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APES Concept Maps: Exam Review
Concept Map Requirements:Using the terms for each unit (from the words on the attached pages), create a concept map for each APES unit that links together each of the main ideas and terms we have covered. Be sure your links between concepts contain words or phrases that connect the two concepts.
The central term for your concept map is the title of the unit. (ie. “Unit 1: Earth Systems and Resources”)
Here are some examples of concept maps:
Your concept map must include the following:
• The center circle must be the title of the unit.
• Include each of the BOLD subcategories for the unit (see below) in your concept map
• Branch from the subcategories into at least 10 terms or concepts for that unit (found in your notecards or the list attached – that I will print for you to use in class)
• Be sure to include linking words or phrases on lines that explain the connection for each term or concept
Concept Map Laws * Start in the center with an image of the topic, using at least 3 colors. * Use images, symbols, codes and dimensions throughout your concept map. * Select key words and print using upper or lower case letters. * Each word word/image must be alone and sitting on its own line. * The lines must be connected, starting from the central image. The central lines are thicker, organic and flowing, becoming thinner as they radiate out from the center. * Make the lines the same length as the word/image. * Use colors - your own code - throughout the concept map. * Develop your own personal style of concept mapping. * Use emphasis and show associations in your concept map.
• NOTE: You may add additional text bubbles or concepts!
Steps to Create Your Concept Map:
1. Put the most general term in the center or top of your paper
2. Branch off into the BOLD unit subcategories
3. From the subcategories, branch off to less general terms
4. Be sure to make connections between terms and concepts (there may be multiple connections)
5. Be sure to include linking phrases between concepts to explain the connection
Steps to Create Your Concept Map:
1. Put the most general term in the center or top of your paper
2. Branch off into the BOLD unit subcategories
3. From the subcategories, branch off to less general terms
4. Be sure to make connections between terms and concepts (there may be multiple connections)
5. Be sure to include linking phrases between concepts to explain the connection
Steps to Create Your Concept Map:
1. Put the most general term in the center or top of your paper
2. Branch off into the BOLD unit subcategories
3. From the subcategories, branch off to less general terms
4. Be sure to make connections between terms and concepts (there may be multiple connections)
5. Be sure to include linking phrases between concepts to explain the connection
Steps to Create Your Concept Map:
1. Put the most general term in the center or top of your paper
2. Branch off into the BOLD unit subcategories
3. From the subcategories, branch off to less general terms
4. Be sure to make connections between terms and concepts (there may be multiple connections)
5. Be sure to include linking phrases between concepts to explain the connection
Steps to Create Your Concept Map:
1. Put the most general term in the center or top of your paper
2. Branch off into the BOLD unit subcategories
3. From the subcategories, branch off to less general terms
4. Be sure to make connections between terms and concepts (there may be multiple connections)
5. Be sure to include linking phrases between concepts to explain the connection
Steps to Create Your Concept Map:
1. Put the most general term in the center or top of your paper
2. Branch off into the BOLD unit subcategories
3. From the subcategories, branch off to less general terms
4. Be sure to make connections between terms and concepts (there may be multiple connections)
5. Be sure to include linking phrases between concepts to explain the connection
Steps to Create Your Concept Map:
1. Put the most general term in the center or top of your paper
2. Branch off into the BOLD unit subcategories
3. From the subcategories, branch off to less general terms
4. Be sure to make connections between terms and concepts (there may be multiple connections)
5. Be sure to include linking phrases between concepts to explain the connection
Steps to Create Your Concept Map:
1. Put the most general term in the center or top of your paper
2. Branch off into the BOLD unit subcategories
3. From the subcategories, branch off to less general terms
4. Be sure to make connections between terms and concepts (there may be multiple connections)
5. Be sure to include linking phrases between concepts to explain the connection
Steps to Create Your Concept Map:
1. Put the most general term in the center or top of your paper
2. Branch off into the BOLD unit subcategories
3. From the subcategories, branch off to less general terms
4. Be sure to make connections between terms and concepts (there may be multiple connections)
5. Be sure to include linking phrases between concepts to explain the connection
Steps to Create Your Concept Map:
1. Put the most general term in the center or top of your paper
2. Branch off into the BOLD unit subcategories
3. From the subcategories, branch off to less general terms
4. Be sure to make connections between terms and concepts (there may be multiple connections)
5. Be sure to include linking phrases between concepts to explain the connection
Steps to Create Your Concept Map:
1. Put the most general term in the center or top of your paper
2. Branch off into the BOLD unit subcategories
3. From the subcategories, branch off to less general terms
4. Be sure to make connections between terms and concepts (there may be multiple connections)
5. Be sure to include linking phrases between concepts to explain the connection
