apes final review

Factors Determining Terrestrial Biomes

Climate, latitude, altitude, soil type, and seasons that influence the ecosystem.

Climate

The average weather conditions of a region, primarily defined by temperature and precipitation.

Latitude

The distance north or south of the equator, affecting solar energy and temperature.

Altitude

The height above sea level; higher altitudes tend to have cooler temperatures.

Soil Type

The composition of soil that influences which types of vegetation can grow.

Seasons

Periodic changes that influence plant and animal adaptations.

Tundra

A cold, dry biome characterized by permafrost and vegetation like mosses and lichens.

Boreal Forest/Taiga

A biome with cold winters, moderate rain, primarily consisting of conifer trees.

Temperate Rainforest

A biome with mild temperatures and very wet conditions, home to conifers and ferns.

Temperate Seasonal Forest

A biome with moderate rain, cold winters, mainly consisting of deciduous trees.

Chaparral

A biome with hot, dry summers and vegetation mainly consisting of shrubs.

Temperate Grassland

A biome characterized by dry conditions and cold winters, primarily consisting of grasses.

Tropical Rainforest

A warm, wet biome year-round with high biodiversity, found in areas like the Amazon.

Savanna

A warm biome marked by seasonal rainfall and dominated by grasses and scattered trees.

Subtropical Desert

A hot and dry biome home to cacti and succulents, such as the Sahara.

Safe Drinking Water Act

A U.S. law that ensures the safety of drinking water by regulating water contaminants.

Salt Marsh

A coastal ecosystem characterized by nutrient-rich waters and grasses.

Estuaries

Transitional areas where fresh and saltwater mix, serving as fish nurseries.

Mangrove Swamps

Tropical ecosystems that protect coastlines, characterized by salt-tolerant trees.

Intertidal Zone

The coastal area between high and low tide, home to organisms like crabs and mussels.

Coral Reefs

Warm, shallow marine ecosystems known for their biodiversity.

Open Ocean

The vast, deep seawater area, home to species such as whales and tuna.

Lakes and Ponds

Freshwater bodies characterized by standing water containing fish and algae.

Inland Wetlands

Ecosystems such as swamps and marshes that provide flood control.

Rivers/Streams/Creeks

Flowing freshwater ecosystems inhabited by various wildlife.

Energy Flow in Ecosystems

Energy moves through trophic levels: producers, consumers, and decomposers.

Matter Cycling

The process through which water, carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus circulate in ecosystems.

Nitrogen Cycle

The biogeochemical cycle involving fixation, nitrification, assimilation, ammonification, and denitrification.

Water Cycle

The natural process of evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and runoff/infiltration.

Phosphorus Cycle

The cycle consisting of weathering, absorption by plants, decomposition, and sedimentation.

Carbon Cycle

The series of processes including photosynthesis, respiration, combustion, and storage.

Reservoirs/Sinks

Natural storage areas for elements: nitrogen in the atmosphere, carbon in oceans/forests, etc.

Gross Primary Productivity (GPP)

The total energy captured by primary producers in an ecosystem.

Net Primary Productivity (NPP)

Gross primary productivity minus the energy used by producers for respiration.

Primary Succession

The ecological process that begins on bare rock, such as after a volcanic eruption.

Secondary Succession

The recovery process that occurs after a disturbance while retaining soil.

Lichens and Mosses in Succession

The initial species involved in primary succession.

Ecological Tolerance

The range of environmental conditions within which a species can survive.

r-Strategists

Organisms that produce many offspring with little parental care.

K-Strategists

Organisms that produce few offspring and invest significant care into them.

Rule of 70

A formula to estimate population doubling time by dividing 70 by the growth rate.

Biotic Potential

The maximum reproductive capacity of a species under optimal conditions.

Carrying Capacity

The maximum population size that an environment can sustainably support.

Intrinsic Rate of Growth

The natural growth rate of a population in the absence of limiting factors.

Overshoot

When a population exceeds its carrying capacity.

Soil Horizons

Layers of soil including O, A, E, B, C, and R used to describe soil structure.

Soil Particles

Sand, silt, and clay, classified by size and drainage capability.

El Niño

A climate pattern characterized by warmer Pacific waters, affecting global weather.

La Niña

A climate pattern associated with cooler Pacific waters and opposite effects of El Niño.

Clear-Cutting

A timber harvesting method that quickly removes all trees, resulting in high environmental impact.

Drip Irrigation

The most efficient irrigation method that minimizes water loss.

Pesticide Treadmill

The cycle of increasing pesticide use as pests develop resistance.

Bioaccumulation

The buildup of toxins in an individual organism.

Biomagnification

The increase in toxin concentration at higher levels of the food chain.

Negative Environmental Impacts of CAFOs

Includes water contamination, air pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and antibiotic resistance.