APES Final Review

Biogeochemical Cycles

The natural processes that recycle materials in various forms between the nonliving environment and living organisms

Hydrologic Cycle

Water cycles through the biosphere

Atmospheric Cycles

Elements cycle through the atmosphere often times with a large portion of the element existing in a gaseous forms in said atmosphere

Sedimentary Cycles

Elements cycle through the Earth's lithosphere, often times with little to none of the element existing in a gaseous phase

Keystone Species

A species essential to an environment's maintenance, without them the environment would fall apart.

Niche

The way an animal lives in its environment; it's role

Tragedy of the Commons

When everybody has unrestrained access to a limited resource, oftentimes the supply and quality of that resource degrades.

Mass extinctions

When a large majority of the Earth's species or population dies out at once.

Gene Flow

The movement of individuals and their genes from one area to another

Trophic Levels

Levels that define how much energy a species gets from its food source, based on it's role/predation tier in the ecosystem

Species Richness

The # of species that exist within an area

Adaptive Radiation

When a singular species rapidly evolves into multiple different ones, often times to fill gaps left in niches

Indicator Species

A species that is able to essentially notify you as to the current quality of the environment they live in

Limiting Factor Principle

Too many or too few of an abiotic element in an ecosystem can limit the growth of populations

First Law of Thermodynamics

When matter is converted from one form to another no energy is created or destroyed

Second Law of Thermodynamics

When converted from one form to another, some energy degrades in quality meaning less energy is useable

Introduced Species

When a species not naturally belonging to an area, is brought in and let free

Convergent Evolution

When two separate species experience similar or the same evolutions leading to similar traits

Gaia Hypothesis

The Earth is made up of numerous parts and is "living" therefore it is able to self-regulate

Symbiotic Relationships

A relationship in which two organisms benefit each other

J-Shaped Survivorship Curve

A curve in which the population shoots over the K and then suffer a population crash

S-shaped Survivorship Curve

A curve in which the population shoots slightly over K and drops down to right K

Rule of 70

Can be used to determine how long a population will take to x2, 70/x.xx%

Shannon Diversity Index

A formula that is able to determine the diversity of a community, through abundance and evenness

Demographic Transition

A concept that states as countries industrialize they follow stages

Preindustrial Stage

High birth rate, and high death rate. Little pop. growth

Transitional Stage

Death rates drop, but birth rates stay high. Extreme pop. growth

Industrial Stage

Death rates remain low, and birth rates drop. Mid level pop. growth

PostIndustrial Stage

Death rates remain low, birth rates decline more. No pop. growth

Limiting Factors

Environmental factors that limit/restrict the growth of a population

Population Dispersion

The patterns in which populations of dispersions of organisms are dispersed

Clumping

Small groups of population are dispersed throughout

Uniform Dispersion

Population is all evenly distributed

Random Dispersion

When population is all distributed without identifiable pattern

Biotic Potential

The capacity for growth of a population when external factors are considered.

Age Structure Diagrams

The dispersion of ages within a population

Ecological Succession

The gradual and predictable change the composition of species in a given area

Population Cycles

Stable: Population of species fluctuates around K

Population Cycles

Irruptive: Population of species is usually stable but explodes sometimes

Population Cycles

Cyclic: Population goes through sharp increases and decreases

Replacement Level Fertility Rate

The number of children each person would have to give birth to in order to replace themselves

K-Strategist

Species that few yet large children, long life-spans, and have an S-shaped survivorship curve

R-Strategist

Species that have many small children with a high infant mortality, short lifespans, and a J-shaped survivorship curve

Coriolis Effect

The direction in which moving objects within the Earth move, due to the rotation of the Earth

Hydrothermal Vent

Fissures in the seafloor that emit water with a large amount of material in it. Chemosynthetic organisms live near these.

Lake Overturn

A.K.A Lake Stratification is the process of water layers mixing due to temperature changes

Climate

The general pattern of weather and temperature exhibited within an area over the period of decades to thousands of years

Biome

A large landmass defined by its climate conditions specifically average temperature & precipitation. This influences vegetation and the species living there.

