APES Terms to Know

Problems with Desalination

high energy consumption, disposal of resulting brine, chemical contamination, high upfront costs

Causes of Water Pollution

Sewage/wastewater discharge, industrial waste, agricultural runoff, oil spills, littering, plastic pollution

Cultural eutrophication

Enrichment of a body of water, particularly a lake, with nutrients. May be caused by agricultural runoff or sewage; results in increased turbidity, high BOD, algal blooms, fish kills, and water quality degradation.

Harmful algal blooms

AKA red tides, excessive algal growth due to eutrophication results in algae dying, increased BOD, and kills fish

Oxygen depleted/hypoxic zones

areas in bodies of water with low oxygen levels to the point where they cannot support organisms; caused due to eutrophication

Primary sewage treatment

Physical removal of large solids and debris from sewage, reduces BOD

Secondary sewage treatment

uses biological processes (bacteria) in order to further remove pollutants from sewage; can be aerobic or anaerobic

Teratogens

a toxin that causes birth defects, ex: thalidomides, alcohol

Mutagens

toxin that causes changes to the DNA of an organism, some mutagens are also carcinogens, ex: UV radiation, x-rays, tobacco smoke, arsenic

Hormonally active agents

endocrine disruptors, could be exposed due to medicines in wastewater or certain plastics, ex: BPA, DDT

Biological magnification

toxins spread through the food web, harming top predators most as they consume affected prey due to bioaccumulation

Antagonistic interactions

1 substance suppresses the activity of another

Synergistic interactions

the substances work together to amplify each others’ effects

Acute effects

the symptoms show up within a short period of time, ex: skin irritation, nausea, respiratory issues

Chronic effects

symptoms show up slowly and last longer, ex: fatigue, depression, anxiety, sleep issues

Persistent organic pollutants

toxic chemicals that stay in the environment, bioaccumulate, and can be transported by wind or water; they can have harmful effects on human health and ecosystems; ex:DDT, hexachlorobenezene, PCBs

Volatile Organic Compounds

chemicals that easily evaporate at room temperature and can be harmful, give off strong smells (good or bad)

Radon-222

Indoor air pollutant that is a colorless, odorless gas, can be found in basements and accumulates indoors if there is no ventilation, and is a known carcinogen linked to lung cancer.

Industrial smog

caused by burning fossil fuels, sulfur dioxide interacts with water vapor in the air, grayish smog, can cause respiratory issues and reduced visibility.

Photochemical smog

formed when sunlight, nitrogen oxides, and VOCs interact, orangish haze, can cause respiratory issues and reduced visibility

Thermal Inversion

occurs near mountains, a layer of warm air traps the cool air in a valley and keeps it from rising; this also traps pollutants and reduces air quality

CAFE standards (Corporate Average Fuel Economy)

government set standards that requires automakers to reach a certain amount of fuel efficiency, enforced by NHTSA and created by the EPA, meant to save money on fuel and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, haven’t been proven to help

Greenhouse gases

trap more heat in the atmosphere and contribute to the greenhouse effects more than other gases; ozone, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, HFCs, and water vapor

Cap-and-trade

a cap is set on the total amount of emissions allowed by a corporation, issues permits which can be bought, sold, or traded to balance out total emissions; aims to reduce pollution

Sanitary landfills

trash is buried in layers with a lining, compacted, and covered in soil daily; better than open dumps; minimizes potential contaminations; causes methane production (due to anaerobic decomposition) and leachate contamination

Bioremediation

Bacteria and fungi are used to clean up environmental pollutants by breaking down hazardous substances into less toxic or non-toxic materials.

Phytoremediation

uses plants to absorb, accumulate, or transform pollutants into less harmful substances

Surface impoundments

above ground areas for storing, treating, and disposing of liquid waste; often used for wastewater treatment, flow control, and management of excess wastewater; typically lined to prevent contamination

Superfund/ CERCLA

taxing industries for hazardous waste created and using the profits to clean up affected sites on a national level (Brownfields are similar but locally managed

Tree plantations

areas intentionally planted with trees for timber production, carbon sequestration, wind breaks, environmental restoration and/or erosion control

Surface fires

Burns O horizon, good for environment because it recycles nutrients back into the soil and controls invasive species

Crown fires

a type of wildfire that burns through the tops of trees and can cause significant damage to forests and ecosystems.

