Unit 1 - AP Environmental Science (no biomes)

limiting resource

a resource that a population cannot live without and which occurs in quantities lower than the population would require to increase in size

resource partitioning

where two species divide a resource based on differences in the species' behavior or morphology

predation

refers to the use of one species as a resource by another species

true predators

typically kill their prey and consume most of what they kill

herbivores

consumes plants as prey

parasites

live on or in the organisms they consume

parasitoids

organisms that lay eggs inside other organims

mutualism

benefits two interacting species by increasing both species' chances of survival or reproduction

commensalism

a type of relationship in which one species benefits but the other is neither harmed nor helped

symbiotic relationship

the relationship of two species that live in close association with each other

keystone species

a species that plays a role in its community

predator-mediated competition

competition in which a predator is instrumental in reducing the abundance of a superior competitor, allowing inferior competitors to persist

ecosystem engineers

species that create or maintain habitat for other species

Aquifers

Permeable layers of rock and sediment that contain groundwater in many small spaces.

Unconfined Aquifer

Water can flow easily in and out of the aquifer. Porous rock covered by soil

Confined Aquifer

Aquifers covered by an impermeable and confining layer impeding water flow in or out.

Water Table

Uppermost aquifer layer where water fully saturates the rock or soil.

Groundwater Recharge

Water from precipitation percolates through soil and into aquifer. If confined, can't recharge.

Springs

Water from some aquifers naturally comes up, natural source of freshwater

Artesian Wells

Drilled hole in a confined aquifer releases pressure and pushes water up.

Cone of Depression

Area where there's no longer any groundwater, caused by well overuse, eventually will go dry.

Floodplain

Land adjacent to river where excess water spreads onto.

Oligotrophic

Lakes with low productivity because of little nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen.

Impermeable Surfaces

Pavement, buildings, etc. Doesn't allow water penetration, water then runs into sewers and streams. Excess water causes floods. Dry ground, especially when plants are not present, behaves this way.

Levee

Enlarged bank on each side of river to prevent flooding

Dikes

Similar to levees but to prevent ocean waters from flooding coasts that are under sea level.

Dam

Barrier that runs across a river/stream to control water flow

Reservoir

Large body of water stored behind a dam. Held for consumption, generating electricity, flood control, or recreation.

Aqueducts

Canals or ditches used to carry water between locations. Transports water to dry areas.

biogeochemical cycle

The circulation of matter through the biosphere.

Water Cycle

The continual movement of water between Earth's atmosphere, oceans, and land surface through evaporation, condensation, and precipitation.

Carbon Cycle

The series of processes by which carbon compounds are interconverted in the environment. This involves the incorporation of carbon dioxide into living tissue by photosynthesis and its return to the atmosphere through respiration, the decay of dead organisms, and the burning of fossil fuels.

Nitrogen Cycle

The transfer of nitrogen from the atmosphere to the soil, to living organisms, and back to the atmosphere. Lightning, and nitrogen fixing bacteria transform inorganic nitrogen to organic forms of nitrogen.

Phosphorous Cycle

the cyclic movement of phosphorus in different chemical forms from the environment to organisms and then back to the environment. This cycle does not have an atmospheric component.

Nitrogen Fixing Bacteria

found on legume roots, turn nitrogen into a usable form, nitrate.

Denitrifying Bacteria

Bacteria that convert the nitrates in soil or water to gaseous nitrogen and release it back into the atmosphere.

Evaporation

The change of a substance from a liquid to a gas. When liquid water is heated to become a vapor.

Condensation

The change of state from a gas to a liquid. Water in the vapor form is cooled, and condenses, so the molecules of gas get closer, and form liquid.

Precipitation

Any form of water that falls from clouds and reaches Earth's surface.

Transpiration

Evaporation of water from the leaves of a plant.