Steps to Create Your Concept Map:
1. Put the most general term in the center or top of your paper
2. Branch off into the BOLD unit subcategories
3. From the subcategories, branch off to less general terms
4. Be sure to make connections between terms and concepts (there may be multiple connections)
5. Be sure to include linking phrases between concepts to explain the connection
Steps to Create Your Concept Map:
1. Put the most general term in the center or top of your paper
2. Branch off into the BOLD unit subcategories
3. From the subcategories, branch off to less general terms
4. Be sure to make connections between terms and concepts (there may be multiple connections)
5. Be sure to include linking phrases between concepts to explain the connection
Steps to Create Your Concept Map:
1. Put the most general term in the center or top of your paper
2. Branch off into the BOLD unit subcategories
3. From the subcategories, branch off to less general terms
4. Be sure to make connections between terms and concepts (there may be multiple connections)
5. Be sure to include linking phrases between concepts to explain the connection
Steps to Create Your Concept Map:
1. Put the most general term in the center or top of your paper
2. Branch off into the BOLD unit subcategories
3. From the subcategories, branch off to less general terms
4. Be sure to make connections between terms and concepts (there may be multiple connections)
5. Be sure to include linking phrases between concepts to explain the connection
Steps to Create Your Concept Map:
1. Put the most general term in the center or top of your paper
2. Branch off into the BOLD unit subcategories
3. From the subcategories, branch off to less general terms
4. Be sure to make connections between terms and concepts (there may be multiple connections)
5. Be sure to include linking phrases between concepts to explain the connection
Steps to Create Your Concept Map:
1. Put the most general term in the center or top of your paper
2. Branch off into the BOLD unit subcategories
3. From the subcategories, branch off to less general terms
4. Be sure to make connections between terms and concepts (there may be multiple connections)
5. Be sure to include linking phrases between concepts to explain the connection
Steps to Create Your Concept Map:
1. Put the most general term in the center or top of your paper
2. Branch off into the BOLD unit subcategories
3. From the subcategories, branch off to less general terms
4. Be sure to make connections between terms and concepts (there may be multiple connections)
5. Be sure to include linking phrases between concepts to explain the connection
Steps to Create Your Concept Map:
1. Put the most general term in the center or top of your paper
2. Branch off into the BOLD unit subcategories
3. From the subcategories, branch off to less general terms
4. Be sure to make connections between terms and concepts (there may be multiple connections)
5. Be sure to include linking phrases between concepts to explain the connection
Steps to Create Your Concept Map:
1. Put the most general term in the center or top of your paper
2. Branch off into the BOLD unit subcategories
3. From the subcategories, branch off to less general terms
4. Be sure to make connections between terms and concepts (there may be multiple connections)
5. Be sure to include linking phrases between concepts to explain the connection
Steps to Create Your Concept Map:
1. Put the most general term in the center or top of your paper
2. Branch off into the BOLD unit subcategories
3. From the subcategories, branch off to less general terms
4. Be sure to make connections between terms and concepts (there may be multiple connections)
5. Be sure to include linking phrases between concepts to explain the connection
Steps to Create Your Concept Map:
1. Put the most general term in the center or top of your paper
2. Branch off into the BOLD unit subcategories
3. From the subcategories, branch off to less general terms
4. Be sure to make connections between terms and concepts (there may be multiple connections)
5. Be sure to include linking phrases between concepts to explain the connection
Steps to Create Your Concept Map:
1. Put the most general term in the center or top of your paper
2. Branch off into the BOLD unit subcategories
3. From the subcategories, branch off to less general terms
4. Be sure to make connections between terms and concepts (there may be multiple connections)
5. Be sure to include linking phrases between concepts to explain the connection
APES Units of Study
UNIT 1 – EARTH SYSTEMS AND RESOURCES A. Earth Science Concepts Geologic time scale; plate tectonics, earthquakes, volcanism; seasons; solar intensity and latitude B. The Atmosphere Composition; structure; weather and climate; atmospheric circulation and the Coriolis Effect; atmosphere–ocean interactions; EÑSO C. Global Water Resources and Use Freshwater/saltwater; ocean circulation; agricultural, industrial, and domestic use; surface and groundwater issues; global problems; conservation D. Soil and Soil Dynamics Rock cycle; formation; composition; physical and chemical properties; main soil types; erosion and other soil problems; soil conservation
UNIT 2 – THE LIVING WORLD A. Ecosystem Structure Biological populations and communities; ecological niches; interactions among species; keystone species; species diversity and edge effects; major terrestrial and aquatic biomes B. Energy Flow Photosynthesis and cellular respiration; food webs and trophic levels; ecological pyramids C. Ecosystem Diversity Biodiversity; natural selection; evolution; ecosystem services D. Natural Ecosystem Change Climate shifts; species movement; ecological succession E. Natural Biogeochemical Cycles Carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur, water, conservation of matter
