AP Environmental Science Practice Exam Review Flashcards

A set of flashcards aimed at helping students prepare for the AP Environmental Science exam by covering key concepts and vocabulary.

AP Environmental Science Exam

A standardized test assessing knowledge in environmental science, consisting of multiple-choice and free-response sections.

Section I

Comprises 80 multiple-choice questions accounting for 60% of the final score, with a total time of 1 hour and 30 minutes.

Section II

Includes 3 free-response questions making up 40% of the final score, with a time limit of 1 hour and 10 minutes.

Multiple-choice questions

Questions that have several answer options, of which only one is correct.

Free-response questions

Open-ended questions that require detailed answers and explanations.

Permafrost

Soil that remains frozen for more than two consecutive years, commonly found in tundra biomes.

Ecosystem

A community of living organisms interacting with their environment.

Photochemical smog

Air pollution characterized by the reaction of sunlight with pollutants such as nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds.

Greenhouse gases

Gases that trap heat in the atmosphere, contributing to climate change.

Nutrient cycling

The movement and transformation of organic and inorganic matter back into the production of living matter.

Ecological footprint

A measure of human demand on Earth's ecosystems, representing the number of natural resources consumed.

LD50

The lethal dose of a substance that kills 50% of a test population.

Climate change

Long-term alteration of temperature and typical weather patterns in a place.

Biodiversity

The variety of life in a particular habitat or ecosystem.

Conservation biology

The study of the preservation, protection, and restoration of biodiversity.

Sustainability

The ability to be maintained at a certain rate or level, addressing the needs of the present without compromising future generations.

Eutrophication

Nutrient runoff that causes excessive plant growth and decay, depleting oxygen in water.

Acid rain

Precipitation that is significantly more acidic than normal, often due to pollution.

Carbon footprint

The total amount of greenhouse gases produced directly and indirectly by human activities.

Fossil fuels

Natural fuels formed from the remains of ancient organisms, including coal, oil, and natural gas.

Renewable energy

Energy from sources that are naturally replenished, such as solar and wind.

Biomagnification

The increase in concentration of toxic substances in organisms at each successive level of the food chain.

Trophic levels

The levels of a food chain, representing the flow of energy and nutrients.

Carrying capacity

The maximum population size that an environment can sustain indefinitely.

Invasive species

Non-native species that spread rapidly in a new environment and can cause harm to native species.

Sustainable agriculture

Farming practices that meet current food needs without compromising future generations.

Urbanization

The process by which rural areas become urbanized as a result of population migration to cities.