All vocab (APES)

Sustainable Forestry

The practice of logging trees using sustainable methods, reusing wood, and protecting forests.

Timber Market Value

The economic value of timber.

Lumber

Timber that has been shaped and can be used for paper, houses, and energy.

Ecological Value

The value of trees in providing habitat, preventing soil erosion, helping with soil formation, reducing runoff, and storing carbon.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

A method of pest control that involves removing affected trees and using biological controls.

Prescribed Burns

Used to prevent uncontrollable wildfires by burning up dead material.

Clearcutting

Cutting down trees all at the same time, leading to even-aged stands.

Even-aged Stems

Trees that grow at the same size.

Uneven-aged Stems

Trees that grow at different sizes.

Industrial Agriculture

The application of mechanization and standardization to food reproduction.

Green Revolution

A period of increased agricultural productivity through industrial agriculture.

GMOs

Genetically Modified Organisms designed to be healthier, cheaper, and more productive, but can have cons such as allergic reactions and increased antibiotic resistance.

Irrigation

The process of supplying water to crops.

Waterlogging

When roots cannot get enough oxygen due to excessive water.

Salinization

The accumulation of salt in soil, which is toxic for plant growth.

Flood Irrigation

Flooding the field and letting the water soak in evenly.

Furrow Irrigation

Farmers flow water down small trenches running through their crops.

Spray Irrigation

Pumping water through nozzles for more efficiency.

Drip Irrigation

Slowly dripping water through hoses, buried or on top, for maximum efficiency.

Pesticides

Substances used to control pests and prevent plant damage.

Biocontrol

Using living organisms or their products to control pests, reducing reliance on chemical pesticides.

Sustainable Soil

Practices to maintain healthy soil, such as contour plowing, terracing, strip cropping, windbreaks, and crop rotation.

Dust Bowl

A period of severe dust storms that greatly damaged the ecology and agriculture of the American and Canadian prairies during the 1930s

Organic Fertilizer

Fertilizer made from natural sources, but harder to use and nutrient levels may be unknown.

Free Range

Animals have access to the outdoors, but can overgraze and cause desertification.

CAFOs

Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations, which are cost-efficient but raise ethical concerns and waste issues.

Aquaculture

Cost-effective method of fish production, but can have issues with genetically modified fish and waste.

Overfishing

The excessive fishing of certain species, leading to loss of biodiversity.

Mining

The extraction of minerals from the earth's surface or underground.

Surface Mining

Mining methods such as strip, open pit, or mountaintop removal.

Remediation

The process of restoring a mined area, such as turning it into a recreational area or replanting vegetation.

Urbanization

The process of population growth and development of cities.

Heat Island Effect

Cities have higher average temperatures than suburbs and other areas.

Permeable Surfaces

Surfaces that allow water to infiltrate, reducing runoff.

Overburden

The layer of the earth and rock that is removed to access the materials below

Spoils

Unwanted rock and other waste materials produced when a material is removed from the earth’s surface or substance by mining, dredging, quarrying, and excavation

Tailings

The materials that are left over after the minerals have been extracted from the ore

Gangue

Waste or undesired material in an ore

Smelting

The process in which a desired metal is separated from the other elements in an ore mineral

Selective Cutting

Forestry practice where only certain trees are harvested, allowing the remaining trees to continue growing.

Strip Cutting

A logging method where trees are cut down in long strips, leaving narrow areas of forest intact.

Slash and Burn Agriculture

A method of growing food in which forest land is clear-cut and any vegetation left is burned.

Monoculture

The cultivation of a single crop in an area.

Polyculture

The cultivation of more than one crop in an area.

Symbiosis

A close and long-term interaction between two different species.

Mutualism

An interaction between two organisms where both benefit from the relationship.

Commensalism

An interaction between two organisms where one benefits and the other is unaffected.

Parasitism

An interaction between two organisms where once benefits and the other is harmed.

Predation

An interaction between two organisms where one benefits by killing or harming the other.

Intraspecific Competition

Competition between individuals of the same species.

Interspecific Competition

Competition between individuals of different species.

Resource Partitioning

Species share limited resources by utilizing different resources or occupying distinct niches in an ecosystem.

Terrestrial Biomes

Different geographical regions with distinct climates and vegetation

Rainshadow

A dry area on the leeward side of a mountain range is caused by the loss of moisture as air rises and cools.

Deserts

Biomes that are characterized by hot and dry conditions, with little to no precipitation.

Tundra

Cold, treeless biomes with permafrost and low temperatures.

Grasslands

Biomes dominated by grasses, with varying temperatures and precipitation.

