APES Semester 1

Carbon Cycle

The movement of carbon across the Earth, involving the regulation and conversion of CO2 through processes such as photosynthesis and cellular respiration.

Greenhouse Effect

The process by which energy from the sun is trapped in the form of heat by greenhouse gases, such as water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide, regulating the temperature of the Earth.

Global Warming Potential (GWP)

The potential impact of greenhouse gases on climate change.

Keystone Species

A species that plays a large role in its ecosystem despite being low in population, and removing it can have devastating effects on the ecosystem.

Ecosystem

A particular location on Earth with interacting biotic and abiotic components.

Predator-Prey Relationship

A relationship in which one animal kills and consumes another animal for food.

Symbiotic Relationship

A relationship between two species in which at least one species benefits.

Resource Partitioning

The division of limited resources among organisms to reduce competition.

Terrestrial Biomes

Geographic regions characterized by certain climates and diverse presence of plants and animals on land.

Freshwater Biomes

Biomes characterized by low salinity and the presence of lakes, ponds, rivers, and streams.

Marine Biomes

Biomes characterized by high salinity and the presence of oceans, coral reefs, and estuaries.

Watershed

A channel that concentrates runoff to the main discharge point, influenced by factors such as size, length, slope, and plant life.

Global Wind Patterns

Patterns of air circulation influenced by the uneven distribution of heat and solar radiation on Earth.

Endangered Species

Organisms at risk of extinction due to factors such as reduction in population, restricted geographic range, and small population size.

Generalist Species

Species with a broad niche that can easily adapt to various environmental conditions.

Specialist Species

Species with a narrow niche and specific needs to survive, vulnerable to environmental change.

K-selected Species

Species with a low rate of reproduction and high investment in individual offspring, adapted to stable environments.

R-selected Species

Species with a high rate of reproduction and low investment in individual offspring, adapted to environments with scarce resources.

Trophic Levels

Different levels in an ecosystem's food chain, including producers, primary consumers, secondary consumers, and tertiary consumers.

Law of Thermodynamics

Energy is lost as we move up through trophic levels, with less than 10% of energy remaining as you move up trophic levels.

Mutualistic

Both animals benefit from interactions.

Commensalism

One benefits and the other is unaffected.

Parasitic

One gets harmed and one benefits.

Predator-prey relationship

One kills and consumes another animal.

Competition

Occurs when animals must share a limited resource.

Law of conservation of energy

In a closed system, energy cannot be created or destroyed.

Energy transformations

Always result in losses to waste heat (second law of thermodynamics).

10% rule

Only 10% of energy is passed onto the next trophic level.

Food chain

Describes how different organisms in an ecosystem depend on each other and how energy is transferred linearly.

Food webs

Observe trophic cascades.

Trophic cascade

Series of events in an ecosystem that occurs when a predator has an impact on the population of organisms that are lower in the food chain.

Negative feedback loop

When a system responds to change by trying to return to its original state or by attempting to decrease the rate at which the change is occurring.

Prevent a single species from being too dominant.

Positive feedback loop

Change always continues to increase.

Introduction of an invasive species

Usually causes negative effects.

Biodiversity

Variety of different species of plants, animals, and other living organisms that exist in a particular ecosystem.

Genetic diversity

Increases adaptability and resilience of a species.

Bottleneck effect

Reduction in size of a population due to a factor decreasing the number of individuals.

Species diversity

Less vulnerable to collapse if exposed to extreme ecosystem change.

Habitat diversity

Variety of different habitats in a particular geographic area.

Ecosystem richness

How many different species inhabit the ecosystem.

Simpson's Diversity Index

Used to calculate richness (0 to 1).

Evenness

Measure of how population sizes of each species compare.

Ecosystem resilience

How quickly an ecosystem can recover after a disturbance.

Ecosystem services

Naturally occurring benefits we obtain from ecosystems.

Provisioning

Products ecosystem provides (water, timber, food).

Regulating

Benefits that ecosystems provide in terms of regulation (climate, water purification, pest control).

Cultural

Recreational, aesthetic, and spiritual.

Supporting

Services that ecosystems provide that support the other three categories (soil formation, nutrient cycling).

