AP ES U1

aphotic zone

light doesn't reach - permanently dark layer of the oceans below the photic zone

salinity level

% of salt dissolved by water

Estatuaries

Tidal mouths of rivers, where freshwater meets saltwater, vital nesting and feeding habitats for many aquatic animals, where most US fish, shellfish complete part of life cycle, filter sediments and pollutants from rivers, streams, important economically

biomolecules

organic molecules (essential for life processes) which combine to form living organisms; includes carbohydrates, lipids, proteins and nucleic acids

Transpiration

loss of water from a plant through its leaves

phosphorous

found in sedimentary rock, not in air like nitrogen, carbon, & oxygen

water cycle

transpiration -> interception -> infileration -> influencing local climate

sun powers water cycle

evaporation -> transpiration -> condensation -> precipitation -> runoff & infilteration

biotic

living organisms

abiotic

non-living organisms

mutualistic relationship

both benefit from the relationship

commensalistic relationship

one population benefits and one is unaffected

competitive relationship

One party wants to be more successful than another. It is often called a win-lose situation. Firms are rivals

Precipitation

Any form of water that falls from clouds and reaches Earth's surface.

littoral zone

area of a lake or pond closest to the shore

limnetic zone

well-lit, open-water area of a lake or pond

profundal zone

a region of water where sunlight does not reach, below the limnetic zone in very deep lakes

photic zone

sunlight region near the surface of water

Net Primary Productivity (NPP)

NPP = (growth primary productivity) GPP - (respiration) R

biochemical process

photosynthesis & cellular respiration

biochemical cycles demonstrate

conservation of matter

10% rule

across trophic levels

Autrophs

producer

Heterotroph

consumer

biosynthesis

the building of organic molecules by living organisms

chemosynthesis

process in which chemical energy is used to produce carbohydrates/energy

energy flow

producers convert sunlight into food

carbon

enters organisms thru photosynthesis & returns thru cellular respiration

nitrogen

bacteria makes atmospheric nitrogen usable for plants and animals

phosphorous cycle

slow and moves thru soil and water w/o atmospheric involvement

eutrophication

nitrogen and phosphorous overabundant -> rapid algae growth

sulfur cycle

atmospheric process to return sulfur into earth's system

secondary productivity

productivity of a heterotroph trophic level

lentic ecoystem

slow water setting

lotic ecoysystem

rapid moving water

symbiosis

2 organisms living together

Paratism

one organism lives on or in another and harms it

intraspecific

competition between members of the same species

interspecific

competition between members of different species

one way flow

high quality energy f/sun to plant

cycling

matter thru parts of biosphere - closed system

gaia hypothesis

Earth is a self regulating organism

predator prey relationship ex.

grass -> deer -> wolf

Clean Air Act (CAA)

Federal law designed to control air pollution on a national level.

National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)

A 1969 U.S. federal act that mandates an environmental assessment of all projects involving federal money or federal permits.

Clean Water Act (CWA)

U.S. federal legislation that regulates the release of point source pollution into surface waters and sets water quality standards for those waters. It also supports best management practices to reduce nonpoint source pollution

Endangered Species Act (ESA)

the major law in the United States that protects biodiversity

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES)

Treaty ensuring international trade of wild animals and plants doesn't threaten survival of species

Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA)

the federal law that protects public drinking water supplies in the United States

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)

Management of non-hazardous and hazardous solid waste including landfills and storage tanks. Set minimal standards for all waste disposal facilities and for hazardous wastes.

comprehnsive environmental response, compensation, and reliability act (CERCLA)

handle industrial contamination in places where no individual or party will be held responsible + tac on chemical and petroleum industries

Montreal Protocol

phase out of ozone depleting substances.

Kyoto Protocol

controlling global warming by setting greenhouse gas emissions targets for developed countries