APES MIDTERM

What is Hadley cell circulation?

Air circulation starting at the equator, rising, cooling, and drying.

Where does Hadley cell circulation begin?

At the equator (0 degrees latitude).

What happens to warm moist air in Hadley cells?

It rises, cools, and releases precipitation.

What type of climate is found around 30 degrees north and south?

Deserts.

What is a rain shadow?

A dry area on the leeward side of mountains.

How does a rain shadow form?

Warm moist air rises over mountains, cooling and releasing rain.

Which mountain range is an example of a rain shadow?

The Andes in South America.

What happens to air after it passes over the windward side of a mountain?

It becomes cold and dry on the leeward side.

What kind of air is found on the leeward side of mountains?

Cool, dry air.

What are the characteristics of rainforests?

Lots of plants, very wet, very hot, located near the equator.

What defines savannahs?

Grassy, lots of grazers, have rainy and dry seasons, prone to fires.

What are the conditions in deserts?

Hot, dry, plants adapted to avoid water loss, like cacti.

Where are boreal forests typically located?

Very cold, wet, usually below tundras, found in Canada and Russia.

What is a key feature of tundras?

Very cold, dry, near the Arctic Circle, permafrost prevents tree growth.

What characterizes deciduous forests?

Hardwood forests, found in eastern United States, have four seasons.

What are grasslands known for?

Located in the central U.S., good fertile soil, lots of grass and grazers.

What are the characteristics of chaparral areas?

Hot summers, prone to forest fires, common in California.

What determines the location of biomes?

Climate, specifically temperature and moisture levels.

How does moving towards the equator affect climate?

It gets hotter and wetter, with higher rainfall and temperatures.

What are the two main types of freshwater biomes?

Lakes and rivers.

What characterizes eutrophic lakes?

High productivity, lots of algae, and high nutrient levels.

What is oligotrophic lake known for?

Low productivity, low algae, clear waters, often found in mountain ranges.

What defines coral reefs?

High diversity, lots of fish, located in photic zones, made of calcium carbonate.

What are abyssal zones?

Deep sea areas, high pressure, no light, home to specially adapted organisms.

What is the role of phytoplankton in the open ocean?

They perform photosynthesis and are abundant in algae.

What is the littoral zone?

The area near the coastline of freshwater lakes, with plenty of sunlight and plant life.

What is the limnetic zone?

The open area of a freshwater lake, away from the shoreline.

What does photosynthesis do in the carbon cycle?

Pulls carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere.

What does respiration add to the atmosphere?

Carbon dioxide.

What is the formula for glucose?

C6H12O6.

What is nitrogen fixation?

Bacteria pulling nitrogen from the atmosphere using roots.

What is the role of bacteria in the nitrogen cycle?

Bacteria are key components, involved in nitrogen fixation, denitrification, and ammonification.

What is denitrification?

The release of nitrogen back into the atmosphere by bacteria.

How does phosphorus enter the environment from rocks?

Through weathering, where it gets washed away by environmental factors.

What are limiting factors for plant and algae growth?

Nitrogen and phosphorus are considered limiting factors.

What can excessive fertilizers cause?

Eutrophication or algae overgrowth in waterways.

Why is eutrophication a problem for aquatic organisms?

It leads to a lack of oxygen (hypoxia), harming aquatic life.

What is the main focus of Unit 2 in AP Environmental Science?

Biodiversity.

What are the three levels of biodiversity?

Genetic biodiversity, ecosystem biodiversity, species biodiversity.

What is genetic diversity?

Variance of genes or traits within individuals of a population.

Why is high genetic diversity beneficial?

Increases likelihood of adaptation to environmental disturbances.

What does ecosystem biodiversity refer to?

Variance in different ecosystems found in a given area.

Which biome has high ecosystem diversity?

Tropical rainforest.

What is the impact of lower ecosystem diversity on species richness?

It leads to a lot lower ecosystem diversity and supports less species richness.

What are provisioning services?

These are goods provided directly to humans by ecosystems, like wood for furniture.

What are cultural services?

Recreational or intellectual benefits from nature, such as tourism and research.

What is the theory of island biogeography?

It explains species richness based on island distance from the mainland and size.

How does distance from the mainland affect species richness?

Closer islands have higher species richness due to easier migration of species.

What is ecological tolerance?

Ecological tolerance refers to the range of conditions an organism can tolerate before injury or death.

What is the optimal range for human body temperature?

The optimal range for human body temperature is about 97 to 99 degrees Fahrenheit.

What characterizes R strategists?

R strategists produce many offspring with little parental care and reach sexual maturity early.

What characterizes K strategists?

K strategists have few offspring, invest energy in their care, and reach sexual maturity later.

What is Type I survivorship?

Type I survivorship is characterized by high parental care and high survival rates in early life, common in K-selected species.

What defines Type III survivorship?

Type III survivorship has low survival rates for offspring, typical of R-selected species with little parental care.

What is carrying capacity?

Carrying capacity is the maximum number of individuals an ecosystem can support.

What are density dependent factors?

Factors that limit population growth based on population density, like competition and disease.

What are density independent factors?

Factors that impact populations regardless of density, like tsunamis or forest fires.

What is desertification?

The loss of soil nutrients, making it unable to support plant life.

What causes desertification?

Overgrazing on rangelands and nutrient depletion.

What is integrated pest management?

A strategy to reduce pesticide use through crop rotation and natural predators.

What are genetically modified organisms (GMOs)?

Organisms altered to be more resistant to pests.

What is ore?

Rock that contains a profitable amount of minerals.

What is overburden in mining?

The soil removed during the mining process.

What are tailings?

Tailings refer to the mining residue from water used during mining processes.

What are some impacts of mining on land?

Mining disrupts land and habitats, often leaving it bare and without vegetation.

What is bycatch in fishing?

Bycatch refers to unintended organisms caught in fishing nets, such as juvenile fish or marine mammals.

What defines a fishery collapse?

A fishery collapse is a decline of over 90% in a known fish population in a region.

What are some solutions to fishery collapse?

Solutions include laws and regulations, community-based management, and creating marine reserves.

What is aquaculture?

Growing fish in contained tanks or netting areas in the ocean.

What is a major problem with high-density aquaculture?

Waste contamination issues due to fish waste.

What do forests do for soil?

They stabilize soil, prevent erosion, and improve water infiltration.

What is clear cutting?

Clear cutting is the process of cutting down every tree in a forest community, which is effective but extremely destructive.

What is selective cutting?

Selective cutting involves leaving some trees behind to maintain the forest and aid repopulation while only certain trees are cut down.

What is the impact of cattle waste in rangelands?

Cattle waste can lead to eutrophication and further erosion of stream beds.

What are impervious surfaces?

Impervious surfaces do not allow water to seep through, such as concrete and asphalt.

What is the effect of urbanization on runoff?

It increases runoff into sewer drains and waterways, leading to habitat damage and flooding.

What is eutrophication?

Eutrophication occurs when nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus enter waterways, causing excessive algae growth.

What happens during hypoxia in waterways?

Hypoxia occurs when decaying algae consume oxygen, creating dead zones.

What is a consequence of concentrated waste from large numbers of animals?

It can lead to eutrophication.

What is a key topic of Unit 5?

Unit 5 test review.

What is the purpose of the Unit 5 review?

To help with studying for the test.

What should students do to prepare for the Unit 5 test?

Review notes, pictures, and fill in the blanks.

How can consumer choice impact fishing practices?

Choosing not to buy overharvested fish can help reduce pressure on fish populations.