AP/IB Semester Exam Review Set

MEDC's More Economically Developed Countries. Such as United States LEDC's Less Economically Developed Countries, such as Africa Tragedy of the commons The depletion of shared resources by groups or individuals despite the understanding that depletion of said resource is not in their long-term best interests. Sustainability The capacity to maintain, support, or endure Renewable Resource Any natural resource that can be replenished naturally with the passage of time Non-renewable resource a resource that is being used faster than it can be replaced By-catch unwanted marine creatures that are caught in nets while fishing for other species Aquaculture The farming of aquatic organisms such as fish, mollusks Trawling To fish with a trawl net Long-line A fishing technique that involves hooking bait throughout a long line in intervals. Drift-nets Plastic nets up to 40 miles long that entangle thousands of fish and other marine organisms. Purse-seining a large net in the shape of a purse that encloses a school of fish and closes at the bottom Ecology Study of organisms and their interactions with one another and their physical surroundings Abiotic non- living parts of the environment Biotic Living things Levels of Organization (pg.48) Atoms --> Molecule --> Cell --> Tissue --> Organ --> Body System --> Organism --> Population --> Community and Ecosystem --> Landscape --> Biosphere Natural Selection The process whereby organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce offspring. Species a group of organisms that reproduce and produce fertile offspring Population a group of the same species living in an area Community different species living together in a defined habitat with some degree of interdependence Ecosystem A biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment. Biodiversity The variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat or ecosystem Succession change in the species structure of an ecological community over time Zonation categorization of biomes into zones based on distribution and arrangement in a habit as determined by environmental factors. Seral Stages The term used for each successional stage of an ecosystem from a disturbed unvegetated states to a climax plant community Primary Succession succession that beings with bare rock Secondary Succession An ecological succession that takes place after some disturbance destroys the existing vegetation Symbiosis An intimate relationship between two or more organisms of different species Mutualism a relationship between two species of organisms in which both benefit from the association Parasitism A symbiotic relationship where one organism (the parasite) benefits, and the other (the host) is adversely affected. Commensalism A relationship that is beneficial for one organism and neutral for the other Interspecific Competition competition for resources between different species Intraspecific Competition Competition for resources between members of the same species, Niche The role or function of an organism or species in an ecosystem Habitat The natural environment or home of an animal, plant or other organism. Limiting Resource A factor present in an environment that controls a process, particularly the growth, abundance or distribution of a population of organisms in an ecosystem. range of tolerance The range of conditions within which an organism can survive. Keystone Species A species that has a large effect on its environment relative to its abundance Species Richness Biological Diversity that encompasses the number of species in an area or community Edge Effect The ecological phenomenon in which ecotones between adjacent communities often have more kinds of species o greater population densities of certain species than either adjoining community Emigration when individual organisms leave an area, decreasing the size of the population Immigration when individual organisms enter a population thus increasing its size Competitive Exclusion Principle sometimes referred to as Gause's Law of competitive exclusion or just Gause's Law, states that two species that compete for the exact same resources cannot stably coexist. Resource Partitioning Where resources in an environment are limited, different species have evolved to "share" the specific resource, for example: large herbivores such as zebra and wildebeest will live together in herds in the Africa. They are both grazers, but feed on different parts of the grass plants. Space may also be shared in a similar way. Indicator Species An organism that provides an early warning of environmental damage Native (indigenous Species) A naturally occurring species with respect to a particular environment Photosynthesis (equation) 6CO(2) + 6H(2)O + Energy --> C(6)H(12)0(6) + 6O(2) Respiration (equation) C6H12O6 + 6O(2) -----> 6CO(2) + 6H(2)O + energy First Law of Thermodynamics Energy can be changed from one form to another, but it cannot be created or destroyed. The total amount of energy and matter in the Universe remains constant, merely changing from one form to another. Second Law of Thermodynamics In a closed system, usable energy is lost over time to heat, although the total amount of energy remains the same Entropy The measure