AP Environmental Science Units 1.1 - 1.3

Symbiosis

A relationship in which two different species live in close association with each other in a long-term relationship

Ecosystem

All of the abiotic (non-living) and biotic (living) components of a given area

Mutualism

A relationship between two species in which both species benefit

Parasitism

A relationship between two organisms of different species where one benefits and the other is harmed. The parasite often lives inside of and using the host as an energy source, although not always.

Interspecific Competition

competition between members of different species, such as lions and hyenas competing for food

Competition

A common demand by two or more organisms upon a limited supply of a resource; for example, food, water, light, space, mates, nesting sites. It may be intraspecific or interspecific.

Resource Partitioning

The evolution of behavioral and physical adaptations that allow two species to reduce their competition for a shared resource

Coevolution

Process by which two species evolve in response to changes in each other. Can often result in resource partitioning or mutualistic relationships

Population

A group of individuals that belong to the same species and live in the same area

Community

All the different populations that live together in an area

Tundra

Very low temperatures, very little rainfall, mostly as snow. Very small trees, a few herbs, mosses and lichens.

Taiga

Also, Boreal Forest - Receives less rainfall than the temperate forests; has long, cold winters; inhabited by one coniferous tree: SPRUCE!; forest floor = moss and lichens; chief animal inhabitant = moose (also black bear, wolf, birds); (Northern Canada and Russia)

Deciduous Forest

A biome with four seasons, plants shed leaves in the fall and grow new ones in the spring. Also called: Temperate Seasonal Forest

Temperate Grassland

a community (or biome) that is dominated by grasses, has few trees, and is characterized by cold winters and rainfall that is intermediate between that of a forest and a desert

Chaparral

A scrubland biome of dense, spiny evergreen shrubs found at midlatitudes along coasts where cold ocean currents circulate offshore; characterized by mild, rainy winters and long, hot, dry summers.

Tropical Rainforest

a broadleaf evergreen forest found in wet and hot regions near the equator. High biodiversity

Temperate Rainforest

The cool, dense, rainy forests of the northern Pacific coast; enshrouded in fog much of the time; dominated by large conifer (pine cone) trees

Desert

An extremely dry area with little water and few plants

Savanna

An area of grassland with scattered trees and bushes - mixed woodland

Climate

Combination of overall average annual Temperature and Precipitation of a biome

Biome

A group of ecosystems with similar climates and organisms

Terrestrial

relating to the land

Nutrient availability

Plants need soil nutrients to grow, so availability determines which plants and how many can survive in a biome.

Decomposition

A chemical reaction that breaks down compounds into simpler products. (more = higher nutrient availability)

Community

All the different populations that live together in an area

Ecosystem

Living and non-living components of an area

Phytoplankton

Floating algae

Profundal zone

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

Benthic Zone

The muddy bottom of a lake, pond, or ocean.

Oligotrophic

Describes a lake with a low level of primary productivity.

Eutrophic

Describes a lake with a high level of primary productivity.

Freshwater wetlands

An aquatic biome that is submerged or saturated by water for at least part of each year, but shallow enough to support emergent vegetation.

Salt marsh

A marsh containing nonwoody emergent vegetation, found along the coast in temperate climates.

Mangrove swamp

A swamp that occurs along tropical and subtropical coasts, and contains salt tolerant trees with roots submerged in water.

Intertidal zone

The narrow band of coastline between the levels of high tide and low tide.

Coral reef

The most diverse marine biome on Earth, found in warm, shallow waters beyond the shoreline.

Coral bleaching

A phenomenon in which algae inside corals die, causing the corals to turn white.

Open ocean

Deep ocean water, located away from the shoreline where sunlight can no longer reach the ocean bottom.

Photic zone

The upper layer of ocean water in the ocean that receives enough sunlight for photosynthesis.

Aphotic Zone

The deeper layer of ocean water that lacks sufficient sunlight for photosynthesis.

Pelagic Zone

Open ocean, very cold, floating seaweed is the only plant because the ocean's floor so far below the surface

Estuary

Where freshwater from streams and rivers meet with salty water from the ocean. Algae, seaweed, grasses, crabs, oysters, waterfowl and manatees live here.

Abyssal Zone

Deep ocean, ranges between 2000-6000 meters below the surface. Very cold, high pressure, chemosynthetic bacteria live near hydrothermal vents

Limnic zone

The shallow zone of soil and water in lakes and ponds where most algae and emergent plants grow.

Limnetic zone

A zone of open water in lakes and ponds.