AP environmental science

Impervious

Describes surfaces that do not allow water to infiltrate, leading to increased runoff and potential flooding.

Eutrophication

is the process by which water bodies become overly enriched with nutrients, leading to excessive growth of algae and depletion of oxygen.

National Population Growth Rate equation

(CBR+immigration)-(CDR+emigration)/10

Doubling time eqation

70/growth rate

producer

An organism that can create its own food (using the sun), typically through photosynthesis, serving as a primary source of energy in an ecosystem.

Photosynthesis

The process by which producers use solar energy to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose

cellular respiration

The process by which cells unlock the energy of chemical compounds

Aerobic respiration

The process by which cells convert glucose and oxygen into energy, carbon dioxide and water.

Anaerobic respiration

The process by which cells convert glucose into energy in the absence of oxygen.

Consumer

An organism that incapable if photosynthesis and must obtain its energy by consuming other organisms, also known as heterotroph

Herbivore

Consumer that eats producers, also known as Primary Consumers

Carnivore

Consumer that eats other consumers

Secondary consumer

A carnivore that eats primary consumers

Tertiary consumer

A carnivore that eats secondary consumers

Trophic levels

The successive levels of organisms consuming one another

Food web

A complex model of how energy and matter move between trophic levels

Scavenger

An organism that consumes dead animals

Detritivore

An organism that specializes in breaking down dead tissues and waste products into smaller particles

Decomposers

Fungi and bacteria that convert organic matter into small elements and molecules that can be recycles