UNIT 3 – POPULATION
A. Population Biology Concepts Population ecology; carrying capacity; reproductive strategies; survivorship B. Human Population 1. Human population dynamics Historical population sizes; distribution; fertility rates; growth rates and doubling times; demographic transition; age- structure diagrams 2. Population size Strategies for sustainability; case studies; national policies 3. Impacts of population growth Hunger; disease; economic effects; resource use; habitat destruction
UNIT 3 – LAND AND WATER USE A. Agriculture 1. Feeding a growing population Human nutritional requirements; types of agriculture; Green Revolution; genetic engineering and crop production; deforestation; irrigation; sustainable agriculture 2. Controlling pests Types of pesticides; costs and benefits of pesticide use; integrated pest management; relevant laws B. Forestry Tree plantations; old growth forests; forest fires; forest management; national forests C. Rangelands Overgrazing; deforestation; desertification; rangeland management; federal rangelands D. Other Land Use 1. Urban land development Planned development; suburban sprawl; urbanization 2. Transportation infrastructure Federal highway system; canals and channels; roadless areas; ecosystem impacts 3. Public and federal lands Management; wilderness areas; national parks; wildlife refuges; forests; wetlands 4. Land conservation options Preservation; remediation; mitigation; restoration 5. Sustainable land-use strategies E. Mining Mineral formation; extraction; global reserves; relevant laws and treaties F. Fishing Fishing techniques; overfishing; aquaculture; relevant laws and treaties G. Global Economics Globalization; World Bank; Tragedy of the Commons; relevant laws and treaties
UNIT 5 – ENERGY RESOURCES AND CONSUMPTION A. Energy Concepts Energy forms; power; units; conversions; Laws of Thermodynamics B. Energy Consumption 1. History Industrial Revolution; exponential growth; energy crisis 2. Present global energy use 3. Future energy needs C. Fossil Fuel Resources and Use Formation of coal, oil, and natural gas; extraction/purification methods; world reserves and global demand; synfuels; environmental advantages/disadvantages of sources D. Nuclear Energy Nuclear fission process; nuclear fuel; electricity production; nuclear reactor types; environmental advantages/ disadvantages; safety issues; radiation and human health; radioactive wastes; nuclear fusion E. Hydroelectric Power Dams; flood control; salmon; silting; other impacts
F. Energy Conservation Energy efficiency; CAFE standards; hybrid electric vehicles; mass transit G. Renewable Energy Solar energy; solar electricity; hydrogen fuel cells; biomass; wind energy; small-scale hydroelectric; ocean waves and tidal energy; geothermal; environmental advantages/disadvantages
UNIT 6 – POLLUTION A. Pollution Types 1. Air pollution Sources—primary and secondary; major air pollutants; measurement units; smog; acid deposition—causes and effects; heat islands and temperature inversions; indoor air pollution; remediation and reduction strategies; Clean Air Act and other relevant laws 2. Noise pollution Sources; effects; control measures 3. Water pollution Types; sources, causes, and effects; cultural eutrophication; groundwater pollution; maintaining water quality; water purification; sewage treatment/septic systems; Clean Water Act and other relevant laws 4. Solid waste Types; disposal; reduction B. Impacts on the Environment and Human Health 1. Hazards to human health Environmental risk analysis; acute and chronic effects; dose-response relationships; air pollutants; smoking and other risks 2. Hazardous chemicals in the environment Types of hazardous waste; treatment/disposal of hazardous waste; cleanup of contaminated sites; biomagnification; relevant laws C. Economic Impacts Cost-benefit analysis; externalities; marginal costs; sustainability
UNIT 7 – GLOBAL CHANGE
A. Stratospheric Ozone Formation of stratospheric ozone; ultraviolet radiation; causes of ozone depletion; effects of ozone depletion; strategies for reducing ozone depletion; relevant laws and treaties B. Global Warming Greenhouse gases and the greenhouse effect; impacts and consequences of global warming; reducing climate change; relevant laws and treaties C. Loss of Biodiversity 1. Habitat loss; overuse; pollution; introduced species; endangered and extinct species 2. Maintenance through conservation 3. Relevant laws and treaties
AP Vocab Unit 0: Globalization
Vocabulary Work MEANING
Tragedy of the CommonsWritten by Garrett Hardin, explains the worldwide regard to resource depletion
and the idea of exploiting the “commons” for wealth.
Emissions Trading (Cap and Trade) Providing economic incentives for achieving reductions in the emissions of
pollutants. Also includes the government setting a limit (or cap) on the amount of pollutant, which can be emitted.
Cost-Benefit Analysis Allows for the comparison of many possible actions and for more informed decisions on where limited resources should be used. Compares the positive and
negative environmental factors to aide in the decision of whether or not to proceed with a project.
Positive Externalities A benefit which results from an activity or transaction and affects an otherwise uninvolved party who did not choose to incur the benefits. Related to the
positive environmental “consequences” of production and use
Negative Externalities A cost which results from an activity or transaction and which affects an otherwise uninvolved party who did not choose to incur that cost. Related to
the negative environmental consequences of production and use.
World Bank A global institution that provides technical and financial assistance to developing countries with the objectives of reducing poverty and promoting growth,
especially in the poorest countries.
