AP Environmental Science Vocabulary Flashcards

Flashcards to help review ecosystems and related topics.

Predator

An organism that eats another organism (the prey).

Symbiosis

A close and long-term interaction between two species in an ecosystem.

Resource Partitioning

Using resources in different ways, places, or at different times to reduce competition.

Food Web

A model that depicts the flow of energy and nutrients in two or more food chains.

Trophic Levels

Feeding levels in an ecosystem.

Primary Productivity

The rate at which solar energy is converted into organic compounds via photosynthesis.

Gross Primary Productivity (GPP)

The total rate of photosynthesis in a given area.

Net Primary Productivity (NPP)

The rate of energy storage by photosynthesizers in a given area, after subtracting the energy lost to respiration.

The 10% Rule

Approximates that in transfer of energy from one trophic level to the next, only about 10% of the energy is passed on.

Carbon Cycle

The movement of molecules containing carbon between sources and sinks.

Carbon Sinks

Places where carbon gets stored.

Nitrogen Fixation

The process in which atmospheric nitrogen is converted by bacteria into a form usable by plants.

Phosphorus Cycle

The movement of molecules containing phosphorus between sources and sinks.

Hydrologic Cycle

The movement of water in solid, liquid, and gaseous forms between sources and sinks.

Biome

A biome contains characteristic communities of plants and animals that result from, and are adapted to, its climate.

Freshwater Biomes

Freshwater biomes include streams, rivers, ponds, and lakes and are a vital resource for drinking water.

Marine Biomes

Marine biomes include oceans, coral reefs, marshland, and estuaries.

Biodiversity

Includes genetic, species, and habitat diversity in an ecosystem.

Species Richness

Refers to the number of different species found in an ecosystem.

Island Biogeography

The study of the ecological relationships and distribution of organisms on islands.

Specialist Species

Tend to be advantaged in habitats that remain constant.

Generalist Species

Tend to be advantaged in habitats that are changing.

K-selected Species

Tend to be large, have few offspring, and live in stable environments.

r-selected Species

Tend to be small, have many offspring, and expend minimal energy for each offspring.

Biotic Potential

The maximum reproductive rate of a population in ideal conditions.

Ecological Tolerance

The range of conditions an organism can endure before injury or death results.

Ecosystem Services

Provisioning, regulating, cultural, and supporting are the four categories of these.

Ecological Succession

The gradual change of species diversity after a disturbance.

Keystone Species

A species whose activities have a particularly significant role in determining community structure.

Indicator Species

A plant or animal that indicates certain characteristics or qualities of an ecosystem.

Pioneer Species

The first species to move into an unoccupied habitat during succession.

Ecological Footprint

Compares resource demands and waste production required for an individual or society.

Sustainability

Refers to humans living on Earth and their use of resources without depletion for future generations.

Sustainable Yield

The amount of a renewable resource that can be taken without reducing the available supply.

Overshoot

The point when a population exceeds its carrying capacity, leading to resource depletion.

Survivorship Curve

A line that displays the relative survival rates of a cohort in a population.

Population Growth

Rates can be interpreted from age structure diagrams by the shape of the structure.

Demographic Transition

The transition from high to lower birth and death rates in a country as it develops.

Plate Tectonics

A scientific theory describing the large-scale motion of Earth's plates.

Convergent Boundaries

Occur when two plates collide, leading to mountains, island arcs, earthquakes, and volcanoes.

Divergent Boundaries

Can result in seafloor spreading, rift valleys, volcanoes, and earthquakes.

Transform Boundaries

Formed when plates slide past one another, causing earthquakes.

Soil Formation and Erosion

The breaking down and movement of parent material to form soils.

Water Holding Capacity

The total amount of water soil can hold.

Watershed

An area of land that drains all streams and precipitation to a common outlet.

Rain Shadow

A region of land that has become drier because a higher elevation area blocks precipitation.

Incoming Solar Radiation (Insolation)

The Earth's main source of energy, dependent on season and latitude.

Global Wind Patterns

Patterns resulting from intense solar radiation at the equator, density differences, and the Coriolis effect.

El Niño and La Niña

Phenomena associated with changing ocean surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean.

Tragedy of the Commons

Suggests individuals will use shared resources in their self-interest, depleting the resource.