of disorder in a system Open systems A system that continuously interacts with its environment.The interaction can take the form of energy, or matter which transfers into or out of the system. Closed systems A system where energy can be exchanged with the environment, but no matter is exchanged Isolated systems In an isolated system neither energy nor matter can flow into or out of the system Autotrophs An organism capable of creating its own energy via photosynthesis Heterotrophs Heterotroph: An organism that is incapable of producing its own food, and is dependent on complex organic material for nutrition. Detrivores an organism that consumes dead organisms Saprotrophs are decomposers. Heterotrophs that break down dead organic material and use the decomposition products to supply themselves with energy. Trophic levels (terms) each level in a food chain. example- all producers on the 1st trophic level, herbivores on the second and so on Food Web A system of interlocking and interdependent food chains. Food Chain A series of organisms each dependent on the next as a source of food. Pyramid of energy An ecological pyramid that represents the relative energy value at each trophic level Pyramid of numbers an ecological pyramid that shows the relative numbers of organisms found at each trophic level Pyramid of biomass an ecological pyramid that shows the amount of organic material at each trophic level Assimilation The processes of photosynthesis and the absorption of raw materials by which plants derive their nutrition. Ammonification the conversion of organic nitrogen to ammonium by the action of decomposers (bacteria). Nitrification the oxidation of the ammonium compounds in dead organic material into nitrites and nitrates by soil nitrobacteria, making nitrogen available to plants Denitrification Removing of nitrogen from soil or living organisms by denitrifying bacteria Nitrogen Fixation when atmospheric nitrogen is converted into a usable form of nitrogen either by nitrogen fixing bacteria or lightening Polar Molecule a molecule that has an uneven charge distribution, such as water Non-polar molecule molecule that has no positive or negative poles because electrons are distributed symmetrically and the charges cancel each other out. Drainage Basin/Watershed An area or region drained by a river, river system, or other body of water Surface Water fresh water found Earth's surface in streams and rivers, lakes, ponds, reservoirs, and wetlands. Water Table The upper surface of the saturated zone of groundwater. Between the zone of aeration and the zone of saturation Flood Plain The area around a body of water which may at times be under water and may at other times be dry land, depending on the level of the water in the lake, river, pond, etc. Subsidence The gradual caving in or sinking of an area of land. Saltwater Intrusion Occurs in costal areas when freshwater sources are used faster than they can be replenished, resulting in salt water contamination of water sources like wells. Potable Water (not in book) Water that is safe to drink. Endocrine Disprutors A substance that disrupts or alters the hormonal systems in the body causing widespread effects throughout the organism. These effects can be observed at extremely low doses. Point Source Pollution A point source pollutant is a single identifiable localized source of pollution, ex. a city sewage pipe entering a river Non-Point Source Pollution when the source of the pollution is hard to identify, such as agricultural run-off Eutrophic rich in organic and mineral nutrients and supporting an abundant plant life Oligiotrophic A lake lacking in plant nutrients and having a large amount of dissolved Oxygen Watershed area of land where all of the water that is under it or drains off of it goes into the same place. Contour Line the joining points of equal elevation on a surface Confined Aquifer an aquifer that is covered by an impermeable layer, so the recharge area is not directly above, it is a farther away source Unconfined Aquifer Aquifers in which ground water seeps directly into the aquifer. Usually larger than confined aquifers. Permeable Penetrable. Having pores or openings that permit liquids or gases to pass through. Water Table The level below which the ground is saturated with water in an unconfined aquifer. Between the zone of aeration and the zone of saturation. Zone of Aeration area of the ground that contains both water and air, not completely saturated Zone of Saturation area under the water table where the rock or soil is completely saturated in water Cone of depression occurs in an aquifer when groundwater is pumped from a well. Dead Zone hypoxia--low oxygenated areas--in bodies of water caused by human pollution Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) The amount of oxygen required by aerobic microorganisms to decompose the organic matter in a sample of water, such as that polluted by sewage. It is used as a measure of the degree of water pollution Marsh An area of soft, wet, low-lying land, characterized by grassy vegetation and often forming a transition zone between water and land. Swamp A forested wetland, partially covered with water. Estuary A coastal body of water that connects to the ocean in which