APES Midterm Vocab

Ammonification

The process in which decomposers convert organic nitrogen compounds into ammonia

Commensalism

A symbiotic relationship between two species where one benefits, and the other is neither helped nor harmed

Competition

The interaction between organisms in which individuals of the same or different species strive for the same resources

Consumer

An organism that obtains energy by feeding on other organisms or organic matter

Gross Primary Productivity (GPP)

The total amount of solar energy that producers in an ecosystem capture via photosynthesis over a given period

Limiting Factor

A factor that restricts the growth, abundance, or distribution of a population in an ecosystem

Mutualism

A symbiotic relationship between two species in which both benefit

Net Primary Productivity (NPP)

The amount of energy captured by producers in an ecosystem minus the energy they expend in respiration

Nitrification

The conversion of ammonia to nitrite and then to nitrate by nitrifying bacteria

Nitrogen Fixation

The process by which nitrogen gas (N2) from the atmosphere is converted into ammonia (NH3) by nitrogen-fixing bacteria

Parasitism

A symbiotic relationship between two species in which one benefits at the expense of the other

Predation

The act of one organism (predator) capturing and consuming another organism (prey)

Producer

An organism that produces its own food through photosynthesis or chemosynthesis, forming the base of the food chain

Respiration

The process by which organisms release energy from organic molecules, typically involving the consumption of oxygen and the production of carbon dioxide

Symbiosis

A close and long-term interaction between two different species

Ten Percent Rule

A rule stating that, on average, only about 10% of the energy available at one trophic level is transferred to the next trophic level

Trophic Level

Each step in a food chain or food web, representing a feeding level

Bottleneck

A sharp reduction in the size of a population due to environmental events or human activities, leading to a loss of genetic diversity

Ecosystem Diversity

The variety of ecosystems in a given area, including different types of communities, habitats, and landscapes

Ecosystem Services

The benefits that ecosystems provide to humans, including provisioning, regulating, supporting, and cultural services

Endemic Species

Species that are native and restricted to a particular geographic area

Founder Effect

The reduced genetic diversity that results when a small subset of a population establishes a new population

Generalist

A species with a broad ecological niche, able to thrive in a variety of environmental conditions

Genetic Diversity

The variety of genes within a population or species

Genetic Drift

Changes in the frequency of a gene variant in a population due to random events

Indicator Species

Species whose presence, absence, or abundance provides information about environmental conditions

Invasive Species

Non-native species that, when introduced to a new area, outcompete or disrupt native species and ecosystems

Island Biogeography

The study of the ecological relationships and distribution of species on islands

Keystone Species

A species that has a disproportionately large impact on its ecosystem relative to its abundance

Pioneer Species

The first species to colonize a newly disturbed or barren area in the process of primary succession

Primary Succession

The process of ecological succession that occurs in an area devoid of life and soil, typically after a major disturbance

Resource Partitioning

The division of resources among species to minimize competition and allow coexistence

Secondary Succession

The process of ecological succession that occurs in an area where an existing community has been disturbed but soil remains

Specialist

A species with a narrow ecological niche, typically adapted to a specific set of environmental conditions

Species Diversity

The variety of species in a particular area

Zone of Tolerance

The range of environmental conditions within which an organism or species can survive and reproduce

Age Structure Diagram

A graphical representation of the distribution of age groups in a population

Biotic Potential

The maximum reproductive capacity of a population under optimal environmental conditions

Carrying Capacity

The maximum population size that an environment can support sustainably

Demographic Transition

The shift from high birth and death rates to low birth and death rates in a population

K-Selected Species

Species that have few offspring but invest a lot of time and resources in their survival

Population Momentum

The tendency for a population to continue growing even after replacement-level fertility has been reached

R-Selected Species

Species that produce many offspring but invest little parental care in their survival

Replacement-Level Fertility

The number of children a couple must have to replace themselves in a population

Resilience

The ability of a system to recover from disturbance and return to its original state

