AP Environmental Science Units 1-9 Flashcards

AP Environmental Science Flashcards for Units 1-9, covering key vocabulary and concepts from ecosystems to global change.

Ecosystem

A community of organisms interacting with each other and their physical environment.

Terrestrial Biome

A land-based ecosystem characterized by climate, vegetation, and animal life.

Aquatic Biomes

Freshwater (rivers, lakes) and marine (oceans, coral reefs).

Carbon Cycle

The movement of carbon through the atmosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, and geosphere.

Nitrogen Fixation

The process that converts nitrogen gas into usable forms for organisms.

Phosphorus Cycle

Provides phosphorus, essential for DNA, RNA, and ATP, to living organisms.

Hydrologic Cycle

The continuous movement of water through evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and runoff.

Primary Productivity

The rate at which producers convert solar energy into chemical energy.

Trophic Levels

Levels in a food chain, representing energy flow from producers to top consumers.

10% Rule

Only about 10% of energy is transferred from one trophic level to the next.

Food Webs

Show multiple feeding relationships; food chains show a single path.

Biodiversity

The variety of life in all its forms, including species, genetic, and ecosystem diversity.

Ecosystem Services

Benefits provided by ecosystems such as food, water purification, and climate regulation.

Island Biogeography

Explains the relationship between the size/distance of islands and their species richness.

Ecological Tolerance

The range of conditions that an organism can survive and reproduce in.

Natural Disruption

Hurricanes, wildfires, volcanic eruptions.

Adaptations

Inherited traits that enhance an organism’s ability to survive and reproduce.

Ecological Succession

The natural, gradual changes in the types of species in an ecosystem over time.

Generalist Species

A species that can thrive in a wide range of environmental conditions.

Specialist Species

A species with narrow ecological tolerance and specific habitat requirements.

r-selected vs. K-selected Species

r-selected produce many offspring with low survival; K-selected produce few with high survival.

Survivorship Curves

Graphs showing the likelihood of survival at different ages (Type I, II, III).

Carrying Capacity

The maximum number of individuals an environment can support sustainably.

Resource Availability

Limited resources can slow or stop population growth.

Age Structure Diagrams

The distribution of a population’s age groups, predicting growth trends.

Earth Layers

Crust, mantle, outer core, inner core.

Earthquakes and Volcanic Eruptions

Caused by the movement of tectonic plates.

Soil Horizons

O (organic), A (topsoil), B (subsoil), C (parent material), R (bedrock).

Soil Quality

Texture, composition, pH, nutrient content, and porosity.

Global Wind Patterns

Driven by uneven heating of Earth’s surface and the Coriolis effect.

Rain Shadow Effect

Dry conditions on the leeward side of a mountain due to precipitation on the windward side.

Watershed

An area of land where all water drains to a common water body.

Climate Influences

Latitude, altitude, ocean currents, and proximity to water bodies.

Monoculture Farming

Growing a single crop over a large area.

Clear-Cutting

Loss of biodiversity, erosion, and increased CO₂ emissions.

Urban Sprawl

The uncontrolled expansion of urban areas into rural land.

Sustainable Agricultural Practices

Crop rotation, agroforestry, integrated pest management.

Overfishing

Harvesting fish faster than populations can replenish.

Impacts of Mining

Habitat destruction, water pollution, and soil degradation.

Global Energy Source

Fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas).

Renewable vs. Nonrenewable Energy

Renewable is replenished naturally; nonrenewable is finite.

Renewable Energy Examples

Solar, wind, hydroelectric, geothermal, or biomass.

Nuclear Fission

The splitting of atomic nuclei to release energy.

Energy Conservation

Using energy-efficient appliances, insulating homes, reducing usage.

Primary Air Pollutants

Pollutants emitted directly, like CO, NOx, SO₂, and VOCs.

Photochemical Smog

Reaction of sunlight with NOx and VOCs.

Acid Deposition

Rain or snow with a low pH, caused by SO₂ and NOx emissions.

Indoor Air Pollution

Respiratory problems, especially from radon, asbestos, and mold.

Thermal Inversion

A weather condition that traps pollutants close to the ground.

Point Source Pollution

Pollution from a single, identifiable source.

Eutrophication

Nutrient pollution causing algal blooms and oxygen depletion.

Solid Waste Disposal

Landfills, incineration, recycling, composting.

Endocrine Disruptors

Chemicals that interfere with hormone systems.

Bioremediation

Using organisms to clean up pollutants.

Climate Change Cause

Greenhouse gas emissions from human activities.

Global Warming Consequences

Sea level rise, extreme weather, habitat shifts.

Ocean Acidification

Lowering of ocean pH due to CO₂ absorption.

Coral Bleaching

Stress from warmer waters expelling algae from coral.

Invasive Species

Non-native species that harm ecosystems.

Endangered Species Act

A U.S. law to protect threatened and endangered species.

Biodiversity Conservation

Through habitat protection, laws, and sustainable practices.