APES CHAT CARDS

Ecosystem

A biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment.

Biotic vs. Abiotic

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

Trophic Levels

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

Net Primary Productivity (NPP)

Energy captured by producers minus energy lost via respiration.

Nitrogen Cycle

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

Species Richness vs. Evenness

Richness = number of species; Evenness = distribution.

Ecosystem Services

Types: Provisioning, Regulating, Cultural, Supporting.

Island Biogeography Theory

Biodiversity depends on island size and distance from mainland.

Natural Disruptions

Events like wildfires, floods, hurricanes affecting ecosystems.

Carrying Capacity (K)

Maximum population size an environment can sustain.

R-Selected vs. K-Selected Species

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

Survivorship Curves

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

Total Fertility Rate (TFR)

Average # of children a woman will have.

Plate Tectonics

Types: Divergent, Convergent, Transform boundaries.

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

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

Watershed

Area of land where water drains into a common waterway.

El Niño

Weak trade winds, warmer Pacific waters, disrupted weather.

Tragedy of the Commons

Individuals overuse shared resources.

Clearcutting

Erosion, loss of biodiversity, increased CO₂.

Green Revolution

Increase in agricultural yield through chemicals and GMOs.

CAFOs vs. Free-range Grazing

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

Irrigation Types

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

Nonrenewable vs. Renewable Energy

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

Energy Return on Investment (EROI)

Ratio of energy output to energy input.

Coal Power Plant

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

Passive vs. Active Solar

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

Primary vs. Secondary Pollutants

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

Photochemical Smog

Formation: VOCs + NOx + sunlight = Ozone.

Thermal Inversion

Warm air traps pollutants near surface.

Acid Rain

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

Eutrophication

Nutrient runoff → algal blooms → oxygen depletion.

Dead Zones

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

Bioaccumulation vs. Biomagnification

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

Solid Waste Types

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

Greenhouse Effect

GHGs trap infrared heat in atmosphere.

Global Warming Potential (GWP)

CO₂ = 1; Methane = 25x; N₂O = 300x.

Ocean Acidification

Cause: CO₂ + H₂O = Carbonic acid.

Endangered Species Act

Purpose: Protect species from extinction.

CITES Treaty

Goal: Prevent illegal wildlife trade.

10% Rule

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

Chemosynthesis

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

Gross Primary Productivity (GPP)

Total amount of solar energy captured by producers.

Hydrologic Cycle

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

Phosphorus Cycle

Does NOT involve atmosphere.

Carbon Sink

Stores carbon for long periods.

Genetic Diversity

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

Ecological Tolerance

Range of abiotic conditions an organism can handle.

Indicator Species

Sensitive to environmental change.

Keystone Species

Has a disproportionately large effect on its ecosystem.

Specialist vs. Generalist Species

Specialist: Narrow niche; Generalist: Broad niche.

Ecological Succession (Primary vs. Secondary)

Primary: No soil; Secondary: Soil remains.

Rule of 70

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

Age Structure Diagrams

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

Population Momentum

Continued population growth despite falling fertility rates.

Density-Dependent vs. Independent Factors

Dependent: Competition, disease; Independent: Natural disasters.

Demographic Transition Model

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

Soil Texture Triangle

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

Earth's Atmospheric Layers

From bottom: Troposphere → Stratosphere → Mesosphere → Thermosphere.

Coriolis Effect

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

Hadley Cell

Global circulation pattern from equator to 30° latitude.

Insolation

Incoming solar radiation.

Urban Sprawl

Expansion of urban areas into natural land.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

Combines biological, chemical, and physical pest control methods.

Slash-and-Burn Agriculture

Destroys forest for temporary farming.

Aquaculture

Farming of aquatic organisms.

Drip Irrigation

Delivers water directly to roots.

Overburden

Top layers removed in mining.

Peat

Precursor to coal; partially decayed organic matter.

Hydraulic Fracturing (Fracking)

Extracts natural gas by fracturing rock layers.

Cogeneration

Uses waste heat from electricity generation.

Wind Energy

Clean, renewable; best in open, windy areas.

Geothermal Energy

Uses Earth’s internal heat.

Passive Solar Design

Design homes to absorb and store solar heat.

Particulate Matter (PM2.5, PM10)

Tiny particles harmful when inhaled.

Lead (Pb)

Toxic metal once common in gasoline and paint.

Noise Pollution

Disrupts animal communication and stresses humans.

Vapor Recovery Nozzles

Capture gasoline vapors at fuel pumps.

Scrubbers and Electrostatic Precipitators

Scrubbers remove SO₂; ESPs remove particulates from emissions.

Thermal Pollution

Warmer water lowers oxygen levels.

Cultural Eutrophication

Human-caused nutrient input into water bodies.

Septic Systems

Rural wastewater treatment.

LD₅₀ (Lethal Dose 50%)

Dose that kills 50% of test organisms.

POPs (Persistent Organic Pollutants)

Long-lasting, toxic chemicals.

Clean Water Act

Regulates pollutant discharges into U.S. waters.

Climate vs. Weather

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

Melting Permafrost

Releases methane, a powerful greenhouse gas.

Invasive Species

Non-native species that outcompete natives.

Coral Bleaching

Caused by warm water, pollution.

Carbon Footprint

Total greenhouse gas emissions caused by an individual.

Montreal Protocol

International treaty banning ozone-depleting substances like CFCs.