AP Environmental Science Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What is Ecology?

The study of how living things interact with each other and their environment.

Define Biosphere.

Parts of the earth's air, water, and soil where life is found.

What is an Ecosystem?

A community of different species interacting with one another and with their nonliving environment of matter and energy.

What is a Community?

The population of different species living in a particular place, and potentially interacting with each other. Signup and view all the answers

Define Population in ecological terms.

A group of individuals of the same species living in a particular place. Signup and view all the answers

What is an Organism?

An individual, living thing. Signup and view all the answers

What are the three types of symbiotic relationships?

Mutualism, Commensalism, Parasitism. Signup and view all the answers

Define Mutualism.

A relationship between two species in which both species benefit. Signup and view all the answers

What is Commensalism?

A relationship between two organisms in which one organism benefits and the other is unaffected. Signup and view all the answers

Define Parasitism.

A relationship between two organisms of different species where one benefits and the other is harmed. Signup and view all the answers

What is a Niche?

An organism's particular role in an ecosystem, or how it makes its living. Signup and view all the answers

Define Resource Partitioning.

When species avoid competition by dividing the use of resources. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following are terrestrial biomes? (Select all that apply)

Savanna Signup and view all the answers

What defines a Tropical Rainforest?

Biggest land biodiversity; occurs near the equator; plenty of light at the canopy; little light on the forest floor. Signup and view all the answers

Describe Polar Ice as a biome.

Regions of extremely cold temperature and low precipitation; little to no rainfall; below freezing temperatures year-round. Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes a Savanna?

Warm climate with alternating wet and dry seasons; grassland with scattered trees. Signup and view all the answers

Define Desert.

An extremely dry area that alternates between hot days and cold nights. Signup and view all the answers

What defines a Coniferous Forest?

Cone-bearing evergreen trees; long cold winters with heavy rainfall. Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes a Temperate Deciduous Forest?

Trees drop their leaves annually; cold winters, hot summers; tree leaves change color in autumn. Signup and view all the answers

Define Chaparral.

Dense evergreen shrubs; rainy winters and dry summers; adapted to survive periodic bush fires. Signup and view all the answers

Describe Temperate Grassland.

Deep nutrient-rich soil; known as Prairies; seasonal droughts and occasional fires. Signup and view all the answers

What is a Tundra?

A vast treeless plain in arctic regions; cold temperatures and permafrost. Signup and view all the answers

Define Canopy in rainforest context.

Dense covering formed by the leafy tops of tall rainforest trees. Signup and view all the answers

What is Understory in a forest?

A layer of shorter plants that grows in the shady area below the canopy. Signup and view all the answers

Define Predator-Prey Relationship.

The predator is an organism that eats another organism, the prey. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Ecology and Ecosystems

Ecology: Study of interactions between living organisms and their environment.
Biosphere: Regions of air, water, and soil on Earth that support life.
Ecosystem: Community of interacting species with their physical environment.
Community: Various populations of species living and interacting in a specific area.
Population: Group of individuals belonging to the same species in a certain location.
Organism: An individual living entity.

Symbiotic Relationships

Three main types of symbiosis:
- Mutualism: Both species benefit from the relationship.
- Commensalism: One organism benefits, the other is unaffected.
- Parasitism: One organism benefits at the expense of the other.

Niche and Resource Use

Niche: Specific role or function of an organism in its ecosystem, including habitat and behaviors.
Resource Partitioning: Species reduce competition by dividing available resources.

Terrestrial Biomes

Tropical Rainforest: High biodiversity; near the equator; dense canopy; hosts diverse flora and fauna.
Polar Ice: Extremely cold biome with no plant life; home to polar bears and penguins.
Savanna: Grasslands with scattered trees; warm climate with wet and dry seasons; populated by various large animals.
Desert: Very dry environment; extreme temperature fluctuations; flora and fauna adapted for minimal water.
Coniferous Forest: Known as Taiga; characterized by cone-bearing evergreen trees and long, cold winters.
Temperate Deciduous Forest: Trees shed leaves in autumn; experiences changing seasons; diverse wildlife.
Chaparral: Dense evergreen shrubs; adapted to survive wildfires; seasonal rainfall patterns.
Temperate Grassland: Deep, nutrient-rich soil; known as Prairies; supports grazing animals.
Tundra: Cold, treeless plains with permafrost; short growing season; limited vegetation.

Plant and Animal Adaptations

Canopy: Dense layer formed by the tops of tall rainforest trees.
Understory: Shady layer of shorter plants beneath the canopy.
Predator-Prey Relationship: Dynamic where one organism hunts and consumes another.

Notable Features of Forests

World's Largest Forests:
- Sahara Desert as the largest non-polar desert.
- The Great Basin Desert as the largest desert in the U.S.

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Description

Test your knowledge with these flashcards covering key terms in AP Environmental Science. Learn essential concepts such as ecology, biosphere, ecosystem, and community. Perfect for students preparing for exams in environmental science.