Green Revolution

A shift to new agricultural strategies to increase food production.

Impacts of Agricultural Practices

Methods for increasing food production that can cause environmental damage.

Irrigation

The largest human use of freshwater is for this.

Furrow Irrigation

Cutting furrows between crop rows and filling them with water.

Flood Irrigation

Flooding an agricultural field with water.

Spray Irrigation

Pumping groundwater into spray nozzles across an agricultural field.

Drip Irrigation

Uses perforated hoses to release small amounts of water to plant roots.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

Methods to control pest species while minimizing environmental disruption.

Meat Production

Less efficient than agriculture; takes approximately 20 times more land to produce the same calories.

CAFOs

Concentrated animal feeding operations used to quickly get livestock ready for slaughter.

Free Range Grazing

Allows animals to graze on grass during their entire lifecycle.

Overgrazing

When too many animals feed on a particular area of land.

Desertification

The degradation of low precipitation regions until they become deserts.

Overfishing

Has led to the extreme scarcity of some fish species, which can lessen biodiversity.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

A combination of methods used to effectively control pest species while minimizing the disruption to the environment.

Soil Conservation

The prevention of soil erosion through methods like contour plowing and terracing.

Rotational Grazing

The regular rotation of livestock between different pastures to avoid overgrazing.

Aquaculture

Has expanded because it is highly efficient, requires only small areas of water, and requires little fuel.

Sustainable Forestry

Methods for mitigating deforestation, including reforestation and sustainable forestry.

Clearcutting

Economically advantageous but leads to soil erosion and increased temperatures.

Nonrenewable Energy Sources

Exist in a fixed amount and cannot be easily replaced.

Renewable Energy Sources

Can be replenished naturally at or near the rate of consumption.

Cogeneration

Occurs when a fuel source is used to generate both useful heat and electricity.

Combustion of Fossil Fuels

A chemical reaction between fuel and oxygen, yielding carbon dioxide, water, and energy.

Nuclear Power

Generated through fission, where atoms are split into smaller parts.

Radioactivity

Occurs when the nucleus of a radioactive isotope loses energy by emitting radiation.

Burning of Biomass

Produces heat for energy at a relatively low cost but also produces pollutants.

Photovoltaic Solar Cells

Captures light energy from the sun and transforms it directly into electrical energy.

Active Solar Energy Systems

Use solar energy to heat a liquid through mechanical and electrical equipment.

Passive Solar Energy Systems

Absorb heat directly from the sun without mechanical and electric equipment.

Hydroelectric Power

Generated by collecting water in reservoirs and using the moving water to spin a turbine.

Tidal Energy

Uses the energy produced by tidal flows to turn a turbine.

Geothermal Energy

Obtained by using the heat stored in the Earth's interior to heat up water.

Hydrogen Fuel Cells

Uses hydrogen as fuel, combining it with oxygen to form water and release energy.

Wind Energy

Uses the kinetic energy of moving air to spin a turbine.

Energy Conservation

Some of the methods for conserving this around a home include adjusting the thermostat and conserving water.

Carbon Monoxide

Classified as an asphyxiant.

Asbestos, dust, and smoke

Classified as particulates.

Radon-222

A naturally occurring radioactive gas.

Acid Rain/Deposition

Due to nitrogen oxides and sulfur oxides from anthropogenic and natural sources.

Photochemical Smog

Formed when nitrogen oxides and VOCs react with heat and sunlight to produce pollutants like ozone.

Catalytic Converter

An air pollution control device for internal combustion engines.

Vapor Recovery Nozzle

Prevents fumes from escaping into the atmosphere when fueling a vehicle.

Wet and Dry Scrubbers

Remove harmful particulates and gases from industrial exhaust streams.

Stratospheric Ozone Depletion

Caused by anthropogenic factors like CFCs and natural factors like ice crystals.

Noise Pollution

Sound at levels high enough to cause physiological stress and hearing loss.

Infectious Diseases

Contagious diseases caused by a pathogen and can be spread through a vector.

Point Source

A single, identifiable source of a pollutant.

Nonpoint Sources

Diffuse and difficult to identify sources of pollution.

Eutrophication

The increase in nutrients in aquatic environments.