Marginal Costs The idea that it is easier and less expensive to clean very dirty water and make it “suitable” than it is to take clean water and make it “super” clean.
Global Economics The idea that the economy and environment are linked; the environment contains all the resources that are used by the industry which drives the
economy. As consumption increases, resources become scarce and more difficult to obtain, thereby raising prices.
WHO – World Health Organization
A global institution dedicated to the improvement of human health by monitoring and assessing health trends and providing medical advice to
countries.
Anthropocentric A worldview that focuses on human welfare and well-being.
Stewardship The careful and responsible management and care for Earth and its resources
Natural Capital The resources of the planet, such as air, waters, and minerals.
Human Capital Human knowledge and abilities.
GPI – Genuine Progress Indicator
A measure of economic status that includes personal consumption, income distribution, levels of higher education, resource depletion, pollution, and the
health of the population.
Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
A measure of the value of all products and services produced in one year in one country.
AP Vocab Unit 1: Population
Vocabulary Work MEANING
Total Fertility Rate (TFR) The average number of children that each women will have during her life time
Replacement-Level Fertility Rate
The total fertility rate required to offset the average number of deaths in a population in order to maintain the current population size.
Demographic Transition A process that has occurred during the past century, leading to a stabilization of population growth in the more highly developed countries.
Age Structure Diagrams A visual representation of the number of individuals within a specific age group for a country, typically expressed for males and females.
Carrying Capacity Refers to the number of individuals that can be supported in a given area sustainably. This varies from species to species and can change over time.
Biotic Potential The maximum rate at which a population can grow when resources are unlimited. Affected by: age and frequency of reproduction, number of offspring produced,
reproductive life span and average death rate
Thomas Malthus A mathematician who published his theories about the relationship between population growth and unlimited resources. He said that left unchecked (by war, famine and disease), population will grow as a J-Curve. He said there are enough
resources forever they are just not distributed equally leading to malnutrition and starvation.
Survivorship Curves A graph showing the number or proportion of individuals surviving at each age for a given species or group (Three Types!)
Rule of 70 Used to find the doubling time (in years) of a population growing at a given annual percentage rate.
S Curves Used to describe the patter of growth over an extended period of time. Population size initially increased due to unlimited resources but then begin to
slow down and stabilize around the carrying capacity
J-Curve Explains that if population is left unchecked, the maximum population growth rate can increase exponentially
Crude Birth Rate (CBR) The number of births per 1,000 individuals per year
Crude Death Rate (CDR) The number of deaths per 1,000 individuals per year
Type I Survivorship A pattern of survival over time in which there is high survival throughout most of the life span, but then individuals start to die in large numbers as they approach
old age
Type II Survivorship A pattern of survival over time in which there is relatively constant decline in survivorship throughout most of the life space
Type III Survivorship A pattern of survival over time in which there is low survivorship early in life with few individuals reaching adulthood
AP Vocab Unit 1: Population & Sustainability
Vocabulary Work MEANING
Affluence The state of having plentiful wealth including the possession of money, goods, or property.
Family Planning The practice of regulating the number or spacing of offspring through the use of birth control/contraception.
IPAT Equation An equation used to estimate the impact of human lifestyle on the environment:
Municipal Solid Waste Refuse collected by municipalities from households, small businesses, and institutions.
Waste Stream The flow of solid waste that is recycled, incinerated, placed in a solid waste landfill, or disposed of in another way.
E-Waste Electronic waste or e-waste describes discarded electrical or electronic devices. Used electronics which are destined for reuse, resale, salvage, recycling or
disposal are also considered as e-waste.
Composting Creation of organic matter (humus) by decomposition under controlled conditions to produce an organic-rich material that enhances soil structure,
cation exchange capacity, and fertility.
Leachate Liquid that contains elevated levels of pollutants as a result of having passed through municipal solid waste (MSW) or contaminated soil.
Sanitary Landfill An engineered ground facility designed to hold municipal solid waste (MSW) with as little contamination of the surrounding environmental as possible.
Incineration The process of burning waste materials to reduce volume and mass, sometimes to generate electricity or heat.
Bottom Ash Residue collected at the bottom of the combustion chamber in a furnace
Hazardous Waste Comprises all toxic chemicals, radioactive materials, and biologic or infectious waste most likely from industrial processes that yield unwanted byproducts and
spilled materials. Controlled through international and national regulations.
CERCLA (Superfund) A federal act that imposes a tax on the chemical and petroleum industries, funds the cleanup of abandoned and non-operating hazardous waste sites, and authorizes the federal government to respond directly to the release or
threatened release of substances that may pose a threat to human health or the environment.
Integrated Waste Management
An approach to waste disposal that employs several waste reduction, management, and disposal strategies in order to reduce the environmental
impact of MSW.
AP Vocab Unit 2: Geology (Pt. 1)
Vocabulary Work MEANING
Rock Cycle The geologic cycle governing the constant formation, alteration, and destruction of rock material that results from tectonics, weathering, and erosion, among
other processes.