Runoff

Part of the water cycle where an excess of water runs down and does not sink into the soil and eventually makes it to the rivers, lakes, and oceans.

climate

the average weather that occurs in a given region over a long period - typically several decades

troposhpere

the layer of the atmosphere closest to Earth's surface

stratosphere

layer of the atmosphere above the troposphere

Chemosythesis

process in which bacteria deep in the ocean use the bonds of methane and hydrogen sulfide to generate energy

ecosystem

a particular location on Earth distinguished by its particular mix of interacting biotic and abiotic components

producers; autotrophs

organisms that use the suns's energy to produce usable forms of energy

photosynthesis

the process in which producers use solar energy to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose, a form of potential energy that can be used by a wide range of organisms

consumers; heterotrophs

are incapable of photosynthesis and must obtain their energy by consuming other organisms

primary consumers

heterotrophs that consume producers

secondary consumers

carnivores that eat primary consumers

tertiary consumers

carnivores that eat secondary consumers; are pretty rare

trophic levels

successive levels of organisms consuming one another is called this

food chains

the sequence of consumption from producers through tertiary consumers

food web

take into account the complexity of nature, and they illustrate one of the most important concepts of ecology

scavengers

are carnivores, such as vultures, that consume dead animals

detritovores

organisms, such as dung beetles, that specialize in breaking down dead tissues and waste products (referred to as detritus) into smaller particles

decomposers

the fungi and bacteria that complete the breakdown process by recycling the nutrients from dead tissues and wastes back into the ecosystem

gross primary productivity; GPP

the process in which scientists look at the total amount of solar energy that the producers in an ecosystem capture via photosynthesis over a given amount of time

net primary productivity; NPP

the energy captured minus the energy respired by producers

biomass

the total mass of all living matter in a specific area

ecological efficiency

the proportion of consumed energy that can be passed from one trophic level to another

trophic pyramid

represents the distribution of biomass along trophic levels

biosphere

the region of our planet where life resides

biogeochemical cycles

the movement of matter within and between ecosystems

hydroglogic cycle

the movement of water through the bioshpere

transpiration

a process in which plants release water from their leaves into the atmosphere

evaptranspiration

the combined amount of evaporation and traspiration

runoff

water can move as this across the surface of the land and into streams/rivers eventually reaching the ocean

macronutrients

six key elements that organisms need in relatively large amounts

limiting nutrient

a nutrient an organism needs because a lack of it results in constrained growth

nitrogen fixation

a process in which Nitrogen gas in the atmosphere (N2) is converted directly into ammonia (NH3)

leaching

a process in which nitrates are readily transported through the soil with water

disturbance

an event caused by a physical, chemical, or biological agents that result in changes in population size or community composition

watershed

all of the land in a given landscape that drains into a particular stream, river, lake, or wetland

resistance

a measure of how much a disturbance can affect the flows of energy and matter

resilience

the rate at which an ecosystem returns to its original state after a disturbance

kingdoms

six major groups of species

Nuclear Fusion

A reaction that occurs when lighter nuclei are forced together to produce heavier nuclei - energy is released

Nonpoint Source Pollution

Diffuse areas that pollute. Farming region, suburban community with many lawns and septic systems, or storm runoff from parking lots.

Water Pollution

Contamination of streams, lakes, oceans, or groundwater with substances produced by humans.

Point source pollution

Distinct locations of pollution like a factory, or a sewage treatment plant.

Eutrophication

Run off carries fertilizers and decomposition of waste water provides an overabundance of fertility (too much nitrogen and phosphorus) to a water body.

trophic level

each of several hierarchical levels in an ecosystem, comprising organisms that share the same function in the food chain and the same nutritional relationship to the primary sources of energy.

nuclear fission energy

comes from changes to the atom's nucleus: when the nucleus of an atom divides - energy is released. We use this to produce Nuclear Energy.

Nitrification (nitrogen cycle)

the biological oxidation of ammonia or ammonium to nitrite followed by the oxidation of the nitrite to nitrate. The transformation of ammonia to nitrite is usually the rate limiting step of nitrification. Nitrification is an important step in the nitrogen cycle in soil

Denitrification

process by which bacteria convert nitrates into nitrogen gas

Nitrogen Oxides (NOx)

Source: auto exhaust and using inorganic fertilizers

Effects: acidification of lakes, respiratory irritation, leads to smog & ozone

Equation for acid formation: NO + O2 = NO2 + H2O = HNO3

Reduction: catalytic converter

pyramid of energy flow

90% of energy lost with each transfer

Less chemical energy for higher trophic levels

aerobic respiration

Respiration that requires oxygen

glucose + oxygen -> carbon dioxide + water + energy

anaerobic respiration

Respiration that does not require oxygen. Also known as fermentation.