AP Environmental Science

Organic Compounds

Generally refers to compounds containing carbon, especially carbon bonded with hydrogen (e.g., glucose, proteins, fats, carbohydrates).

Inorganic Compounds

Generally doesn't contain carbon-hydrogen structures (e.g., water (H₂O), oxygen (O₂), minerals, salts).

Ecosystem

All the living and nonliving components interacting in an area, consisting of biotic (living) and abiotic (nonliving) factors.

Natural Resources

Natural = occurs in nature (e.g., wood, sunlight), Synthetic = manufactured by humans (e.g., plastic, pesticides).

Producers / Autotrophs

Organisms that make their own food, typically through photosynthesis and serve as the base of most food webs.

Consumers / Heterotrophs

Organisms that obtain energy by consuming other organisms or organic matter; they cannot make their own food.

Decomposers

Organisms that break down dead organisms and waste, returning nutrients to the environment; main examples include fungi and bacteria.

Photosynthesis

The process by which plants use light energy to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen.

Cellular Respiration

The process cells use to break down glucose to release usable energy, the equation being C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂ → 6CO₂ + 6H₂O + energy (ATP).

Aerobic Respiration

A type of cellular respiration that requires oxygen.

Anaerobic Respiration

A type of cellular respiration that does not require oxygen.

Kinetic Energy

The energy of motion, such as moving water, wind, or a moving car.

Potential Energy

Stored energy, such as water behind a dam or chemical energy in glucose.

First Law of Thermodynamics

Energy cannot be created or destroyed; it can only be transferred or transformed.

Second Law of Thermodynamics

Every energy transfer increases entropy/disorder, and some energy becomes less useful, usually as heat.

Population

All members of ONE species living in a specific area.

Community

All populations of different species living together in an area.

Natural Selection

The process where organisms with favorable heritable traits are more likely to survive and reproduce.

Adaptation

An inherited characteristic that enhances an organism's ability to survive and reproduce in its environment.

Mutation

A change in DNA that can be harmful, beneficial, or have no significant effect; it creates new genetic variation.

Species

A group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring.

Gene Pool

All the genes/alleles present in a population.

Biodiversity

The variety of life, including genetic diversity, species diversity, and ecosystem diversity.

Producer

An organism that makes its own food.

Consumer

An organism that gets energy by consuming other organisms.

Decomposer

An organism that breaks down dead matter and waste.

Autotroph

An organism that makes its own food.

Heterotroph

An organism that gets food from others.

Aerobic

An organism that requires oxygen.

Anaerobic

An organism that doesn't require oxygen.

Kinetic

Relating to energy of motion.

Potential

Relating to stored energy.

Population (in ecology)

Refers to one species in a specific area.

Community (in ecology)

Refers to multiple populations of different species.

Mutation (in genetics)

A change or alteration in DNA.

Adaptation (in biology)

A beneficial inherited trait.

Gene pool (in genetics)

The complete set of genes/alleles in a population.

Biodiversity (in ecology)

The variability among living organisms.

First Law of Thermodynamics

Energy is conserved.

Second Law of Thermodynamics

Energy transfers increase entropy and lose useful energy as heat.