APES Vocab Quiz 3

second law of thermodynamics

when energy is transformed, the quantity of energy remains the same, but its ability to do work diminishes

source

the origin or point from which a pollutant or environmental impact is released

species diversity

The number and relative abundance of species in a biological community.

continental drift

the gradual movement of the continents across the earth's surface through geological time.

convection current

the movement of a fluid, caused by differences in temperature, that transfers heat from one part of the fluid to another

convergent plate boundaries

A tectonic plate boundary where two plates collide, come together, or crash into each other.

demographic transition

The process of change in a society's population from a condition of high crude birth and death rates and low rate of natural increase to a condition of low crude birth and death rates, low rate of natural increase, and a higher total population.

demography

The scientific study of population characteristics.

divergent plate boundaries

Areas where plates move away from each other, forming either mid oceanic ridges or rift valleys.

doubling time

The number of years needed to double a population, assuming a constant rate of natural increase.

ecosystem service

The process by which natural environments provide life-supporting resources

mid-ocean ridge

An undersea mountain chain where new ocean floor is produced; a divergent plate boundary.

range of tolerance

limits to the abiotic conditions they can tolerate

seafloor spreading

The formation of new ocean crust as a result of magma pushing upward and outward from Earth's mantle to the surface.

species richness

the number of different species in a community