AP Environmental Science - Unit 1 Key Concepts

Biotic and Abiotic Components

• Biotic components: Living parts of an ecosystem.
• Abiotic components: Nonliving parts of an ecosystem.

Predator-Prey Relationships

• Predator-prey relationships: One animal kills and consumes another.
• Prey adaptations:
  • Behavioral: Hiding.
  • Morphological: Attack.
  • Chemical: Poisonous.

Symbiotic Relationships

• Mutualistic: Both species benefit.
• Commensalistic: One species benefits, the other is unharmed.
• Parasitic: One species benefits, the other is harmed.

Keystone Species

• Keystone species: Play a major role in ecosystems.
• Sea otters Example:
  • Sea otters eat sea urchins.
  • Sea urchins destroy kelp forests.
  • Controlling sea otters is important for maintaining kelp forest habitats.

Plate Boundaries

• Convergent: Two tectonic plates move towards each other; subduction often occurs.
• Divergent: Plates move away from each other, creating fault lines and sea floor spreading (happens on mid-ocean ridges).
• Transform: Plates slide against each other, causing earthquakes.

Soil Formation

• Soil formation enables plant growth, starting with parent material.
• Weathering breaks down rocks and minerals at Earth's surface through chemical and biological processes.