Resistance

The ability of a system to remain unchanged in the face of external influences

Rule of 70

A formula used to estimate the doubling time of a population, calculated by dividing 70 by the growth rate

Survivorship Curve

A graph showing the number or proportion of individuals surviving to each age for a given species or group

Atmosphere

The layer of gases surrounding the Earth

Convection Cell

A large-scale pattern of atmospheric circulation in which warm air rises and cool air sinks

Coriolis Effect

The deflection of moving air or water caused by the Earth's rotation

Erosion

The process by which soil and rock are removed from the Earth's surface and transported to another location

El Niño

A climate pattern characterized by warm ocean temperatures in the equatorial Pacific, leading to global weather changes

Insolation

The incoming solar radiation received by the Earth

Permeability

The ability of a material to transmit fluids, such as water

Precipitation

Any form of water, liquid or solid, that falls from the atmosphere to the Earth's surface

Rain Shadow Effect

A dry area on the leeward side of a mountain range, caused by the moist air being lifted and losing moisture on the windward side

Runoff

Water that flows over the land surface and enters rivers and streams

Soil Horizon

A layer of soil with distinct physical and chemical properties

Soil Profile

A vertical section of soil layers, from the surface to the bedrock

Tectonic Plates

Large pieces of the Earth's lithosphere that move and interact with each other

Volcanism

The process by which magma from the Earth's interior reaches the surface

Watershed

An area of land that drains into a particular river, lake, or other body of water

Weathering

The breakdown of rocks into smaller particles through physical, chemical, or biological processes

Acid Mine Drainage

The outflow of acidic water from metal mines or coal mines

Aquaculture

The farming of aquatic organisms, such as fish and shellfish, in controlled environments

Aquifer

An underground layer of permeable rock or sediment that contains water

CAFO (Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation)

A large-scale industrial facility where animals are raised in confinement

Clear Cutting

The removal of all trees from an area, leaving it devoid of forest cover

Drip Irrigation

A method of watering crops by delivering water directly to the roots through a network of pipes, tubes, and emitters

Deforestation

The large-scale removal or destruction of forests, often for the purpose of converting the land to agriculture or development

Fertilizer

Substances added to soil or plants to provide essential nutrients for growth

GMO

An organism whose genetic material has been altered using genetic engineering techniques

Green Revolution

The period of increased agricultural productivity in the mid-20th century, associated with the use of modern technology and crop varieties

Irrigation

The artificial application of water to land to assist in the growth of crops

Overgrazing

The excessive consumption of vegetation by animals, leading to the degradation of ecosystems

Selective Cutting

The practice of harvesting only certain trees from a forest

Slash and Burn Agriculture

A method of farming in which vegetation is cut down and burned before new crops are planted

Tiling

The installation of underground drainage pipes to remove excess water from soil

Tragedy of the Commons

A concept that describes the depletion or degradation of a shared resource (the commons) when individuals, acting in their self-interest, exploit the resource without considering the long-term consequences. This often leads to overuse and the degradation of the resource, as each individual seeks to maximize their own benefit.

Waterlogging

The saturation of soil with water to the point where it hinders plant growth by reducing oxygen availability in the root zone. Waterlogging can occur when soil is excessively irrigated or in areas with poor drainage.

Dependent Variable

In an experiment or study, the variable that is being measured or observed. It is the outcome or response that researchers are trying to understand or predict. It depends on the independent variable.

Independent Variable

In an experiment or study, the variable that is intentionally manipulated or changed by the researcher. It is the variable believed to have an effect on the dependent variable, allowing researchers to observe and measure the impact of changes.

Ecological Footprint

A measure of human impact on the environment, specifically the amount of biologically productive land and water required to provide the resources a person or population consumes and to absorb the waste they generate. It is expressed in global hectares (gha) or acres. The ecological footprint considers factors such as food consumption, energy use, transportation, and waste generation to assess environmental sustainability.