mining processes.

Turbidity

Water Quality Indicator
the amount of suspended material/sediment in water; used to measure cloudiness of water.

Leachate

polluted liquid produced by water passing through buried wastes in a landfill

closed-loop recycling

Recycling process in which a product is recycled to become the same type of product (Such as glass or aluminum)