2003 Healthy Forests Restoration Act (HFRA)

aims to reduce the risk of wildfires and improve the health of federal lands, protect watersheds, promote commercial value of forest biomass, improve detection of insect/disease infestations, protect+restore forest ecosystems; provides assistance to tribes, states, and landowners to improve land conditions

Rangelands

unfenced, unmanaged land for grazing and browsing

Pastures

fenced and managed land offering domesticated land for grazing

Integrated coastal management (ICM)

manages terrestrial and marine environments on the coast, focusing on the sustainable use, development, and protection of resources, balances conflicts such as tourism s fishing and residential development vs conservationand habitat preservation.

Plantation agriculture

large scale farming in the tropics/subtropics, usually monoculture of a few select crops

Feedlots

confined areas where livestock’s weight gain is maximized to prepare for slaughter; fenced pens with feed bunks, water troughs, and loafing areas, contributes to water contamination due to their manure, monoculture to feed the cows, and overfishing to feed the cows

Traditional intensive agriculture

involves the use of machinery and high inputs to maximize yield

Polyculture

growing 2 or more crops together in the same space, often mimicking natural ecosystems, causes increased yields, improved soil health, reduced reliance on chemicals, and enhanced pest resistance

Salinization

Due to improper irrigation practices, the salinity of the soil rises, damages soil structure, and reduces crop yields

Waterlogging

The soil becomes saturated with water due to ineffective soil drainage, leads to oxygen deprivation in roots, root rot, and reduced nutrient uptake

Conservation Tillage

Minimized tillage of soil to minimize soil erosion and maintain soil health by letting weeds decompose and recycle nutrients

Strip cropping

planting strips of different crops across a field, often legumes, reducing soil erosion, improving water infiltration and biodiversity, and enhancing soil health

Alley cropping

planting crops between rows of trees to create windbreaks and reduce erosion; also improves wildlife habitats

Shelterbelts

rows of trees and shrubs designed to reduce windspeed and protect buildings and livestock from wind, sand, snow, as well as controlling soil erosion

Green Revolution

the time period in which crop production greatly increased through the use of high inputs of fertilizer and water, and the use of high yield crop varieties

Fisheries

harvesting wild fish populations

Aquaculture

raising fish and other aquatic animals in controlled environments

purse-seine fishing

a type of fishing that involves setting a circular net under water beneath a school of fish as a trap and drawing ti up with a crane to collect the catch

trawler fishing

a type of fishing that involves dragging a large heavy scoop- like net along the ocean floor to collect fish

pesticides

chemicals that kil insects and unwanted bugs

integrated pest management

an ecological approach to managing pests that combines biological, cultural, physical, and chemical tools in a way that minimizes economic, health, and environmental risks.

subsurface mining

the extraction of minerals and resources from beneath the earth's surface, often involving the use of shafts and tunnels.

overburden

the material that lies above a mineral deposit, typically removed during mining operations.

spoils

the waste material removed during mining that is not of economic value.

gangue

the commercially worthless material that surrounds or is mixed with a mineral in an ore.

contour strip mining

a method of mining that follows the contour of the land, creating terraces for the removal of minerals.

acid mine drainage

the outflow of acidic water from metal mines or coal mines, formed when sulfide minerals are exposed to air and water.

smelting

the process of extracting a metal from its ore by heating and melting.

depletion time

the period it takes for a resource to be exhausted or significantly reduced in availability due to consumption or extraction. (80%)

biomining

the process of using microorganisms to extract metals from ores in a sustainable manner.

community

A group of interacting organisms and their physical environment in a specific area.

