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AP Environmental Science Key Concepts Overview

May 3, 2025

AP Environmental Science Review

Units Overview

  1. Ecosystems
  2. Biodiversity
  3. Populations
  4. Earth Systems and Resources
  5. Land and Water Use
  6. Energy Resources and Consumption
  7. Atmospheric Pollution
  8. Aquatic and Terrestrial Pollution
  9. Global Change

Unit 1: Ecosystems

Key Concepts

  • Predator and Prey: Predators eat prey organisms.
  • Symbiosis: Close interaction between species.
    • Mutualism: Both species benefit.
    • Commensalism: One benefits, the other is unaffected.
    • Parasitism: Parasite benefits, the host is harmed.
  • Competition: Organisms compete for resources (light, habitat, food).
  • Resource Partitioning: Reduces competition by using resources differently.

Terrestrial Biomes

  • Types: Taiga, temperate forest, tropical rainforest, temperate grassland, savanna, desert, tundra.
  • Biomes are affected by climate change.

Aquatic Biomes

  • Freshwater: Streams, rivers, ponds, lakes - provide drinking water.
  • Marine: Oceans, coral reefs, marshlands - contain algae that provide oxygen and absorb CO2.

Cycles

  • Carbon Cycle: Movement of carbon between sources and sinks.
  • Nitrogen Cycle: Movement of nitrogen; includes nitrification and denitrification.
  • Phosphorus Cycle: Movement of phosphorus, often a limiting factor.
  • Water Cycle: Movement of water powered by the sun; includes oceans and ice caps.

Productivity and Trophic Levels

  • Primary Productivity: Conversion of solar energy to organic compounds.
  • Trophic Levels: 10% energy transfer rule - energy flows from producers to apex predators.
  • Food Webs: Depicts energy flow within an ecosystem.

Unit 2: Biodiversity

Key Concepts

  • Biodiversity: Variety of species and habitats.
  • Population Bottlenecks: Can lead to reduced genetic diversity.
  • Ecosystem Services
    • Provisioning: Products obtained from ecosystems.
    • Regulating: Benefits obtained from regulation of ecosystem processes.
    • Cultural: Non-material benefits from ecosystems.
    • Supporting: Services necessary for production of all other ecosystem services.
  • Island Biogeography: Study of ecological relationships on islands.

Ecological Succession

  • Primary Succession: Occurs on new land with pioneer species like moss.
  • Secondary Succession: Reestablishment of a damaged ecosystem where soil remains.

Unit 3: Populations

Types of Species

  • Generalist vs. Specialist: Generalists adapt to many environments; specialists require specific conditions.
  • K-selected vs. r-selected: K-selected have fewer offspring with high parental care; r-selected have many offspring with less care.

Population Dynamics

  • Carrying Capacity (K): Maximum population size an environment can support.
  • Survivorship Curves: Type I (humans), Type II (birds), Type III (fish).

Demographics

  • Age Structure Diagrams: Show population distribution by age and gender.
  • Total Fertility Rate (TFR): Average number of children per woman.

Unit 4: Earth Systems and Resources

Plate Tectonics

  • Convergent, Divergent, Transform Boundaries: Affect earthquake and mountain formation.

Soil and Atmosphere

  • Soil Formation: Weathering of parent material.
  • Atmospheric Layers: Troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, exosphere.

Weather Patterns

  • Global Wind Patterns: Hadley, Ferrel, and Polar cells.
  • Insulation: Solar radiation received per area.

Unit 5: Land and Water Use

Environmental Issues

  • Tragedy of the Commons: Overuse of shared resources.
  • Clear-cutting: Leads to biodiversity loss and soil erosion.

Agriculture

  • Green Revolution: Advanced agricultural practices.
  • Irrigation Methods: Furrow, flood, spray, drip.

Sustainable Practices

  • Soil Conservation and Sustainable Forestry: Practices to prevent erosion and deforestation.

Unit 6: Energy Resources and Consumption

Energy Types

  • Non-renewable: Fossil fuels like coal, oil.
  • Renewable: Solar, hydroelectric, geothermal.

Energy Use

  • Fuel Uses: Wood, peat, coal, oil.
  • Nuclear Energy: Uses uranium, low emissions but risky.

Unit 7: Atmospheric Pollution

Air Pollutants

  • Primary vs. Secondary Pollutants: Direct emissions vs. chemical reactions.
  • Photochemical Smog: Formed by NOx and VOCs.

Pollution Control

  • Catalytic Converters, Scrubbers: Reduce emissions.

Acid Rain

  • Causes and Effects: Sulfur and nitrogen compounds lead to acid rain; affects ecosystems and structures.

Unit 8: Aquatic and Terrestrial Pollution

Pollution Sources

  • Point vs. Non-point: Identifiable vs. diffuse sources.
  • Oil Spills, Litter, Heavy Metals: Affect aquatic systems.

Pollution Impact

  • Eutrophication: Nutrient enrichment causing algae blooms.

Waste Management

  • Waste Reduction: Reduce, reuse, recycle.
  • Sewage Treatment: Primary, secondary, tertiary processes.

Unit 9: Global Change

Ozone Depletion and Climate Change

  • Ozone Layer Protection: Reduces UV exposure.
  • Greenhouse Effect: Necessary but intensified by human activities.

Climate Change Impacts

  • Rising Sea Levels, Ocean Warming: Affect coastal communities and marine life.
  • Invasive Species: Compete with native species for resources.

Conservation

  • Endangered Species Protection: Laws and efforts to preserve biodiversity.

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