Igneous Rock Rock formed directly from magma through the process of melting and solidification.
Intrusive Igneous Rock Igneous rock that forms when magma rises up and cools in a place underground , resulting in a glassy to fine grained texture.
Extrusive Igneous Rock Rock that forms when magma cools above the surface of the earth, resulting in a coarse grained texture.
Sedimentary Rock Rock that forms when sediments such as muds, sands, or gravels are compressed by overlying sediments.
Metamorphic Rock Rock that forms when sedimentary rock, igneous rock, or other metamorphic rock is subjected to high temperature and pressure.
Asthenosphere The layer of Earth located in the outer part of the mantle, composed of semi-molten rock.
Hot Spot A place where molten material from Earth’s mantle reaches the lithosphere
Plate Tectonics The theory that the lithosphere of Earth is divided into plates, most of which are in constant motion
Divergent Plate Boundary An area beneath the ocean where tectonic plates move away from each other
Seafloor Spreading The formation of new ocean crust as a result of magma pushing upward and outward from Earth’s mantle to the surface
Convergent Plate Boundary An area where plates move toward one another and collide
Transform Plate Boundary An area where tectonic plates move sideways past each other
Earthquake The sudden movement of Earth’s crust caused by a release of potential energy along a geologic fault and usually causing a vibration or trembling at Earth’s
surface.
Epicenter The exact point on the surface of Earth directly above the location where rock ruptures during an earthquake.
Chemical Weathering The breakdown of rocks and minerals by chemical reactions, the dissolving of chemical elements from rocks, or both.
Acid Precipitation Precipitation in high sulfuric acid and nitric acid from reactions between water vapor and sulfur nitrogen oxides in the atmosphere (Acid Rain).
Physical Weathering The mechanical breakdown of rocks and minerals.
Erosion The physical removal of rock fragments from a landscape or ecosystem.
Parent Material The rock material from which the inorganic components of soil are derived.
Soil degradation The loss of some or all of a soil’s ability to support plant growth
Horizon A horizontal layer in a soil defined by distinctive physical features such as texture and color
O Horizon The organic horizon at the surface of many soils, composed of organic detritus in various stages of decomposition
A Horizon Frequently the top layer of soil, a zone of organic material and minerals that have been mixed together (Topsoil)
E Horizon A zone of leaching, or eluviation, found in some acidic soils.
B Horizon A soil horizon composed primarily of mineral material with very little organic matter
C Horizon The least-weathered soil horizon, which always occurs beneath the B horizon and is similar to the parent material
AP Vocab Unit 3: Biogeochemical Cycles
Vocabulary Work MEANING
Transpiration The release of water from leaves during photosynthesis
Evapotranspiration The combined amount of evaporation and transpiration
Runoff Water that moves across the land surface and into streams and rivers
Nitrogen Fixation A process by which some organisms can convert nitrogen gas molecules directly into ammonia
Nitrification The conversion of ammonia (NH4+) into nitrite (NO2
-) and then into nitrate (NO3
-)
Assimilation The process by which producers incorporate elements into their tissues
Ammonification The process by which fungal and bacterial decomposers break down the organic nitrogen found in dead bodies and
waste products and convert it into inorganic ammonium (NH4
+)
Denitrification The conversion of nitrate (NO3-) in a series of steps into the
gases nitrous oxide (N2O) and, eventually, nitrogen gas (N2), which is emitted into the atmosphere.
AP Vocab Unit 4: Living World (Pt. 1)
Vocabulary Work MEANING
Biosphere The region of our planet where life resides, the combination of all ecosystems on Earth.
Producer An organism that uses the energy of the Sun to produce usable forms of energy
Heterotroph An organism that is incapable of photosynthesis and must obtain its energy by consuming other organisms.
Detritivore An organism that specializes in breaking down dead tissues and waste products into smaller particles
Decomposers Fungi and bacteria that convert organic matter into small elements and molecules that can be recycled back into the ecosystem
Aerobic Respiration The process by which cells unlock the energy of chemical compounds
Anaerobic Respiration The process by which cells convert glucose into energy in the absence of oxygen
Trophic Levels The successive levels of organisms consuming one another.
Food Chain The sequence of consumption from producers through tertiary consumers.
Food Web A complex model of how energy and matter move between trophic levels.
Gross Primary Productivity (GPP)
The total amount of solar energy that producers in an ecosystem capture via photosynthesis over a given amount of time.
Net Primary Productivity (NPP)
The energy captured by producers in an ecosystem minus the energy producers respire.
