APES CHAT CARDS

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90 Terms

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Ecosystem

A biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment.

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Biotic vs. Abiotic

Biotic = living components (plants, animals); Abiotic = non-living (temperature, pH).

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Trophic Levels

Levels of a food chain (producers → primary consumers → secondary…).

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Net Primary Productivity (NPP)

Energy captured by producers minus energy lost via respiration.

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Nitrogen Cycle

Steps: Fixation → Nitrification → Assimilation → Ammonification → Denitrification.

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Species Richness vs. Evenness

Richness = number of species; Evenness = distribution.

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Ecosystem Services

Types: Provisioning, Regulating, Cultural, Supporting.

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Island Biogeography Theory

Biodiversity depends on island size and distance from mainland.

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Natural Disruptions

Events like wildfires, floods, hurricanes affecting ecosystems.

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Carrying Capacity (K)

Maximum population size an environment can sustain.

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R-Selected vs. K-Selected Species

R-Selected: Many offspring, little care; K-Selected: Few offspring, high parental care.

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Survivorship Curves

Type I: High survival until old age; Type II: Constant death rate; Type III: High early mortality.

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Total Fertility Rate (TFR)

Average # of children a woman will have.

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Plate Tectonics

Types: Divergent, Convergent, Transform boundaries.

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Soil Horizons (O, A, B, C, R)

O = Organic layer, A = Topsoil, B = Subsoil.

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Watershed

Area of land where water drains into a common waterway.

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El Niño

Weak trade winds, warmer Pacific waters, disrupted weather.

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Tragedy of the Commons

Individuals overuse shared resources.

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Clearcutting

Erosion, loss of biodiversity, increased CO₂.

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Green Revolution

Increase in agricultural yield through chemicals and GMOs.

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CAFOs vs. Free-range Grazing

CAFOs: Efficient but polluting; Free-range: Better for environment, more space.

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Irrigation Types

Most efficient: Drip irrigation; Least efficient: Flood irrigation.

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Nonrenewable vs. Renewable Energy

Nonrenewable: Coal, oil, natural gas; Renewable: Solar, wind, hydro, geothermal, biomass.

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Energy Return on Investment (EROI)

Ratio of energy output to energy input.

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Coal Power Plant

Burn coal → heat water → steam spins turbine → generates electricity.

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Passive vs. Active Solar

Passive: Uses building design; Active: Uses solar panels and pumps.

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Primary vs. Secondary Pollutants

Primary: Emitted directly (CO, SO₂); Secondary: Form in atmosphere (O₃, smog).

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Photochemical Smog

Formation: VOCs + NOx + sunlight = Ozone.

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Thermal Inversion

Warm air traps pollutants near surface.

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Acid Rain

Cause: SO₂ + NOx → sulfuric/nitric acid in rain.

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Eutrophication

Nutrient runoff → algal blooms → oxygen depletion.

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Dead Zones

Example: Gulf of Mexico; Cause: Excess nutrients and eutrophication.

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Bioaccumulation vs. Biomagnification

Bioaccumulation: Toxin in one organism; Biomagnification: Toxin increases up food chain.

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Solid Waste Types

MSW: Municipal solid waste (trash); Hazardous waste: Toxic, corrosive, flammable.

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Greenhouse Effect

GHGs trap infrared heat in atmosphere.

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Global Warming Potential (GWP)

CO₂ = 1; Methane = 25x; N₂O = 300x.

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Ocean Acidification

Cause: CO₂ + H₂O = Carbonic acid.

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Endangered Species Act

Purpose: Protect species from extinction.

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CITES Treaty

Goal: Prevent illegal wildlife trade.

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10% Rule

Only about 10% of energy is passed from one trophic level to the next.

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Chemosynthesis

Process by which organisms produce energy using chemicals (not sunlight).

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Gross Primary Productivity (GPP)

Total amount of solar energy captured by producers.

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Hydrologic Cycle

Processes: Evaporation → Condensation → Precipitation → Infiltration/Runoff.

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Phosphorus Cycle

Does NOT involve atmosphere.

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Carbon Sink

Stores carbon for long periods.

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Genetic Diversity

Increases a population’s chance of survival under environmental stress.

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Ecological Tolerance

Range of abiotic conditions an organism can handle.

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Indicator Species

Sensitive to environmental change.

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Keystone Species

Has a disproportionately large effect on its ecosystem.

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Specialist vs. Generalist Species

Specialist: Narrow niche; Generalist: Broad niche.

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Ecological Succession (Primary vs. Secondary)

Primary: No soil; Secondary: Soil remains.

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Rule of 70

Formula for doubling time: 70 ÷ growth rate (%).

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Age Structure Diagrams

Broad base = rapid growth, narrow base = declining population.

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Population Momentum

Continued population growth despite falling fertility rates.

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Density-Dependent vs. Independent Factors

Dependent: Competition, disease; Independent: Natural disasters.

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Demographic Transition Model

Stages: Pre-industrial → Transitional → Industrial → Post-industrial.

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Soil Texture Triangle

Determines soil type based on % of sand, silt, clay.

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Earth's Atmospheric Layers

From bottom: Troposphere → Stratosphere → Mesosphere → Thermosphere.

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Coriolis Effect

Deflects moving air/water due to Earth’s rotation.

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Hadley Cell

Global circulation pattern from equator to 30° latitude.

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Insolation

Incoming solar radiation.

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Urban Sprawl

Expansion of urban areas into natural land.

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Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

Combines biological, chemical, and physical pest control methods.

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Slash-and-Burn Agriculture

Destroys forest for temporary farming.

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Aquaculture

Farming of aquatic organisms.

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Drip Irrigation

Delivers water directly to roots.

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Overburden

Top layers removed in mining.

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Peat

Precursor to coal; partially decayed organic matter.

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Hydraulic Fracturing (Fracking)

Extracts natural gas by fracturing rock layers.

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Cogeneration

Uses waste heat from electricity generation.

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Wind Energy

Clean, renewable; best in open, windy areas.

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Geothermal Energy

Uses Earth’s internal heat.

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Passive Solar Design

Design homes to absorb and store solar heat.

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Particulate Matter (PM2.5, PM10)

Tiny particles harmful when inhaled.

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Lead (Pb)

Toxic metal once common in gasoline and paint.

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Noise Pollution

Disrupts animal communication and stresses humans.

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Vapor Recovery Nozzles

Capture gasoline vapors at fuel pumps.

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Scrubbers and Electrostatic Precipitators

Scrubbers remove SO₂; ESPs remove particulates from emissions.

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Thermal Pollution

Warmer water lowers oxygen levels.

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Cultural Eutrophication

Human-caused nutrient input into water bodies.

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Septic Systems

Rural wastewater treatment.

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LD₅₀ (Lethal Dose 50%)

Dose that kills 50% of test organisms.

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POPs (Persistent Organic Pollutants)

Long-lasting, toxic chemicals.

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Clean Water Act

Regulates pollutant discharges into U.S. waters.

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Climate vs. Weather

Climate = long-term average; Weather = short-term conditions.

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Melting Permafrost

Releases methane, a powerful greenhouse gas.

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Invasive Species

Non-native species that outcompete natives.

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Coral Bleaching

Caused by warm water, pollution.

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Carbon Footprint

Total greenhouse gas emissions caused by an individual.

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Montreal Protocol

International treaty banning ozone-depleting substances like CFCs.