APES Unit 1 Review Cards

Review flashcards from Unit 1 of AP Environmental Science as from the online lectures by Mr. Smedes.

What are the three levels of biodiversity?

Ecosystem diversity, species diversity, and genetic diversity.

What does ecosystem diversity refer to?

The number of different habitats available in a given area.

Define species diversity.

The number of different species in an ecosystem and the balance of their population sizes.

What is genetic diversity?

The variation of genes among individuals within a population of the same species.

How does higher biodiversity affect ecosystem health?

Higher biodiversity generally leads to higher ecosystem and population health.

What is species richness?

The total number of different species found in an ecosystem.

What does high species richness indicate?

It is generally a good sign of ecosystem health.

What is species evenness?

A measure of how individual organisms are distributed among different species in an ecosystem.

Why is genetic diversity beneficial?

It allows populations to better respond to environmental stressors like drought and disease.

What is a bottleneck event?

An environmental disturbance that drastically reduces population size and genetic diversity.

How does a bottleneck event affect genetic diversity?

It reduces genetic diversity because the surviving population is smaller and less genetically varied.

What is inbreeding depression?

The increased likelihood of harmful genetic mutations in offspring due to mating between closely related individuals.

Give an example of inbreeding depression.

The Florida panther population experienced inbreeding depression, leading to issues like kinked tails and heart defects.

Define ecosystem resilience.

The ability of an ecosystem to return to its original conditions after a major disturbance.

How does species diversity relate to ecosystem resilience?

Higher species diversity contributes to greater ecosystem resilience.

What are ecosystem services?

Goods and services provided by natural ecosystems that benefit humans.

List the four types of ecosystem services.

Cultural, provisioning, supporting, and regulating services.

How do human activities disrupt ecosystem services?

They can decrease the ability of ecosystems to function, leading to ecological and economic consequences.

What is an example of how land clearing affects ecosystem services?

Clearing land for agriculture removes trees that store CO2, increasing atmospheric CO2 levels.

What is the economic impact of overfishing?

It leads to decreased fish populations, disrupting the ecosystem and affecting fisheries.

What are provisioning services?

Goods/products directly provided to humans for sale/use by ecosystems, such as fish, hunting animals, lumber, and naturally grown foods.

What can disrupt provisioning services?

Overharvesting, water pollution, and clearing land for agriculture or urbanization.

What are regulating services in ecosystems?

Benefits provided by ecosystem processes that moderate natural conditions, such as climate and air quality.

How do trees contribute to regulating services?

Trees sequester CO2 through photosynthesis, reducing climate change impacts and improving air quality.

What human activity can disrupt regulating services?

Deforestation, which reduces the number of trees available to sequester CO2 and filter air pollutants.

What are supporting services in ecosystems?

Natural ecosystems support processes that make human activities less costly and easier, such as water purification and pollination.

How do wetlands contribute to supporting services?

Wetland plant roots filter pollutants, leading to cleaner groundwater, reducing the need for expensive water treatment.

What can disrupt supporting services?

Loss of pollinator habitats and filling in wetlands for development.

What are cultural services provided by ecosystems?

Revenue from recreational activities, tourism, and profits from scientific discoveries made in ecosystems.

How do beautiful landscapes contribute to cultural services?

They attract tourists who pay for park entry, local stores, and camping fees.

What human activities can disrupt cultural services?

Deforestation, pollution, and urbanization.

What is the theory of island biogeography?

The study of ecological relationships and community structure on islands, including actual islands and figurative habitat islands.

What is one basic rule of island biogeography?

Larger islands support more total species due to greater ecosystem diversity and available niches.

How does the distance to the mainland affect species richness on islands?

Islands closer to the mainland support more species because it is easier for colonizing organisms to reach them.

What is adaptive radiation in the context of island evolution?

The rapid evolution of a single species into several new species to utilize different resources and reduce competition.

What is the ecological range of tolerance?

The range of conditions such as temperature, salinity, pH, or sunlight that an organism can endure before injury or death occurs.

What is the optimal range in ecological tolerance?

The range where organisms survive, grow, and reproduce effectively.

What is the zone of physiological stress?

The range where organisms survive but experience stress, such as infertility or decreased activity.

How does genetic biodiversity affect ecological tolerance?

It allows some individuals to have a range of tolerance outside the basic range for the species, increasing resilience to disturbances.

What is an example of a provisioning service?

Fish caught for consumption or sale.

What is an example of a regulating service?

Air filtration by trees that reduces health care costs related to air pollution.

What is an example of a supporting service?

Pollination of agricultural crops by bees and other insects.

What is an example of a cultural service?

Revenue generated from fishing licenses and park fees.

What is the impact of urbanization on ecosystem services?

Urbanization can disrupt provisioning, regulating, supporting, and cultural services by altering natural habitats.

What is the zone of intolerance?

The range where an organism will die due to extreme environmental conditions.

Give examples of factors that can cause the zone of intolerance.

Thermal shock, suffocation, lack of food, water, or oxygen.

How do human activities contribute to climate change?

Electricity generation, transportation, and agriculture release CO2, causing global warming.

What effect does global warming have on tree species?

It shifts temperatures outside their range of tolerance, leading to population decline.

How does global warming affect fish species?

It raises ocean temperatures, shifting them outside the range of tolerance, causing die-offs.

What are natural disturbances?

Natural events that disrupt the structure and function of an ecosystem, such as tornadoes and hurricanes.

What are the three types of natural disturbances based on frequency?

Periodic, episodic, and random.

What is primary succession?

The process that starts from bare rock in an area with no previous soil formation.

What role do pioneer species play in primary succession?

They help develop soil by breaking down rock and contributing organic matter.

What is secondary succession?

The process that occurs in an area with established soil after a disturbance has cleared most plant life.

What characterizes mid-successional species?

They are relatively fast-growing plants that require deeper soils with more nutrients.

What are late successional or climax community species?

Large, slow-growing trees that require deep soils and are tolerant of shade.

What is the relationship between environmental change and evolution?

As environments change, different traits may become adaptations, while old traits may become disadvantages.

What is adaptation in the context of natural selection?

A new trait that increases an organism's fitness, allowing it to survive and reproduce.

What is selective pressure?

An environmental condition that kills individuals without the adaptation.

How does genetic diversity affect a population's ability to adapt?

Higher genetic diversity increases the chances that some individuals will have beneficial mutations.

What is the impact of rapid environmental change on species?

It reduces the likelihood of adaptation, leading to potential migration or die-offs.

What is the significance of the pace of evolution?

The faster the environmental change, the less likely species are to adapt before facing extinction.

How do droughts affect plant species during environmental changes?

Droughts can shift rainfall patterns outside the range of tolerance, leading to population declines.

What is the role of moss and lichen in primary succession?

They grow on bare rock, breaking it down to form soil through chemical weathering.

What is the difference between primary and secondary succession?

Primary succession starts from bare rock, while secondary succession starts from established soil.

What types of species dominate during the early stages of succession?

Pioneer species such as moss and lichen that are fast-growing and sun-tolerant.

What happens to species as environments change?

Different traits may become adaptations, while previously advantageous traits may become disadvantages.

How does the presence of nutrient-rich ash from fire affect secondary succession?

It can enrich the soil, making the process of succession more rapid compared to primary succession.

What is a common characteristic of late successional species?

They are large trees that require deep soils and are tolerant of shade.

What is the ecological significance of migration in response to environmental changes?

Wildlife may migrate to new habitats as a result of natural disruptions, following resources like water.

How do changes in climate affect the timing of biological events?

Climate change can shift breeding and migration patterns earlier due to changes in food availability.