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 A representation of the distribution of biomass, numbers, or energy among trophic levels
Competitive Exclusion Principal
The principal stating that two species competing for the same limiting resource cannot coexist
Resource Partitioning When two species divide a resource based on differences in their behavior or morphology
Parasitism An interaction in which one organism lives on or in another organism
Mutualism An interaction between two species that increases the chances of survival or reproduction for both species
Commensalism A relationship between species in which one species benefits and the other species is neither harmed nor helped
Keystone Species A species that plays a far more important role in its community than its relative abundance might suggest
AP Vocab Unit 4: Living World (Pt. 2)
Vocabulary Work MEANING
Tundra A cold and treeless biome with low-growing vegetation
Permafrost An impermeable, permanently frozen layer of soil
Boreal Forest A forest biome made up primarily of coniferous evergreen trees that can tolerate cold winters and show growing seasons
Temperate Rainforest A coastal biome typified by moderate temperature and high precipitation
Temperate Seasonal forest A biome with warm summer and cold winters with over 1 m of precipitation annually
Woodland A biome characterized by hot, dry summers and mild, rainy winters
Temperate Grassland A biome characterized by cold, harsh winters, and hot, dry summers
Tropical Rainforest A warm and wet biome found between 20°N and 20°S of the equator, with little seasonal temperature variation and high precipitation.
Tropical Seasonal Forest A biome marker by warm temperatures and distinct wet and dry seasons.
Subtropical Desert A biome prevailing at approximately 30°N and 30°S, with hot temperatures, extremely dry conditions, and sparse vegetation.
Species Richness The number of species in a given area
Species Evenness The relative proportion of individuals within the different species in a given area
Evolution A change in the genetic composition of a population over time
Gene A physical location on the chromosomes within each cell of an organism
Mutation A random change in the genetic code produced by a mistake in the copying process
Recombination The genetic process by which one chromosome breaks off and attaches to another chromosome during reproductive cell division
Artificial Selection The process in which humans determine which individuals breed, typically with a preconceived set of traits in mind
Natural Selection The process in which the environment determines which individuals survive and reproduce
Gene Flow The process by which individuals move from one population to another and thereby alter the genetic composition of both populations.
Genetic Drift A change in the genetic composition of a population over time as a result of random mating
Bottleneck Effect A reduction in the genetic diversity of a population caused by a reduction in its size
Founder Effect A change in the genetic composition of a population as a result of descending from a small number of colonizing individuals
Geographic Isolation Physical separation of a group of individuals from others of the same species
Allopatric Speciation The process of speciation that occurs with geographic isolation
Reproductive Isolation The result of two populations within a species evolving separately to the point that they can no longer interbreed and produce viable offspring
Sympatric Speciation The evolution of one species into two, without geographic isolation
Genetically Modified Organism (GMO)
An organism produced by copying genes from a species with a desirable trait and inserting them into another species.
Generalist Species (K-Select) A species that can live under a wide range of abiotic or biotic conditions
Specialist Species (R-Select) A species that is specialized to live in a specific habitat or to feed on a small group of species
Population The individuals that belong to the same species and live in a given area at a particular time
Community All of the populations of organism with a given area
Ecological Succession The predictable replacement of one group of species by another group of species over time
Primary Succession Ecological succession occurring on surfaces that are initially devoid of soil.
Secondary Succession The succession of plan life that occurs in areas that have been disturbed but have not lost their soil
Pioneer Species A species that can colonize new areas rapidly and grow well in full sunshine
AP Vocab Unit 5: Land Use
Vocabulary Work MEANING
Clear-Cutting A method of harvesting trees that involves removing all or almost all of the trees within an area
Rangeland A dry open grassland
Selective Cutting The method of harvesting trees that involves the removal of single trees or a relatively small number of trees from among many in a forest
Tree Plantation A large area typically planted with a single rapidly growing tree species
Prescribed Burn A fire deliberately set under controlled conditions in order to reduce the accumulation of dead biomass on a forest floor
National Wildlife Refugee A federal public land managed for the primary purpose of protecting wildlife
National Wilderness Area An area set aside with the intent of preserving a large tract of intact ecosystem or landscape
National Environmental Policy (NEPA)
A U.S. federal act that mandates an environmental assessment of all project involving federal money or federal permits
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
A document outlined the scope and purpose of a developing project describing the environmental context, suggesting alternative approaches to the project, and
analyzing the environmental impact of each alternative
Environmental Mitigation Plan
A plan that outlines how a developer will address concerns raised by a project’s impact on the environment
Endangered Species Act A U.S. act designed to protect species from extinction
Urban Sprawl Urbanized areas that spread into rural areas, removing clear boundaries between the two
Urban Blight The degradation of the built and social environments of the city that often accompanies and accelerates migration to the suburbs
Smart Growth A set of principals for community planning that focuses on strategies to encourage the development of sustainable, healthy communities
Eminent Domain A principal that grants government the power to acquire a property at a fair market value even if the owner does not wish to sell it
Green Revolution A shift in agricultural practices in the twentieth century that included new management techniques, mechanization, fertilization, irrigation, and improved
crop varieties, and that resulted in increased food output.
