AP Environmental Science Flashcards

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.