AP Exam Studying Flashcards
Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act
(1977) requires coal strip mines to reclaim the land
Define preservation
setting aside areas and protecting them from human activities
Define conservation
allowing the use of resources in a responsible manner
Define indicator species
species that serve as early warnings that an ecosystem is being damaged, such as trout
Define keystone species
species whose role in an ecosystem are more important than others, such as sea otters, sea stars, grizzly bears, prairie dogs
Define endangered species and give an example.
a group of organisms in danger of becoming extinct if the situation is not improved; population numbers have dropped below the critical number of organism, such as north spotted owl (loss of old growth forest), bald eagle (thinning of eggs caused by DDT), piping plover (nesting areas threatened by development).
characteristics of endangered species
small range, large territory, or live on an island
Name parts of the hydrologic cycle
evaporation, transpiration, runoff, condensation, precipitation, infiltration.
Define invasive/alien/exotic species and give examples.
non native species to an area; often thrive and disrupt the ecosystem blance, such as kudzu vine, purple loosestrife, African honeybee “killer bee”, water hyacinth, fire ant, zebra mussel, gypsy moth, Asian Long Horned Beetle.
Define ammonification
nitrogen is converted into ammonia by ammonifying bacteria; may occur when nitrogen in organic wastes in the soil are converted to ammonia or when atmospheric nitrogen (N2) is converted to NH3.
define ntrogen fixing.
because atmospheric N2 cannot be used directly by plants it must first be converted into ammonia (NH3) by bacteria (rhizobium or cyanobacteria).
Define assimilation:
inorganic N2 is converted into organic molecules such as DNA/amino acids$proteins - plants assimilate nitrogen as NH4+ or NO3- through their roots; animals (herbivores) assimilate organic nitrogen compounds by eating plants.
Define nitrification
ammonia (NH3) is converted to nitrate ions (NO3-).
Phosphorus does not cirulate as easily as nitrogen because
it does not exist as a gas, but is released by weatering of phosphate (PO4 3-) rocks; this is a sedimentary cycle - it is never found as a gas.
Define denitrification.
bacteria convert nitrate (NO3-) and nitrite (NO2-) back into N2 gas; bacterica convert ammonia (NH3) back into N2 or N20. typically accomplished by anaerobic bacteria.
Define photosynthesis.
plants convert atmospheric carbon (CO2) into complex carbohydrates (glucose C6H12O6); energy is consumed and oxygen is released as a waste product.
How excess phosphorus is added to aquatic ecosystems
runoff of animal wastes, fertilizer, discharge of sweage; limiting factor in freshwater ecosystems; excess P leads to eutrophication.
Define anaerobic respiration
break down of carbohydreates without oxygen; products are methan (CH4), alcohols and other organics.
Define aerobic respiration
O2 consuming producers, consumers and decomposers break down complex organic compounds and convert C back into CO2; energy is released and oxygen is consumed in the process.
Largest reservoirs of Carbon
Carbonate rocks (CO3 2-) rocks first, oceans second.
Define transpiration.
process where water is absorbed by plant roots, moves up through plants, passes through pores (stomata )in leaves or other parts, evaporates into the atmosphere as water vapor.
What is the tragedy of the commons? give examples.
Global commons such as atmosphere and oceans are used by all and owned by none. When no individual has ownership, no one takes responsiblity. Examples: overfishing i the oceans, over pumping of the Ogallala Aquifer.
Define sustainability
The ability to meet the current needs of humanity without compromising the ability of future generations tto meet their needs.
Energy flow in food webs or chains, through trophic systems
only 10% of the usable energy is transferred because usable energy lost as heat (second law); not all biomass is digested and absorbed; predators expend energy to catch prey; the 20% value is an average value.
define natural selection
organisms thta possess favorable adaptations survive and pass them onto the next generation.
Define competition
a type of population interaction, usually over a limited resource; may be intraspecific or interspecific.
Define biotic and abiotic
living and nonliving components of an ecosystem.
Define primary succession
developmnet of communities in a lifeless area not previously inhabited by life or those in which the soil profile is totally destroyed (lava flows); no soil substrate present; begins with licehn action.
Define producer/autotroph.
photosynthetic or chemosynthetic life; chemotroph- organism undergoing chemosynthesis - usually carried out by sulfur bacteria in aphotic zones in the ocean (deep ocean vents, etc.)
Define mutualism
symbiotic relationship where both partners benefit and both participate
Define secondary succession
life progresses where soil remains (clear cut forest, fire, sdisturbed areas)
Define parasitism.
relationship in which one partner obtains nutrients at the expense of the ost.
Define commensalism
symbiotic relationship where one partner benefits and the other is unaffected or may benefit.
Define carrying capacity;
the number of individuals (size of the population) that can be sustained in an area (supported by available resources in the environment)
Define biome
large distinct terrestrial region having similar climate, soil, plants, and animals; terrestrial biomes determining factos are temperature and precipitation.
Define K strategist
reproduce late in life; few offspring; care for offspring; tend to be specialists, longer lifespan.
Define R strategist
reproduce early in life; many small unprotected offspring; tend to be generalists, short lifespan
define negative feedback loop and give example
when a changing in some condition triggers a response that counteracts the changed condition.
warmer earth, more ocean avaporation, more stratus clouds, less sunlight reaches the ground, cooler earth.
Define positive feedback loop and give example
when a change in some condition triggers a response that intensifies the changing condition.
warmer earth, snow melts, less sunlight is reflected and more is absorbed, therefore warmer Earth.
define doubling time.
rule of 70. 70 divided by the percent growth rate.
Define Malthus
said human population increases exponentially, while food supplies increase arithmetically; factors that keep the population in check include war, famine and disease.
Wrold population
7 billion.
Replacement level fertility
the number of children a couple must have to replace themselves.
2.1 developed, 2.7 developing.
biotic potential; total fertility rate.
preindustrial stage.
birth and death rates high, population grows slowly, infant mortality high
us population
310 million.
industrial stage
decline in birth rate, population growth slows
Transitional stage
death rate lower, better health care, population grows fast
Age structure diagrams.
broad base = rapid growth
narrow base = negative growth;
uniform shape = zero growth;
Major age cohorts; pre reproductives, reproductives, post reproductives.
postindustrial stage.
low birth and death rates.
Most important thing affecting population growth
low status of women
First and second most populated countries
China and India
True cost and external costs
harmful environmental side effects that are not reflected in a product’s price.
Ways to decrease birth rate
family planning, contraception, economic rewards and penalties
Electricity generated by fossil fuels , biomass or nuclear power.
heat is produced which creates steam
steam turns a turbine
the mechanical energy from teh turbine is converted to electrical energy in a generator and that energy is transmitted to homes through power lines.
Define cogeneration
using waste heat to make electricty.
Define thermal gradient
spontaneous flow of heat from warmer to cooler bodies
Define hydroelectric power
potential energy of stored water is used to turn a turbine
the mechanical energy fromt he turbine is converted to electrical energy in a generator and that energy is transmitted to homes through power lines.
Define high quality energy
organized and concentrated.can perform useful work (fossil fuel and nuclear )
Define ionizing radiation
enough energy to dislodge electrons from atoms, forming ions; capable of causing cancer (gamma, x rays, UV)
First law of thermodynamics
energy is neither created nor destroyed, but may be converted from one form to another (Law of conservation of energy)
Low quality energy
disorganized, dispersed (heat in ocean or air, win, solar)