fresh water from a river mixes with saltwater from the ocean Delta a landform that is formed at the mouth of a river, where the river flows into an ocean, sea, estuary, lake, or reservoir Headwaters the furthest spot in a river or stream from its estuary or confluence with another river, as measured along the course of the river Nekton Collection of organisms that can swim freely and are independent of currents, they can be microscopic organisms or even whales. Benthos aquatic organisms that live on the bottom of the ocean floor, or lake Pelagic Inhabiting the upper layers of the open sea. Phytoplankton The single organism, plant group of plankton which drift in the ocean. Zooplankton Plankton consisting of small animals and the immature stages of larger animals. Littoral A shallow-water area along the shore of a lake or pond where light reaches the bottom. (The most productive zone due to the large amounts of photosynthesizing vegetation. Also receives nutrients from the surrounding land.) Limnetic open surface waters in a lake, away from the shore Mitigate To make less severe, To lessen in force or intensity Contour Line Lines on a topography map to show differences in elevation Hydrologic Cycle the natural sequence through which water passes into the atmosphere as water vapor, precipitates to earth in liquid or solid form, and ultimately returns to the atmosphere through evaporation. Parent Material the bedrock that can break down in the C horizon and form the mineral components of soil Weathering (Chemical) when rocks are broken down by a chemical process, such as acid rain dissolving limestone Weathering (Biological) Form of weathering caused by the activities of living organisms - for example, the growth of roots or the burrowing of animals. Weathering (Physical) The physical break down of rock into soil (rock turns into smaller and smaller particles.) Humus The black or dark brown organic material in soil, consisting of a mix of many organic compounds, that remains after much decomposition has occurred Leaching The process by which dissolved materials (nutrients or contaminants) are washed away or filtered down through the various layers of the soil. Soil Horizon The horizontal layers into which many soils are organized, from the surface to the underlying parent material. Soil Profile The vertical cross-section of an area of land that shows the various components of the soil and the soil horizons Soil Texture The make-up of the soil according to proportions of sand, silt, and clay present. Loam A fertile soil of clay and sand containing humus, with roughly equal proportions of sand, silt, and clay. Soil Erosion process by which soil and rock are removed from the Earth's surface by natural processes Salinization occurs when evaporation of water at the surface of over-irrigated soil draws salts from underground rocks, which causes the salts to crystallize and interfere with roots Desertification Degradation of once fertile rangeland, agricultural land,or tropical dry forest into nonproductive desert. caused by soil erosion, deforestation, and overgrazing Organic Fertilizers A material containing plant nutrients that is put on the soil to enhance plant growth. It includes such natural materials as animal manure, crop residues, bone meal, and compost. Inorganic Fertilizers Plant nutrients derived from mineral rather than organic sources (synthetic fertilizers) Soil Reclamation process of removing, reducing or neutralizing industrial soil, sediment and water contaminants that threaten human health and/or ecosystem processes. Porosity the amount of water the soil can hold Percolation The process of filtering water through porous soil Drainage Basin/Watershed the area drained by a river and all its tributaries and the ridge or crest line dividing two drainage areas; water parting; divide. Metamorphic Rocks formed under high temperatures and pressures Sedimentary Rocks formed from burial and compaction of sediments Igneous Rock formed by the cooling of magma or lava (extrusive is formed above ground) Magma Hot fluid or semifluid material below or within the earth's crust from which lava and other igneous rock is formed by cooling. Lava Hot molten or semifluid rock erupted from a volcano or fissure, or solid rock resulting from cooling of this. mantle The layer of the Earth between the crust and the core. It is about 2,900 km (1,798 mi) thick and consists mainly of magnesium-iron silicate minerals. It has an upper, partially molten part, which is about 660 km (409 mi) thick, and a lower, solid part. The upper mantle is the source of magma and volcanic lava. Astenosphere Highly viscous, mechanicly weak, and easly movable part of the upper mantel subduction (zone) when one tectonic plate moves under another into the mantle, as the plates converge transform fault A strike-slip fault occurring at the boundary between two plates of the earths crust convergent boundary plate boundary where two plates come together (converge) divergent boundary A tectonic boundary where two plates are moving away from each other and new crust is forming from magma that rises to the Earth's surface between the two plates. Lithosphere The rocky outer shell of a planet. On Earth the lithoshere is the Earth's Crust