Savannas

Biomes with warm temperatures and distinct wet and dry seasons.

Coniferous Forests

Biomes with cold winters, short growing seasons, and dominated by coniferous trees.

Temperate Deciduous Forests

Biomes with warm summers, cold winters, and deciduous trees.

Tropical Rainforests

Biomes with high temperatures, high rainfall, and rich biodiversity.

Aquatic Biomes

Biomes found in water bodies, including oceans, estuaries, and freshwater ecosystems.

Open Ocean

The vast and deep part of the ocean where sunlight does not reach the bottom.

Photic Zone

The top layer of the ocean where sunlight penetrates, supports photosynthesis.

Aphotic Zone

The deeper part of the ocean with little to no sunlight.

Freshwater Biome

Biomes consisting of rivers, streams, and lakes with freshwater.

Rivers and Streams

Moving water bodies that provide dissolved oxygen for aquatic organisms.

The Carbon Cycle

The exchange of carbon between the atmosphere, oceans, and living organisms.

Nitrogen Fixation

The conversion of atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia by certain bacteria
N2→NH3

Nitrification

The conversion of ammonia into nitrate and then nitrate by bacteria

NH3→NO2→NO3

Ammonification

The conversion of organic nitrogen compounds into ammonia by decomposer bacteria

NH3→NH4

Denitrification

The conversion of nitrite and nitrate back into atmospheric nitrogen by bacteria

NO2→

N2

NO3→

Phosphorus Cycle

The movement of phosphorus through ecosystems, involves weathering, absorption by plants, and return to the soil through decomposition and erosion.

Hydrologic Cycle

The continuous movement of water through evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and runoff.

Primary Productivity

The rate at which plants and other primary producers convert solar energy into chemical energy through photosynthesis.

GPP (Gross Primary Productivity)

The total amount of energy captured by plants through photosynthesis.

Respiration

The process by which organisms release energy from stored organic compounds.

NPP (Net Primary Productivity)

The energy stored by plants after subtracting the energy used for respiration.

Tertiary Consumer

Carnivores, such as lions and killer whales, control lower trophic levels by consuming secondary consumers. They hold the top position in the food chain.

Secondary Consumer

An organism that feeds on primary consumers in a food chain. They are carnivores, or omnivores and occupy the third trophic level.

Primary Producer

Organisms that convert energy from the sun into organic matter through photosynthesis or chemosynthesis. They form the base of the food chain and provide energy for other organisms.

Biomass

The mass of living biological organisms in a given area or ecosystem at a given time.

Decomposer

Organisms that break down dead organic matter, such as dead plants and animals, into simpler substances through the process of decomposition.

Detrivore

An organism that feeds on dead organic material, such as decaying plants and animals.

Scavenger

An organism that eats nearly anything whether it’s dead or alive.

Niche

The role and position of an organism within its environment, including its interactions with other species and its use of resources.

Estuary

A coastal area where freshwater from rivers meets saltwater from the sea, creating a unique ecosystem supporting diverse marine and plant life.

Species Richness

The number of species in a community provides insight into an ecosystem's diversity and complexity.

Species Evenness

Measure of how evenly individuals are distributed among different species in a community. It reflects the relative abundance of each species.

Species Resilience

The ability of a species to withstand and recover from environmental changes or disturbances, ensuring its survival and adaptation.

Regulating (Ecosystem Services)

Ecosystem functions that control natural processes, like climate regulation, disease control, and water purification.

Cultural (Ecosystem Services)

Non-material benefits humans obtain from ecosystems, include spiritual enrichment, cultural identity, inspiration, and recreational experiences.

Supporting (Ecosystem Services)

Essential for the production of all other ecosystem services, providing the foundation for ecosystem functions and processes.

Island Biogeography Theory

A scientific concept explaining species richness on islands based on size and distance from the mainland.

Habitat Fragmentation

The process where large habitats are divided into smaller, isolated fragments, impacts wildlife movement and increases vulnerability to extinction.

Ecological Tolerance

The range of environmental conditions where a species can survive and reproduce influences its distribution and abundance in an ecosystem.

Ecological Succession

The natural process where a community of organisms gradually changes over time, leading to a more stable and diverse ecosystem.

Secondary Succession

Process of ecosystem recovery after a disturbance that leaves soil intact. Pioneer species colonize, followed by diverse species. Slow compared to primary succession.

Primary Succession

The process of ecological succession that occurs in an area where no soil is present, such as after a volcanic eruption or glacier retreat.

Survivorship Curves

A graph that shows the percent of survival rate for different age groups in a population over their lifespan.