population

A group of individuals of the same species living in a specific area, capable of interbreeding and interacting with one another.

lithosphere

The outer layer of the Earth composed of rock and soil, including the crust and upper mantle, in which life forms interact with the geosphere.

range of tolerance

The range of tolerance refers to the varying environmental conditions within which a species can survive, grow, and reproduce. This includes factors such as temperature, humidity, and availability of resources.

limiting factor principle

the growth, abundance, or distribution of a species is primarily controlled by the availability of a single resource that is in shortest supply, limiting the organism's ability to thrive.

detritivores

Organisms that feed on dead organic matter, breaking it down into simpler substances, thereby recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem.

decomposers

Organisms that break down dead organic matter, returning essential nutrients to the ecosystem.

biodiversity

the variety of life in a particular habitat or ecosystem, including the diversity of species, genetics, and ecosystems.

biomass

The total mass of living organisms in a given area or volume, often used to measure the productivity of an ecosystem.

net primary productivity

The rate at which plants and other photosynthetic organisms produce organic compounds in an ecosystem, after accounting for energy used in respiration.

ammonification

the process by which organic nitrogen is converted into ammonia by decomposers, making it available for uptake by plants.

denitrification

the microbial conversion of nitrates back into nitrogen gas, releasing it into the atmosphere.

differential reproduction

The concept that individuals with certain advantageous traits are more likely to reproduce and pass those traits to the next generation, leading to evolutionary changes over time. c

coevolution

the process in which two or more species influence each other's evolution through reciprocal adaptations.

generalist species

species that can thrive in a wide variety of environments and can make use of various resources. sp

specialist species

Species that have narrow ecological niches and specific requirements.

endemic species

species that are native to and found only in a specific geographic area.

rain-shadow effect

A weather phenomenon that occurs when moist air rises over a mountain range, resulting in precipitation on one side and dry conditions on the leeward side.

convection cells

Large-scale patterns of circulation in the atmosphere caused by the uneven heating of the Earth's surface.

nekton

Aquatic animals that are able to swim and move independently of water currents.

euphotic zone

The upper layer of the ocean that receives sufficient sunlight for photosynthesis, typically supporting a high diversity of aquatic life.

species richness

The number of different species represented in a particular ecological community, reflecting the biodiversity of that system.

species evenness

A measure of how similar the abundances of different species are within a particular ecological community, indicating the distribution of species in a habitat.

keystone species

A species that plays a critical role in maintaining the structure of an ecological community, influencing many other species and the environment.

foundation species

Species that create and maintain habitats for other organisms, often through their physical presence or activities.

interspecific competition

Competition between different species for the same resources in an ecosystem, which can affect their population dynamics and community structure.

resource partitioning

The process by which different species use different resources or utilize the same resource in different ways to reduce competition, allowing for coexistence in an ecosystem.

commensalism

A symbiotic relationship where one species benefits while the other is neither harmed nor helped, often seen in organisms that share habitats.

desertification

The process by which fertile land becomes desert as a result of drought, deforestation, or inappropriate agriculture.

water table

the upper surface of groundwater that can fluctuate based on precipitation and evaporation, marking the boundary between saturated and unsaturated soil.

aquifers

Underground layers of rock or sediment that hold water, often tapped for human use.

salt water intrusion

the movement of saline water into freshwater aquifers, often due to over-extraction of groundwater or rising sea levels.

desalination

the process of removing salt and other impurities from seawater to produce fresh water.

drip irrigation

most water-efficient irrigation method that delivers water directly to the roots of plants, minimizing evaporation and runoff.

channelization

the process of altering a natural waterway, typically through straightening or deepening, to improve drainage or navigation.

Soil Erosion Act (1935)

a law aimed at combating soil erosion on farmland by promoting soil conservation practices and providing federal assistance to farmers.

Igneous rock

a type of rock formed from the solidification of molten material, either magma or lava.

Sedimentary rock

a type of rock formed by the accumulation and compression of mineral and organic particles over time, often found in layers.