Aquatic Zonation

The division of aquatic zones into specific zones based on temp and depth

Photic Zone

Sunlight penetrates water

Aphotic

Absence of sunlight

Benthic

Bottom of body of water

ENSO

Climate pattern describing fluctuations in atmospheric conditions as well as surface temperature of the sea. Largely alters global temperature.

La Nina

Warmer ocean temperatures, disrupts weather patterns

El Nino

Cooler ocean temperatures, restores weather patterns

Primary Productivity

The rate at which an ecosystems producers convert solar energy into chemical energy

GPP

Total energy captured

NPP

GPP - Amount used

Rainshadow Effect

The loss of rain and moisture from the landscape on the side of the mountain facing away from the prevailing winds

Watershed

The area in which runoff, sediment, and dissolved substances are delivered into a stream

River System

A network of rivers and streams within a specific watershed. Consists of all channels contributing water to the rivers

Greenhouse Effect

Natural process in which specific gasses trap heat preventing it from escaping. This provides the climate for us to live in, but also causes global warming

Feedback Loops

Process in which the output of an event also directly influences its own activity.

Saturation Point

The max limit a substance can hold of another substance.

Tree Harvesting Techniques

Strip Cutting: Clear cutting strip of trees

Tree Harvesting Techniques

Selective Cutting: Choosing a few specific trees in an intermediate age and cutting those down, letting the rest stand

Tree Harvesting Techniques

Shelterwood Cutting: Only mature trees are cut in a cycle over a long period

Tree Harvesting Techniques

Seed Tree Cutting: Cutting down majority of trees leaving a few in order for regrowth

Tree Harvesting Techniques

Clear Cutting: Cutting down all trees in an area

Tree Harvesting Techniques

Whole Tree Harvesting: Whole tree including roots are uprooted and harvested

Endangered Species Act

One of the world's toughest environmental laws. Authorizes governmental organizations to identify and list endangered/threatened species.

Industrial Forestry

When numerous trees are planted and maintained to be around the same age, so they can all be harvested at the same time

Marine Protected Areas

Sections of the Ocean or coastal areas where human activities are managed and restricted

Bycatch

Organisms accidentally caught in the process of trying to catch a specific one

Overgrazing

When cattle graze for long and the number of cattle exceeds the carrying capacity. Leads to the compaction of soil and erosion.

Extinction

A natural process which occurs in the background. Humans have since sped the process up for numerous organisms. There are also numerous types of extinction.

CITES

Convention on INternational Trade in Endangered Species. Signed by 183 countries and lists thousands of organisms for which trading is completely prohibited.

Trawling

Dragging a large net through the ocean floor; extremely destructive practice, especially for benthic habitats.

Longlining

Uses a main fishing line with numerous hooks attached to it, leads to high bycatch.

Drift Nets

Large fishing nets that float in the water vertically while not being anchored. Leads to high bycatch.

Biophilia

An innate love for nature by humans.

Endangered Species

A species with such a low population count that it could soon go extinct.

Threatened Species

A species with a relatively high population count, but likely will face the risk of soon becoming endangered.

Forest Fires

An essential aspect of the ecological cycle, as they burn away 'fuel' which lessen the effects or larger fires.

Surface Fires

Small unserious fires, burn away much of the fuel for crown fires.

Crown Fires

Large serious fires, in which the fire leaps from treetop to treetop.

Introduced Species

When a species not naturally belonging to an area, is brought in and let free.

Soil Profile

A cross sectional view of the horizons of soil.

Soil Triangle

A graphical representation of different soil textures, which help determine porosity and permeability.

Minimum Tillage

Special tillers that loosen up surface soil without actually turning over topsoil.

No-till Farming

Special planting machines that inject the seeds with fertilizer and herbicides into holes in the soil.

Terracing

Creation of 'terraces' on steep slopes in order to plant crops.

Contour Farming

Plowing and planting of crops is done on the curve/'contour' of a hill.

Strip Cropping

Alternating rows of two separate crops.

Alley Cropping

Alternating rows of crops with trees/shrubs.

Porosity

A measure of the pore space available in sediment.

Permeability

The ability of a material to allow fluids to pass through it.

Groundwater

Water that infiltrates soil and rock(ground).

Soil Horizons

The layers of soil formed when the soil is mature.

Infiltration

The act of water penetrating soil, a downward entry into soil.