Waterlogging A form of soil degradation that occurs when soil remains under water for prolonged period
Salinization A form of soil degradation that occurs when the small amounts of salts in irrigation water becomes highly concentrated on the soil surface through
evaporation
Organic Fertilizer Fertilizer composed of organic matter from plants and animals
Synthetic Fertilizer Fertilizer produced commercially. Normally with the use of fossil fuels.
Monocropping An agricultural method that utilizes large plantings of a single species or variety.
Pesticide A substance, either natural or synthetic, that kills or controls organisms that people consider pests
Insecticide A pesticide that targets species of insects and other invertebrates that consume crops
Herbicide A pesticide that targets plant species that compete with crops
Persistent Pesticide A pesticide that remains in the environment for a long time
Pesticide Resistance A trait possessed by certain individuals that are exposed to a pesticide and survive
Pesticide Treadmill A cycle of pesticide development, following by pest resistance, followed by new pesticide development.
Desertification The transformation of arable, productive land to desert or unproductive land due to climate change or destructive land use.
Sustainable Agriculture Agriculture that fulfills the need for food and fiber while enhancing the quality of the soil, minimizing the use of nonrenewable resources, and allowing economic
variability for the farmer.
Intercropping An agricultural method in which two or more crop species are planted in the same field at the same time to promote a synergistic interaction.
Crop Rotation An agricultural technique in which crop species in a field are rotated from season to season to prevent depletion of nutrients.
Agroforestry An agricultural technique in which trees and vegetables are intercropped
Contour Plowing An agricultural technique in which plowing and harvesting are done parallel to the topographic contours of the land
Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
An agricultural practice that uses a variety of techniques designed to minimize pesticide inputs.
Organic Agriculture Production of crops without the use of synthetic pesticides or fertilizers
AP Vocab Unit 5: Water Use
Vocabulary Work MEANING
Aquifer A permeable layer of rock and sediment that contains groundwater
Unconfined aquifer An aquifer made of porous rock covered by soil out of which water can easily flow
Confined Aquifer An aquifer surrounded by layer of impermeable rock or clay that impedes water flow
Water Table The uppermost level at which the water in a given area fully saturates rock or soil
Spring A natural source of water formed when water from an aquifer percolates up to the ground surface
Artesian Well A well created by drilling a hole into a confined aquifer
Saltwater Intrusion An infiltration of salt water in an area where groundwater pressure has been reduced from extensive drilling of wells
Impermeable Surface Pavement of buildings that do not allow water penetration
Levee An enlarged bank built up on each side of a river
Dike A structure built to prevent ocean waters from flooding adjacent land
Dam A barrier that runs across a river or stream to control the flow of water
Reservoir The water body created by damming a river or stream
Fish Ladder A stair-life structure that allows migrating fish to get around a dam
Aqueduct A canal or ditch used to carry water from one location to another
Desalination The process of removing the salt from salt water
Distillation A process of desalination in which water is boiled and the resulting steam is captured and condensed to yield pure water
Reverse Osmosis A process of desalination in which water is forced through a thing semipermeable membrane at high pressure
Hydroponic Agriculture The cultivation of plants in greenhouse conditions by immersing roots in a nutrient-rich solution
AP Vocab Unit 6: Nonrenewable Energy
Vocabulary Work MEANING
Fossil Fuel A fuel derived from biological material that become fossilized millions of years ago
Nonrenewable Resource An energy source with a finite supply, primarily the fossil fuels and nuclear fuels
Nuclear Fuel Fuel derived from radioactive materials that give off energy
Commercial Energy Source An energy source that is bough and sold
Subsistence Energy Source An energy source gathered by individuals for their own immediate needs
Turbine A device with blades that can be turned by water, wind, steam, or exhaust gas from combustion that turns a generator in an electricity-producing plant.
Electrical Grid A network of interconnected transmission lines that joins power plants together and links them with end users of electricity
Combined Cycle A power plant that uses both exhaust gases and steam turbines to generate electricity
Capacity In reference to an electricity-generating plant, the maximum electrical output
Capacity Factor The fraction of time a power plant operates in a year
Cogeneration The use of a fuel to generate electricity and produce heat
Coal A solid fuel formed primarily from the remains of trees, ferns, and other plant material preserved 280 million to 360 million years ago
Petroleum A fossil fuel that occurs in underground deposits, composed of a liquid mixture of hydrocarbons, water, and sulfur.
Crude Oil Liquid petroleum removed from the ground
Oil Sands Slow-flowing, viscous deposits of bitumen mixed with sand, water, and clay
Bitumen A degraded petroleum that forms when petroleum migrates to the surface of Earth and is modified by bacteria
Energy intensity The energy use per unit of gross domestic product
Hubbert Curve A bell-shaped curve representing oil use and projecting both when world oil production will reach a maximum and when the world will run out of oil
Peak Oil The point at which half the total known oil supply is used up
Fission A nuclear reaction in which a neutron strikes a relatively large atomic nucleus, which then splits into two or more parts, releasing additional neutrons and
energy in the form of heat.
