Ultimate Guide: AP Environmental Science (copy)

What is an ecosystem?

A community of living organisms interacting with non-living components of their environment as a system through various nutrients and energy cycles.

Define 'species' in biological terms.

Organisms that resemble each other; are similar in genetic makeup, chemistry, and behavior; and can interbreed and produce fertile offspring.

What is an ecological niche?

A particular area within a habitat occupied by an organism, including its role and function within its community.

What is symbiosis?

A close and long-term biological interaction between two different biological organisms.

What does the law of tolerance state?

The existence, abundance, and distribution of species depend on their tolerance to physical and chemical factors.

What is a limiting factor in ecology?

Any abiotic factor that limits or prevents the growth of a population.

What is meant by predator-prey relationship?

A cycle based on feeding relationships where if the prey species multiplies rapidly, the predator population increases until many prey are consumed, and then prey numbers dwindle.

What are the characteristics of a desert?

Deserts cover about 20% of Earth’s surface, occur where rainfall is less than 20 inches per year, and have daily temperature extremes.

Distinguish between 'amensalism' and 'commensalism'.

Amensalism involves one species suffering while the other is unaffected, while commensalism has one species benefiting without affecting the other.

What is mutualism?

An interaction between two species whereby both species benefit.

What defines a biome?

Major regional or global biotic communities characterized by dominant forms of life and prevailing climates.

What is the significance of the greenhouse effect?

It is crucial for maintaining Earth’s temperature by trapping heat that would otherwise escape into space.

Identify one major factor that affects climate.

Temperature and precipitation are the most important determinants of biomes.

Name one impact of urbanization.

Increased pollution and loss of green spaces can significantly alter local ecosystems.

What is the purpose of the Kyoto Protocol?

To reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change.

Describe the process of biological magnification.

It refers to the increasing concentration of a substance in the tissues of organisms at higher trophic levels in a food chain.

What are the main sources of water pollution?

Point source pollution from identifiable sources and non-point source pollution from more diffuse areas.

How is acid rain produced?

When sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides react with atmospheric moisture to form sulfuric and nitric acids.

What is urban sprawl?

The expansion of human populations away from central urban areas into low-density and usually car-dependent communities.

What does the term 'biomagnification' refer to?

The increasing concentration of toxic substances within each successive link in the food chain.

What is primary productivity?

The rate at which plants and other producers generate chemical energy through photosynthesis.

Why are wetlands important?

They support high biodiversity, act as natural water filters, and provide flood protection.

Define 'anthropogenic activities'.

Human activities that impact ecological and environmental processes.

What is the relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem stability?

Higher biodiversity generally leads to greater resilience and stability of ecosystems.

What role do keystone species play in an ecosystem?

They have a disproportionately large effect on their environment relative to their abundance.

What are anthropogenic sources of greenhouse gases?

Sources include fossil fuel combustion, deforestation, and industrial processes.

How do invasive species affect local ecosystems?

They can outcompete native species for resources, leading to declines in native populations.

Explain the concept of 'sustainability'.

The capacity for natural systems and human civilization to coexist by maintaining resource balance without depleting them.

What is the significance of the 10% rule in ecological pyramids?

Only about 10% of energy is passed from one trophic level to the next, with the remainder lost as heat.

Define 'cultural eutrophication'.

The process where human activity increases the amount of nutrients entering surface waters.

What is the primary aim of Integrated Pest Management (IPM)?

To control pest populations in an ecologically sustainable manner.

What is the impact of noise pollution on health?

It can cause sensory hearing loss and result in anxiety, cardiovascular problems, and decreased productivity.

What is meant by the term 'environmental resistance'?

Any external factor that limits the growth of a population.

What is bioaccumulation?

The accumulation of substances, such as pesticides or other chemicals, in an organism.