Invasive species

Non-native species that is introduced to a new area and has the ability to establish a population and spread, causing harm to native ecosystems.

Physical removal

Manually remove populations of invasive species.

Chemical growth

Pesticides to kill growth of invasive species.

Biological control

Introducing natural predators.

Habitat modification

Altering the environment to make it less suitable for invasive species.

Bioaccumulation

Toxins/pollutants become more concentrated as they move up the food chain.

Bioaccumulation can lead to the accumulation of toxic substances in the tissues of organisms at the top of the food chain.

Biomagnification

Certain substances build up in the tissues of living organisms over time.

Carrying capacity

Maximum population size of a species that can be sustained given resources available in the environment.

Population can overshoot carrying capacity, leading to negative consequences.

Invasive species

Non-native species that is introduced to a new area and has the ability to establish a population and spread, causing harm to native ecosystems.

Physical removal

Manually remove populations of invasive species.

Chemical growth

Pesticides to kill growth of invasive species.

Biological control

Introducing natural predators.

Habitat modification

Altering the environment to make it less suitable for invasive species.

Ozone layer

Absorbs harmful UV radiation from the sun and reduces radiation that reaches the troposphere.

Ozone layer was damaged by the use of CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons).

Montreal Protocol

Phase out the production of chemicals responsible for the depletion of the ozone layer.

Earth's atmosphere

Mostly composed of oxygen and nitrogen.

Ozone absorbs incoming electromagnetic radiation from the sun, decreasing health effects like cancer and cataracts.

Nitrogen cycle

Process by which nitrogen is exchanged between the atmosphere, land, and water.

Nitrogen fixation

Conversion of nitrogen gas into a form that can be used by plants and animals.

Nitrification

Conversion of ammonia and other compounds into nitrite and then nitrate.

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Soil erosion

The removal of topsoil by water or wind, which diminishes soil quality and agricultural productivity.

Heavy tiling

A practice that can cause soil erosion.

Monocropping

The practice of growing only one species of crop, which causes a decrease in biodiversity.

Irrigation

The use of water in organized ways to promote healthy and efficient crop growth.

Spray irrigation

A method of irrigation that distributes water from a central location using sprinklers, which is more efficient and has less water loss.

Flood irrigation

A method of irrigation that spreads water over the field's surface, which is less efficient and environmentally friendly with more water loss.

Furrow irrigation

A method of irrigation that utilizes trenches between crop rows, which is inexpensive but results in water loss.

Drip irrigation

A method of irrigation that provides water directly to plant roots through a perforated hose, which is the most efficient with minimal water loss but is costly.

Salinization

The buildup of salts in the soil as water evaporates, which is detrimental to soil health.

Aquifers

Natural underground storage areas for groundwater.

Transpiration

The process by which plants draw groundwater from roots up to their leaves.

Permeability

The ability of groundwater to penetrate soil.

Runoff

Water that flows over the land surface and recharges surface waters, but can carry pollutants to water sources.

Waterlogging

A condition where soil becomes saturated, preventing water from entering pores and stunting or killing plants.

Saltwater intrusion

The seepage of saltwater into groundwater due to excessive pumping near the coast, lowering water table pressure.

Cone of depression

A cone-shaped area that forms when the water table is lowered by pumping, depleting water resources.

Pesticide

A spray or chemical used on crops to protect against harmful species, but can be toxic to non-targeted species and contaminate soil and runoff.

Herbicide

A pesticide targeted towards vegetation.

Fungicides

Chemicals used to control fungal infections in plants, seeds, or soil.

Rodenticides

Chemicals designed to kill rodents such as mice and rats.

Insecticides

Chemicals used to kill or repel insects.

Soil horizons

Different layers of soil with varying properties and nutrients.

Water-holding capacity

The amount of water soil can absorb given the effects of gravity.

Porosity

The measure of how porous soil is, indicating the amount of empty space.

Permeability

The ability of nutrients and water to move down the soil horizons.

Fertility

The nutrient levels and ability of soil to support vegetation.

Soil pH

A measure of how acidic or basic a soil is, influenced by acid rain and cation exchange.