AP Enviromental Science

Mutualism

Symbiotic relationship where both species benefits

Commensalism

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

Parasitism

A symbiotic relationship where one species benefits and the other is harmed.

Detritivore

Organisms that consume dead organic matter and waste, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem.

Trophic Level

An organism’s feeding position in a food chain, based on how many steps it is from the producers

Ammonification

Decomposers convert nitrogen in dead organisms and animal waste into ammonium

Resource Partitioning

Species reduce competition by dividing a shared resource by time, space or food type

Upwelling

Wind pushes surface water away, drawing cold nutrient rich deep water to the surface. Creates very high productivity

Eutrophication

Excess nitrogen and phosphorus cause an algal bloom, alage die and decompose, decomposers consume dissolved oxygen; hypoxia causes fish kills

Algal Bloom

Rapid growth of algae fueled by excess nutrients. Algae blocks sunlight from submerged plants and leads to oxygen depletion when it dies off

Transpiration

Water evaporating out of plant leaves as vapor, moving water from soil back into the atmosphere

Nitrogen Fixation

Conversion of atmospheric nitrogen gas into ammonia, a usable form. Done by BACTERIA or LIGHTNING

Nitrification

Bacteria converts ammonium into NITRITE then into NITRATE, the form plants absorb most easily

Infiltration

Water soaking downward from the surface into the soil;

Biome

A large geographic region defined by it’s temperature and precipitation , supporting a distinct community of plants and animals.

Leaching

Nutrients dissolve and are carried down through soil by water. Higher rainfall = more leaching = soil is nutrient poor

Estuary

Where freshwater river meets the salty ocean, creating a brackish water. Extremely productive; serves as a nursery for fish and shellfish

Specialist Species

Narrow niche: few food sources or specific habitat. Thrives in stable conditions, highly vulnerable to change

Denitrification

Anaerobic Bacteria convert nitrate back into nitrogen gas, returning it to the atmosphere. completes the cycle

Decomposer

Bacteria and fungi that chemically break down dead organic matter, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem

Decomposition

Decomposers break down dead organic matter, releasing stored carbon and nutrients back into the soil and atmosphere

10% Rule

Only about 10 percent of the energy at one trophic level transfers to the next. The other 90 percent is lost as heat, waste and movement

Permafrost

Permanently frozen subsoil found in tundra. Stores large amounts of carbon; thawing releases carbon dioxide and methane

Food Web

A model of interconnected food chains showing the multiple feeding relationships in an ecosystem