APES All Vocab

Environment

The sum of all the conditions surrounding us that influence life

Environmental science

Field of study that looks at interactions among human systems and those found in nature

System

A set of interacting components that influence each other by exchanging energy

Ecosystem

A community of interacting biotic & abiotic factors

Environmentalism

Social movement that seeks to protect the environment through lobbying, activism, and education

Environmentalist

A person who participates in environmentalism

Environmental studies

A field of study that includes environmental science, environmental policy, economics, literature, ethics, & more

Sustainability

Using Earth’s resources in a way that doesn’t jeopardize future generations from doing the same

Community ecology

The study of interactions among species

Symbiosis

Two species living in a close and long term association with each other in an ecosystem

Biosphere

The region of our planet where life resides

Competition

The struggle of individuals, either within or between species, to obtain a shared & finite resource

Competitive exclusion principle

The principle stating that two species competing for the same limited resource cannot coexist

Resource partitioning

When two species evolve to divide a resources based on differences in their behavior or morphology

Photosynthesis

The process by which plants & algae use solar energy to convert CO2 & water into glucose & oxygen

Predation

An interaction in which one animal kills & consumes another animal

Parasitism

An interaction in which one organism lives on or in another organism

Parasitoids

A type of predator that lays eggs inside other organisms

Pathogens

Parasites that cause disease

Herbivory

An interaction in which an animal consumes plants or algae

Mutualism

An interaction between two species that increases the chances of survival or reproduction for both species

Commensalism

An interaction between two species in which one benefits and the other is unaffected

Native species

A species that lives in its historical range (typically for thousands or millions of years)

Invasive species

A species that spreads rapidly across large areas and causes harm

Biome

The plants and animals that are found in a particular region of the world

Climate

The average weather that occurs in a given region over a period of time

Weather

The short term conditions in the atmosphere in a local area

Terrestrial biomes

Geographical regions of land categorized by a particular combination of average annual temperature, annual precipitation, and distinctive plant growth forms adapted to that climate

Aquatic biomes

Aquatic regions characterized by a particular combination of salinity, depth, and water flow

Habitat

An area where a particular species lives in nature

Permafrost

An impermeable, permanently frozen layer of soil

Temperate / seasonal forest

A biome with warm summers & cold winters with over 39 inches annual precipitation

Temperate grassland / cold desert

A biome characterized by cold, harsh winters, and hot, dry summers

Temperate rainforest

A coastal biome typified by moderate temperatures and high precipitation

Tropical rainforest

A warm & wet biome found between 20° N % 20.5° S, with little seasonal temperature variation & high precipitation

Savanna

A biome marked by warm temperatures and distinct wet & dry seasons

Desert

A biome located at roughly 30° N & S, characterized by hot temperatures, dry conditions, and sparse vegetation

Tundra

A cold & treeless biome with low

Taiga / boreal forest

A forest biome made up primarily of coniferous evergreen trees

Shrubland / Chaparral / woodland

A biome characterized by hot, dry summers and mild, rainy winters

Chemosynthesis

A process used by some bacteria to generate energy by using methane and hydrogen sulfide

Streams & rivers

Freshwater aquatic biomes that are characterized by flowing water

Lakes & ponds

Freshwater aquatic biomes characterized by standing water and a central zone that is too deep for emergent vegetation

Littoral zone

The shallow zone of soil and water in lakes and ponds near the shore where most algae and emergent plants grow

Limnetic zone

A zone of open water in lakes and ponds as deep as the sunlight can penetrate

Profundal zone

A region of water where sunlight cannot reach

Benthic zone

The muddy bottom of a lake, pond, or ocean

Oligotrophic

Describes a lake with a low level of phytoplankton due to low amounts of nutrients

Mesotrophic

Describes a lake with a moderate level of fertility

Eutrophic

Describes a lake with a high level of fertility

Freshwater wetlands

Aquatic biomes that are submerged or saturated by water for at least part of the year, but shallow enough to support emergent vegetation

Phytoplankton

Floating algae that are able to photosynthesize

Estuary

An area along the coast where the freshwater of rivers mixes with salt water from the ocean

Salt marsh

A marsh containing nonwoody emergent vegetation, found along the coast in temperate climates

Mangrove swamps

A swamp that occurs along tropical and subtropical coasts, containing salt tolerant trees with submerged roots

Intertidal zones

The narrow band of coastline that exists between the levels of high tide and low tide

Coral reefs

The most diverse marine biome, found in warm, shallow waters beyond the shoreline in tropical regions

Coral bleaching

A phenomenon in which algae inside corals die, causing the corals to turn white

Open ocean

Deep ocean water, located away from the shoreline where sunlight can no longer reach the ocean bottom

Steady state

When a system’s input equal outputs, so that the system isn't changing over time

Greenhouse gasses

Gases in Earth’s atmosphere that trap heat near the surface

Global warming

The increase in global temperatures due to humans producing more greenhouse gasses

Limiting nutrient

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

Biogeochemical cycles

The movements of matter within and between ecosystems involving cycles of biological, geological, and chemical processes

Reservoirs

The components of the biogeochemical cycle that contain the matter, including air, water, and organisms

Nitrogen Cycle

The movement of nitrogen around the biosphere among reservoir sources and sinks

Carbon Cycle

The movement of carbon around the biosphere among reservoir sources and sinks

Leaching

A process in which dissolved molecules are transported through the soil via groundwater

Respiration

The process by which cells convert sugars into energy & CO2

Exchange

The process by which the ocean absorbs atmospheric carbon, and also releases some of it over time

Sedimentation

The process by which molecules in water precipitate out, building up sediment on the seafloor

Burial

The process by which oceanic organisms die and are buried in the sea bed before they can decompose

Extraction

The process of digging up fossil fuels from the Earth for use as energy

Combustion

The burning of fossil fuels by people, or natural fires caused by lighting & volcanic activity

Fixation

The process that converts nitrogen gas in the atmosphere (N2) into forms of nitrogen that plants and algae can use

Nitrification

The conversion of ammonia (NH4+) intro nitrites (NO2

Assimilation

A process by which plants and algae incorporate inorganic molecules into their tissues

Ammonification

The process by which decomposers break down organic matter, turning the nitrogen into inorganic compounds (such as ammonium)

Mineralization

The process by which decomposes break down organic matter, turning them into inorganic molecules

Denitrification

The conversion of nitrates into nitrous oxide, and eventually nitrogen gas

Phosphorus cycle

The movement of phosphorus around the biosphere among reservoir sources and sinks

Geologic uplift

The process by which geological forces push up ocean layers, turning them into mountains

Weathering

The process by which wind, water, and other forces break down materials

Algal bloom

A rapid increase in the algal population of a waterway

Hypoxic

Low in oxygen

Dead zone

When oxygen concentrations become so low that it kills fish and other aquatic animals

Hydrologic cycle

The movement of water around the biosphere among reservoir sources and sinks

Water table

The maximum limit of groundwater storage

Evaporation

The process of a liquid turning into a gas

Transpiration

The release of water from leaves into the atmosphere

Condensation

Water vapor creating clouds in the atmosphere

Precipitation

Water falling from the atmosphere to land vie rain, snow, silt, and ice

Runoff

The path precipitation takes to streams, rivers, lakes, and oceans

Seepage

Water that soaks into the ground

Percolation

The process of water soaking through the soil towards aquifers

Evapotranspiration

The combined amount of evaporation and transpiration

Aerobic

In the presence of oxygen

Anaerobic

Without the presence of oxygen

Producers / autotrophs

Plants, algae, and some bacteria that use the sun’s energy to produce energy

Cellular respiration

The process by which cells break down molecules for energy