AP Environmental Science Exam Review Flashcards

Flashcards related to environmental science topics from a lecture transcript.

Nitrogen Fixation

The process by which bacteria break apart the triple bond of nitrogen gas (N2) and pair it with hydrogen, making ammonia that plants can use.

Rhizobacteria

Bacteria that live in the root nodules of certain plants, like legumes, and fix nitrogen for the plant in exchange for sugars.

Eutrophication

Not defined in the transcript.

Phosphorus Cycle

A slow cycle that involves the weathering of rocks to release phosphates into the soil and water.

Trophic Pyramid

A representation of energy flow in an ecosystem, with producers at the base and decreasing energy at each subsequent level.

10 Percent Rule

The principle that only about 10% of the energy from one trophic level is transferred to the next level, with the rest lost as heat or indigestible biomass.

Carbon Sequestration

The process of storing carbon in a way that prevents it from entering the atmosphere, such as in old-growth forests, the ocean, soil, or wetlands.

Carbon Sink

Any reservoir that absorbs more carbon than it releases.

Ecosystem Diversity

The variety of different ecosystems within a large area, such as a state or country.

Species Diversity

The number of different species in an area, including both richness (total number) and evenness (distribution of individuals among species).

Genetic Diversity

The variety of genes within a population, which increases the likelihood that some individuals will be able to survive environmental stressors.

Ecosystem Resilience

The ability of an ecosystem to return to its original condition after a disruption or disturbance.

Ecosystem Services

The goods and services provided by ecosystems that benefit humans, including provisioning, regulating, supporting, and cultural services.

Keystone Species

A species that has a disproportionately large impact on its ecosystem relative to its abundance; its removal can lead to ecosystem collapse.

Ecosystem Engineer

Species that create, modify, or maintain physical habitat for themselves and other species.

K-Selected Species

Species that exhibit quality over quantity in reproduction. They produce few offspring, invest heavily in parental care, and are often disturbed by environmental change.

R-Selected Species

Species that exhibit rapid reproduction. They produce many offspring with little parental care, and are favored in rapidly changing ecosystems.

Crude Birth Rate (CBR)

The number of births per 1,000 individuals in a population per year.

Crude Death Rate (CDR)

The number of deaths per 1,000 individuals in a population per year.

Rule of 70

70 divided by the growth rate, approximately equals the doubling time.

Total Fertility Rate (TFR)

The average number of children a woman will have in her lifetime.

Replacement Level Fertility

The number of children needed to replace the parents, maintaining a stable population size (approximately 2.1 in developed countries).

Demographic Transition

A model describing the transition from high birth and death rates to low birth and death rates as a country develops economically.

Weathering

The breakdown of rocks into smaller pieces through physical, chemical, or biological processes.

Erosion

The movement of sediments from one location to another by wind, water, or ice.

Soil Permeability

The ability of water to drain through the soil, determined by the size and connectivity of pores.

Soil Water-Holding Capacity

How much water the soil can retain.

Loam

A soil composition with a desirable blend of sand, silt, and clay.

El Nino

A climate pattern characterized by the reversal or weakening of trade winds in the Equatorial Pacific, leading to warmer ocean temperatures off the west coast of South America and altered weather patterns worldwide.

La Nina

A climate pattern characterized by stronger than normal trade winds in the Equatorial Pacific, leading to colder ocean temperatures off the west coast of South America and altered weather patterns worldwide, larger than normal conditions.

Watershed

An area that drains into a common waterway, such as a stream, lake, or ocean.

Riparian Buffer

Vegetation planted alongside streams and rivers to help filter out sediments and nutrients, improving water quality.

Tertiary Treatment

An additional stage of wastewater treatment that removes nitrogen and phosphorus.