Day 1: Cramming for AP Environmental Science Flashcards
Understanding Environmental Science, Systems, and the Atmosphere (13 cards)
What is biodiversity?
Biodiversity refers to the variety of living organisms in a particular ecosystem or on Earth as a whole. It includes diversity within species, between species, and of ecosystems.
What is the carbon cycle?
The carbon cycle is the movement of carbon atoms between living organisms (plants and animals), the atmosphere (as carbon dioxide), bodies of water (as dissolved carbon dioxide), and fossil fuels (as stored carbon).
What does clean water access mean?
Clean water access refers to the availability of safe and uncontaminated water for human use and consumption. It means having access to water that is free from pollutants, pathogens, and harmful substances.
What is climate change?
Climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperature and weather patterns on a global scale. It is primarily caused by human activities, such as burning fossil fuels and deforestation, leading to an increase in greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere.
What is commensalism?
Commensalism is a type of symbiotic relationship between two different species where one organism benefits while the other remains unaffected. The benefiting organism uses the presence of the other for resources like shelter or transportation without causing harm.
What is conservation?
Conservation refers to the sustainable management and protection of natural resources, including land, water, plants, animals, and ecosystems. It aims to maintain biodiversity, preserve habitats, and ensure the long-term well-being of both human and non-human species.
What are environmental conditions?
Environmental conditions refer to the physical factors that influence an organism’s survival and well-being in its habitat. These factors include temperature, humidity, light levels, soil composition, and availability of food and water.
What is the hydrologic cycle?
The hydrologic cycle, also known as the water cycle, refers to the continuous movement of water on, above, and below the Earth’s surface. It involves processes such as evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and runoff.
What is mutualism?
Mutualism is a type of symbiotic relationship between two different species where both organisms benefit from each other’s presence. They rely on each other for resources like food, shelter, protection, or reproduction.
What is the nitrogen cycle?
The nitrogen cycle is the process by which nitrogen is converted between its various chemical forms in the environment. It involves nitrogen fixation, nitrification, assimilation, ammonification, and denitrification.
What is parasitism?
Parasitism is a type of symbiotic relationship where one organism, called the parasite, benefits at the expense of another organism, called the host. The parasite relies on the host for resources and can harm or weaken it.
What is the phosphorus cycle?
The phosphorus cycle involves the movement of phosphorus through rocks, water bodies, soil, and living organisms.
What is water pollution?
Water pollution refers to the contamination of water bodies, such as rivers, lakes, and oceans, by harmful substances or pollutants. This can include chemicals, sewage, oil spills, and other waste materials that degrade water quality and harm aquatic life.
