APES Review 2/26

Environmental impacts of modern farming practices

Includes soil degradation, water pollution, loss of biodiversity, and increased greenhouse gas emissions.

Advantages of organic farming

Improves soil health, reduces chemical use, increases biodiversity, and produces healthier food.

Disadvantages of organic farming

Can involve lower yields, higher costs, and less availability of some products.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

A sustainable approach that combines biological, cultural, physical, and chemical tools to manage pest populations.

Advantages of Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

Reduces chemical pesticide use, lowers costs, and protects beneficial organisms.

Disadvantages of Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

Requires more knowledge and time, might not eliminate pests completely, and can be complex to implement.

Soil salinization

The accumulation of soluble salts in soil that affects crop productivity.

Effects of soil salinization on crops

Decreases plant growth, reduces yield, and can lead to crop failure.

Prevention and remediation of soil salinization

Includes proper irrigation management, crop rotation, and leaching.

Theory of Island Biogeography

Explains the diversity and species richness of islands based on size and distance from the mainland.

Habitat Fragmentation

The process where large habitats are divided into smaller, isolated fragments, impacting species survival.

Primary Productivity

The rate at which energy is produced by photosynthetic and chemosynthetic organisms in an ecosystem.

Aquatic Biomes

Areas of water, classified as freshwater (lakes, rivers) or saltwater (oceans, coral reefs).

Aquatic Zones

Different layers in water bodies, including littoral, limnetic, profundal, and benthic zones.

Compare Oligotrophic, Mesotrophic, and Eutrophic Lakes

Oligotrophic lakes are nutrient-poor and clear, Mesotrophic lakes are moderately nutrient-rich, and Eutrophic lakes are nutrient-rich and often hypoxic.

Pros of aquaculture

Provides food security, can reduce pressure on wild fish stocks, and can be more sustainable.

Cons of aquaculture

Can lead to habitat destruction, pollution, and spread of diseases.

Pros of catching fish from the wild

Supports wild ecosystems, contributes to biodiversity, and may have lower environmental costs.

Cons of catching fish from the wild

Can lead to overfishing, bycatch, and disruption of marine ecosystems.

Techniques of fishing

Includes trawling, longlining, and netting, which can affect ecosystems by causing habitat destruction and bycatch.

Bycatch

Non-target species captured during fishing operations, often leading to high mortality rates.

Air density at the equator

Less dense due to higher temperatures and rising air currents.

Global wind patterns

Movements of air influenced by the Earth’s rotation and temperature differences, including trade winds and westerlies.

Rain shadow effect

A region with little rainfall due to mountains blocking the passage of rain-producing weather systems.

Thermocline

A distinct layer in a body of water where temperature changes sharply with depth.

Upwelling

The process where deep, cold water rises to the surface, bringing nutrients to the upper layers.

Coriolis Effect

The deflection of moving objects, including winds and currents, due to the Earth's rotation.

Direction of currents in the Northern Hemisphere

Currents move clockwise due to the Coriolis Effect.

Direction of currents in the Southern Hemisphere

Currents move counterclockwise due to the Coriolis Effect.

Factors affecting ocean surface currents

Wind patterns, Earth's rotation, and temperature differences.

Convection currents

Circular movements of fluid caused by differences in temperature and density.

ENSO (El Niño-Southern Oscillation)

A periodic fluctuation in sea surface temperature and atmospheric pressure in the equatorial Pacific.

El Niño effect on climate

Leads to warmer ocean temperatures and can disrupt weather patterns globally.

Compare El Niño and La Niña

El Niño is characterized by warmer ocean temperatures, while La Niña features cooler ocean temperatures.

Solar Insolation

The amount of solar energy received at a given location, influencing seasons and climate.

Dead zones

Areas in aquatic environments with very low oxygen levels, often caused by nutrient pollution.

Formation of dead zones

Caused by nutrient runoff leading to algal blooms and subsequent decomposition consuming oxygen.

Prevention of dead zones

Includes reducing nutrient runoff and improving agricultural practices.

Importance of oceans

Regulate climate, support biodiversity, and provide resources like food and oxygen.

Importance of coastal wetlands

Provide flood protection, water filtration, habitats for wildlife, and carbon storage.

Supporting ecosystem services

Services that maintain ecosystems, such as nutrient cycling and soil formation.

Regulating ecosystem services

Services that regulate environmental conditions, including climate regulation and pollutant filtration.

Provisioning ecosystem services

Services that provide resources like food, fresh water, and raw materials.

Cultural ecosystem services

Benefits derived from ecosystems that enhance culture, recreation, and aesthetics.

Ecosystem services provided by wetlands

Flood control, water purification, carbon storage, and habitat for wildlife.

Ocean acidification

The decrease in pH levels of ocean water due to increased CO2 absorption.

Causes of ocean acidification

Driven by elevated CO2 emissions from human activities like fossil fuel burning.

Environmental impacts of ocean acidification

Threatens marine life, especially calcifying organisms, and disrupts marine ecosystems.

Social impacts of ocean acidification

Impacts fisheries, aquaculture, and communities reliant on marine resources.

Economic impacts of ocean acidification

Costs related to decreased fishery yields, increased remediation costs, and impacts on tourism.