AP Environmental Science 100 Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards based on AP Environmental Science notes covering general environmental concepts, ecosystems, soil, biogeochemical cycles, population dynamics, land use, mineral resources, energy, air/water/solid waste pollution.

Sustainability

The ability to meet humanity's current needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.

Tragedy of the Commons

Global commons such as the atmosphere and oceans are used by all and owned by none, leading to misuse.

Positive Feedback

A change in some condition triggers a response that intensifies the changing condition.

Negative Feedback

A change in some condition triggers a response that counteracts the changed condition.

High Quality Energy

Organized and concentrated energy that can perform useful work (e.g., fossil fuels).

Low Quality Energy

Disorganized and dispersed energy (e.g., heat in the ocean or air).

First Law of Thermodynamics

Energy is neither created nor destroyed, but may be converted from one form to another.

Second Law of Thermodynamics

When energy is changed from one form to another, some useful energy is always degraded into lower quality energy (usually heat).

LD50

The amount of a chemical that kills 50% of the animals in a test population.

Anthropogenic

Human-centered; human-caused.

Photosynthesis

Plants convert atmospheric carbon (CO2) into complex carbohydrates (glucose C6H12O6).

Aerobic Respiration

Oxygen-consuming producers, consumers, and decomposers break down complex organic compounds and convert carbon back into CO2.

Biotic

Living components of an ecosystem.

Abiotic

Nonliving components of an ecosystem.

Producer / Autotroph

Photosynthetic life that gets their food from the sun.

Consumer / Heterotroph

Organisms that get their food by eating other organisms.

Trophic Levels

The hierarchical levels in an ecosystem, characterized by organisms sharing the same function in the food chain and the same nutritional relationship to the primary sources of energy.

Gross Primary Productivity (GPP)

The rate at which producers use photosynthesis to convert solar energy into biomass.

Net Primary Productivity (NPP)

The rate at which producers use photosynthesis to convert solar energy into biomass minus the rate they use energy for aerobic respiration.

Primary Succession

Development of communities in a lifeless area not previously inhabited by life; it has no soil.

Secondary Succession

Life progresses where soil remains (e.g., clear-cut forest, fire).

Mutualism

Symbiotic relationship where both partners benefit.

Commensalism

Symbiotic relationship where one partner benefits and the other is unaffected.

Parasitism

Relationship in which one partner obtains nutrients at the expense of the host.

Biome

Large distinct terrestrial region having similar climate, soil, plants, and animals.

R strategist

Many small offspring; little parental care; early reproductive age; small adults; high population growth rate; generalist niche.

K strategist

Fewer, larger offspring; high parental care; later reproductive age; larger adults; lower population growth rate; specialist niche.

Natural Selection

Organisms with favorable adaptations pass them onto the next generation.

Keystone Species

Species whose role in an ecosystem is more important than others.

Indicator Species

Species that serve as early warnings that an ecosystem is being damaged.

Endangered Species

So few in number that the species could soon become extinct over all or part of its natural range.

Exotic Species

Species living in a nonnative area.

Leaching

Removal of dissolved materials from soil by water moving downwards.

Loam

Perfect agricultural soil with equal portions of sand, silt, clay.

Salinization of Soil

Caused by irrigation in arid regions; water evaporates leaving salts behind.

Conservation

Allows the use of resources in a responsible manner.

Preservation

Setting aside areas and protecting them from human activities.

Hydrologic Cycle

The continuous circulation of water on Earth, including evaporation, transpiration, runoff, condensation, and precipitation.

Nitrogen Fixing

Atmospheric nitrogen is converted into ammonia by bacteria (rhizobium) for plant use.

Nitrification

Ammonia is converted to nitrate ions (NO-3).

Denitrification

Bacteria convert ammonia back into N2.

Carrying Capacity

The number of individuals that can be sustained in an area.

Replacement Level Fertility

The number of children a couple must have to replace themselves (2.1 developed, 2.7 developing).

Infant Mortality Rate

The number of babies out of every 1,000 who die before their first birthday.

Demographic Transition

As countries become industrialized, first their death rates and then their birth rates decline in four stages.

Ore

A rock that contains a large enough concentration of a mineral making it profitable to mine.

Reclamation

Restore mined land back to its original state, or at least a useful one

Primary Air Pollutants

Pollutants produced by humans and nature (CO, CO2, SO2, NO, hydrocarbons, particulates).

Particulate Matter

Source: burning fossil fuels & diesel exhaust, Effect: reduces visibility & respiratory irritation

Nitrogen Oxides

Source: auto exhaust, Effect: acidification of lakes, respiratory irritation, leads to smog & ozone

Sulfur oxides

Source: coal burning, Effect: acid deposition, respiratory irritation, damages plants

Carbon oxides

Source: auto exhaust, incomplete combustion, Effect: CO binds to hemoglobin reducing bloods ability to carry O, CO2 contributes to global warming

Ozone

Formation: secondary pollutant, NO2+UV=NO+O O+O2=O3, with VOC’s, Effect: respiratory irritant, plant damage

Acid Deposition

Caused by sulfuric and nitric acids resulting in lowered pH of surface waters

Greenhouse Gases

Examples: H2O, CO2, O3, methane (CH4), CFC’s, EFFECT: they trap outgoing infrared (heat) energy causing earth to warm

Eutrophication

Rapid algal growth caused by an excess of N & P

Hypoxia

When aquatic plants die, the BOD rises as aerobic decomposers break down the plants, the DO drops & the water cannot support life