AP Environmental Science - Full Course Final Study

Ecology

study of how organisms interact with each other and their nonliving environment

Ecological Levels of Organization

Organisms → species → population → community → ecosystem

Biomes

large regions characterized by distinct climate and specific life forms.

• may consist of many ecosystems

Ecotones

regions where one ecosystem merges with another, and show characteristics of both ecosystems

Autotrophs

aka producers, make their own food

Photosynthesis

6CO2 + 6H20 + solar → C6H12O6 + 6O2

Chemosynthesis

CO2 + O2 + 4H2S → CH2O + 4S + 3 H2O

Heterotrophs

consumers, feed on other organisms

Aerobic respiration

C6H12O6 + 6O2 → 6CO2 + 6H20 + energy

Anaerobic respiration

aka fermentation, products include methane, alcohol, acetic acid, or hydrogen sulfide

Food webs

made up of many interlocking food chains

Ecological efficiency

where energy stored in biomass transfers trophic levels, 90% of energy lost (thermodynamics)

Gross primary productivity

the rate at which an ecosystem’s producers convert solar energy into chemical energy as biomass

• not counting use of energy by organisms

Net primary productivity

the rate at which producers store chemical energy - the rate at which producers use chemical energy