Fuel Rod A cylindrical tube that encloses nuclear fuel within a nuclear reactor
Control Rod A cylindrical device inserted between fuel rods in a nuclear reactor to absorb excess neutrons or stop the fission reaction
Radioactive Waste Nuclear fuel that can no longer produce enough heat to be useful in a power plant but continues to emit radioactivity
Nuclear Fusion A reaction that occurs when lighter nucleai are forced together to produce heavier nuclei
AP Vocab Unit 6: Renewable Energy
Vocabulary Work MEANING
Tiered Rate System A billing system used by some electric companies in which consumers pay higher rates as their use goes up
Peak Demand The greatest quantity of energy used at any one time
Passive Solar Design Construction designed to take advantage of solar radiation without active technology
Thermal Mass A property of a building material that allows it to maintain heat or cold
Biofuel Liquid fuel created from processed or refined biomass
Modern Carbon Carbon in biomass that was recently in the atmosphere
Fossil Carbon Carbon in fossil fuels
Carbon Neutral An activity that does not change atmospheric CO2 concentrations
Net Removal The process of removing more than is replaced by growth, typically when referring to carbon
Ethanol Alcohol made by converting starches and sugars from plant material into alcohol and CO2
Biodiesel A diesel substitute produced by extracting and chemically altering oil from plants
Hydroelectricity Electricity generated by the kinetic energy of moving water
Tidal Energy Energy that comes from the movement of water driven by the gravitation pull of the Moon
Siltation The accumulation of sediments, primarily silt, on the bottom of a reservoir
Active Solar Energy Energy captured from sunlight with advanced technologies
Photovoltaic Solar Cell A system capturing energy from sunlight and converting it directly into electricity
Wind Energy Energy generated from the kinetic energy of moving air
Wind Turbine A large propeller that is able to convert wind energy into electricity
Geothermal Energy Heat energy that comes from the natural radioactive decay of elements deep within Earth
Fuel Cell An electrical-chemical device that converts fuel, such as hydrogen, into an electrical current
Electrolysis The application of an electric current to water molecules to split them into hydrogen and oxygen
AP Vocab Unit 7: Atmosphere, Weather, Climate
Vocabulary Work MEANING
Troposphere A layer of the atmosphere closest to the surface where all water vapor is contained and most weather.
Stratosphere The layer of the atmosphere above the troposphere, contains the ozone.
Albedo The percentage of incoming sunlight reflected from a surface
Saturation Point The maximum amount of water vapor in the air at a given temperature
Adiabatic Cooling The cooling effect of reduced pressure on air as it rises higher in the atmosphere and expands
Adiabatic Heating The heating effect of increased pressure on air as it sinks toward the surface of Earth and decreases in volume.
Latent Heat Release The release of energy when water vapor in the atmosphere condenses into liquid water
Atmospheric Convection Current
Global patterns of air movement that are initiated by the unequal heating of Earth.
Hadley Cell A convection current in the atmosphere that cycles between the equator and 30°N/S bringing hot, dry climates.
Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ)
The latitude that receives the most intense sunlight, which causes the ascending branches of the two Hadley cells to converge.
Polar Cell A convection current in the atmosphere formed by air current in the atmosphere, formed by air that rises at 60°N/S causing precipitation and sinks at the poles,
90°N/S where the air is much dryer
Ferrell Cell A convection current in the atmosphere that lies between Hadley cells and polar cells
Coriolis Effect The deflection of an object’s path due to the rotation of Earth
Rain Shadow A region with dry conditions found on the leeward side of a mountain range as a result of humid winds from the ocean causing precipitation on the windward side.
Gyre A large-scale pattern of water circulation that moves clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and counterclockwise in the Southern Hemisphere
Upwelling The upward movement of ocean water toward the surface as a result of diverging currents
Thermohaline Circulation An oceanic circulation pattern that drives the mixing of surface water and deep water
El Niño – Southern Oscillation (ENSO)
A reversal of wind and water currents in the South Pacific
AP Vocab Unit 8: Water Pollution
Vocabulary Work MEANING
Wastewater Water produced by livestock operations and human acitivites, including human sewage from toilets and gray water from bathing and washing clothes and dishes.
Point Source A distinct location from which pollution is directly proportional
Nonpoint Source A diffuse area that produces pollution
Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)
The amount of oxygen a quantity of water uses over a period of time at specific temperatures
Dead Zone In a body of water, an area with extremely low oxygen concentration and very little life
Eutrophication A phenomenon in which a body of water becomes rich in nutrients
Cultural Eutrophication An increase in fertility in a body of water, the result of anthropogenic inputs of nutrients
Indicator Species A species that indicates whether or not disease-causing pathogens are likely to be present
Fecal Coliform Bacteria A group of generally harmless microorganisms in human intestines that can serve as an indicator species for potentially harmful microorganisms associated with
contaminated sewage