Unit 2 Flashcards
What does APES stand for?
Advanced Placement Environmental Science
True or False: Ecosystems are made up of both living and non-living components.
True
Fill in the blank: The _______ is the part of the Earth where life exists.
biosphere
What is the primary source of energy for the Earth’s climate system?
The Sun
What term describes the variety of life in a particular ecosystem?
biodiversity
Multiple Choice: Which of the following is a biotic factor? A) Water B) Soil C) Plants D) Sunlight
C) Plants
What is the process by which plants convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose using sunlight?
photosynthesis
True or False: The carbon cycle includes processes like respiration and decomposition.
True
What is the term for the maximum population size that an environment can sustain?
carrying capacity
Fill in the blank: The _______ cycle refers to the movement of nitrogen through the atmosphere, soil, and living organisms.
nitrogen
What is the main human activity that contributes to the increase of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere?
burning fossil fuels
Multiple Choice: Which gas is primarily responsible for the greenhouse effect? A) Oxygen B) Nitrogen C) Carbon Dioxide D) Helium
C) Carbon Dioxide
What is the term for a species that has a disproportionately large effect on its environment relative to its abundance?
keystone species
True or False: Invasive species can disrupt local ecosystems.
True
What is the primary cause of habitat destruction?
human activities such as deforestation and urbanization
Fill in the blank: _______ refers to the gradual change in species composition in a given area over time.
Ecological succession
What is the difference between primary and secondary succession?
Primary succession occurs on bare rock, while secondary succession occurs in areas where a disturbance has destroyed an ecosystem but soil remains.
Multiple Choice: Which of the following is NOT a greenhouse gas? A) Methane B) Carbon Dioxide C) Nitrous Oxide D) Oxygen
D) Oxygen
What is the term for the variety of different species within a specific habitat?
species richness
True or False: Trophic levels represent the feeding positions in a food chain.
True
What is the main role of producers in an ecosystem?
To convert solar energy into chemical energy through photosynthesis.
Fill in the blank: The _______ level of the food chain consists of herbivores.
primary consumer
What does the term ‘biomagnification’ refer to?
The increasing concentration of toxins in organisms at higher trophic levels.
Multiple Choice: Which biome is characterized by low rainfall and high temperatures? A) Tundra B) Desert C) Rainforest D) Grassland
B) Desert
