AP Environmental Science FULL REVIEW

Interspecific Competition

When two or more species compete for the same limited resource, such as food, light, or space.

Resource Partitioning

The division of resources among species to reduce competition and allow coexistence in an ecosystem.

Predation

A biological interaction where one organism (predator) feeds on another organism (prey).

Coevolution

The process by which two or more species evolve in response to changes in each other over time.

Parasitism

A relationship where one organism (parasite) benefits at the expense of another organism (host).

Mutualism

A symbiotic relationship where both species benefit from the interaction.

Commensalism

A relationship where one species benefits and the other is neither helped nor harmed.

Biodiversity

The variety of life in an ecosystem, encompassing species diversity, genetic diversity, and ecosystem diversity.

Species Diversity

The number and variety of species in a particular region.

Species Richness

The number of different species in a specific area.

Evenness

The relative abundance of different species in an area.

Genetic Diversity

The variation of genes within a species or population.

Biomes

Large regions characterized by specific climate conditions and distinct communities of plants and animals.

Edge Effects

Changes in population or community structures that occur at the boundary of two habitats.

Ecotone

A transitional area between two ecosystems that often has high species diversity.

Functional Diversity

The variety of biological and chemical processes such as energy flow and matter cycling in ecosystems.

Permafrost

Permanently frozen ground, typically found in tundra biomes.

Ecological Succession

The gradual process by which ecosystems change and develop over time.

Primary Succession

Succession that occurs on surfaces where no soil exists, such as lava flows.

Secondary Succession

Succession that occurs in areas where soil remains after a disturbance, like after a forest fire.

Pioneer Species

The first species to colonize barren environments in primary succession.

Inertia

The ability of an ecosystem to resist disturbances and remain unchanged.

Persistence

The ability of an ecosystem to survive moderate disturbances

Resilience

The ability of an ecosystem to recover after a disturbance.

Aquatic Life Zones

Ecosystem regions in bodies of water, defined by salinity and depth.

Salinity

The concentration of dissolved salts in water.

Marine (Saltwater)

Ecosystems with high salinity, such as oceans and seas.

Freshwater

Ecosystems with low salinity, such as rivers, lakes, and ponds.

Coastal Zone

The interface between land and ocean, including estuaries, beaches, and wetlands.

Plankton

Tiny organisms that float or drift in water, including phytoplankton and zooplankton.

Turbidity

The cloudiness or haziness of water due to suspended particles

Estuary

A habitat where freshwater from rivers meets and mixes with saltwater from the ocean.

Coastal Wetlands

Land areas covered with water all or part of the year, providing rich biodiversity and ecosystem services.

Intertidal Zones

Areas of shoreline exposed to air at low tide and submerged at high tide.

Tides

The regular rise and fall of ocean levels caused by the gravitational pull of the moon and sun.

Ocean Acidification

The lowering of ocean pH due to the absorption of excess atmospheric CO2.

Pelagic Zone

The open ocean, away from the coast and sea floor.

Upwelling

The movement of nutrient-rich water from the ocean depths to the surface.

Nutrient Cycle

The movement and exchange of essential elements like carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus through the environment.

Surface Run-off

Water that flows over the land into rivers, lakes, and oceans.

Groundwater

Water stored underground in soil or rock layers. (aquifer)

Aquifer

An underground layer of water-bearing rock or sediment that stores and transmits groundwater.

Nitrification

A process in the nitrogen cycle where ammonia is converted into nitrites and then nitrates by bacteria.

Systems

Sets of interacting components that function as a whole.

Inputs

Resources or energy entering a system.

Outputs

Products or energy leaving a system.

Flows (Throughputs)

The movement of energy or materials through a system.

Feedback

The process by which a system regulates itself, either amplifying (positive) or stabilizing (negative).

Negative Loop

Feedback loops that reduce changes in a system.

Positive Loop

Feedback loops that amplify changes in a system.

Ecological Tipping Points

Critical thresholds where a small change can lead to significant and irreversible environmental changes.

Ecology

The study of interactions between organisms and their environment.

Organism

A single living entity.

Population

A group of individuals of the same species living in a specific area.

Community

All the populations of different species living and interacting in an area.

Ecosystem

A community of organisms and their physical environment interacting as a system.

Trophic Levels

The hierarchical levels in an ecosystem, based on how energy is obtained.

Producer (Autotrophic)

Organisms that produce their own energy through photosynthesis or chemosynthesis.

Consumers (Heterotrophs)

Organisms that obtain energy by eating other organisms.

Decomposers

Organisms like fungi and bacteria that break down dead organic matter, recycling nutrients.

Detritus Feeders (Detritivores)

Organisms that consume detritus (dead organic material).

Photosynthesis

The process by which producers convert sunlight, water, and CO2 into energy (glucose) and oxygen.

Primary Consumer

Organisms that feed directly on producers. Herbivores.

Carnivores

Animals that eat other animals.

Secondary Consumers

Carnivores that feed on primary consumers.

Tertiary Consumers

Carnivores that eat secondary consumers.

Omnivores

Organisms that consume both plants and animals.

Food Webs

Complex networks of feeding relationships in an ecosystem.

Food Chains

Linear sequences of energy transfer between organisms in an ecosystem.

Pyramid of Energy Flow

A graphical representation showing energy transfer efficiency across trophic levels.

Gross Primary Productivity (GPP)

The total energy captured by producers through photosynthesis.

Net Primary Productivity (NPP)

The energy remaining after producers use some for respiration, available to consumers.

Biodiversity

The variety and variability of life forms within a given ecosystem, region, or on the entire Earth.

Genetic Diversity

The variety of genetic characteristics within a single population.

Species Diversity

The number of different species within a particular area or habitat.

Bottleneck Effect

A drastic reduction in population size that can result in the loss of genetic variation.

Resilience

The ability of an ecosystem to recover from disturbances.

Generalist Species

Species that can thrive in a wide variety of environmental conditions.

Specialist Species

Species that are adapted to specific environmental conditions and resources.

Species Evenness

A measure of how similar the abundance of each species is in a community.

Intrinsic Value

The inherent worth of an ecosystem regardless of its utility to humans.

Provisioning Services

Ecosystem services that provide direct benefits to humans, such as food, water, and raw materials.

Regulating Services

Ecosystem services that help regulate environmental conditions, such as climate and disease control.

Ecosystem Change

Alterations in the structure and function of an ecosystem, resulting from natural or anthropogenic factors.

Habitat Fragmentation

The process by which larger habitats are broken into smaller, isolated patches.

Adaptive Radiation

The diversification of a group of organisms into forms filling different ecological niches.

Island Biogeography

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

Range of Tolerance

The limits of abiotic factors that a species can withstand.

Keystone Species

A species that has a disproportionately large effect on its environment relative to its abundance.

Species Richness

The number of different species represented in a particular ecological community.

Natural Selection

The process through which populations of organisms adapt to their environment.

Climax Community

A stable and mature ecological community that has reached the final stage of ecological succession.

Pioneer Species

The first species to colonize previously disrupted or damaged ecosystems.

Algal Bloom

Rapid increase in the population of algae in aquatic systems, often due to nutrient overload.

Resistance

The ability of an ecosystem to withstand disturbances.

Ecological Succession

The process of change in the species composition of an ecological community over time.

Ecosystem Services

Benefits provided by ecosystems to humans, including provisioning, regulating, cultural, and supporting services.

Anthropogenic

Related to, or resulting from the influence of human beings on nature.

Functional Diversity

The range of different biological functions (or traits) within an ecosystem.

Trophic Levels

The hierarchical levels in an ecosystem, comprising producers, primary consumers, secondary consumers, and so on.