AP Environmental Science Study Guide

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards based on lecture notes from AP Environmental Science, covering key terms and concepts related to ecosystems, environmental interactions, pollution, and climate change.

Abiotic Components

Nonliving components of Earth, such as the atmosphere, hydrosphere, and lithosphere.

Biotic Components

Living components of Earth, including animals, plants, fungi, protists, and bacteria.

Population

A group of organisms of the same species.

Community

Populations of different species that occupy the same geographic area.

Habitat

The area or environment where an organism lives.

Ecological Niche

The role and position a species has in its environment, including resource use.

Competition

Interaction that occurs when two individuals compete for resources in the environment.

Resource Partitioning

Occurs when species can coexist and share resources without conflict.

Predation

An interaction where one species feeds on another, affecting population sizes.

Mutualism

A symbiotic relationship where both organisms benefit.

Commensalism

A symbiotic relationship where one organism benefits and the other is neither harmed nor helped.

Parasitism

A symbiotic relationship where one organism benefits at the expense of the other.

Ecotones

Transitional areas where two biomes meet.

Ecosystem Services

Benefits humans gain from ecosystems, including provisioning, cultural, regulating, and supporting services.

Keystone Species

Species that maintain the biotic balance in a community, contributing to ecosystem diversity.

Biodiversity

The number and variety of organisms found in a particular habitat or ecosystem.

Natural Selection

The process where advantageous traits are passed on to future generations while unfavorable traits diminish.

Genetic Drift

Random changes in allele frequencies in a population due to chance events.

Succession

The gradual process of change in species composition of a given area.

Primary Succession

Ecological succession that begins in a virtually lifeless area.

Secondary Succession

Ecological succession that occurs where an existing community has been cleared but soil remains intact.

Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)

The amount of oxygen a quantity of water uses over a period of time at specific temperatures.

Eutrophication

The process by which a body of water becomes rich in nutrients, often leading to algal blooms.

Photochemical Smog

A type of air pollution formed from chemical reactions between sunlight and pollutants.

Acid Deposition

Acidic substances deposited on Earth as rain or snow due to air pollution.

Anthropogenic Uses of Water

Human-related uses of water, including for agriculture, industry, and household needs.

Thermal Pollution

Water pollution that occurs when human activities cause substantial changes in water temperature.

Pollution Control

Strategies and measures implemented to reduce air and water pollution.

Greenhouse Gases

Gases in Earth's atmosphere that trap heat, including carbon dioxide and methane.

Global Warming

The increase in Earth's average surface temperature due to rising levels of greenhouse gases.

Acid Rain

Precipitation that has a lower pH due to atmospheric pollutants.