AP Environmental Science Unit 1 Review

Introduction

• Presenter: Mr. Smees
• Purpose: Help students prepare for AP Environmental Science exams including unit exams, final exam, and AP exam.
• Resources: Ultimate Review Packet available (study guides, practice questions, full-length exams with keys).

Key Focus: FRQ Writing

• Essential to practice FRQ writing to avoid losing college credit.
• Use the review packet to practice and check answers.

Unit 1: Ecosystems

• Ecosystem vs. Environment vs. Habitat:
  • Ecosystem: Interaction of living & non-living things in a specific area.
  • Environment: The entire natural world.
  • Habitat: Conditions needed by a species to survive.

Species Interactions

• Types:
  • Competitors: Fight over resources.
  • Symbionts: Live in close relationship.
  • Symbiosis vs. Mutualism:
    • Symbiosis: Close proximity, not always mutually beneficial.
    • Mutualism: Benefits both species (e.g., bees & plants, coral reefs).

Topics 1.2 & 1.3: Biomes

• Definition: Regions sharing consistent yearly average temperature & precipitation.
• Examples: Tropical Rainforest (high temp & precipitation), Tundra (low temp & precipitation).
• Biomes Shift: Changes due to temperature & precipitation pattern changes.

Aquatic Biomes

• Factors Influencing Aquatic Biomes:
  • Salinity: Plant/animal adaptations to salt.
  • Flow: Oxygen diffusion, nutrient transport.
  • Depth: Influences light penetration and species.
• Example: Estuaries (unique salinity, high nutrient load).

Matter Cycles

• Conservation of Matter: Matter is neither created nor destroyed.
• Key Cycles:
  • Carbon Cycle:
    • Sources: Return carbon to atmosphere.
    • Sinks: Absorb carbon from atmosphere.
    • Processes: Photosynthesis (carbon absorption), Respiration (carbon release), Combustion (fossil fuels).
  • Nitrogen Cycle:
    • Important for plant/animal use, largely biologically unavailable in atmosphere.
    • Nitrogen Fixation: Conversion of N2 to usable forms by bacteria.
  • Phosphorus Cycle:
    • No gas phase, slow cycling.
    • Main Reservoirs: Rocks, released via weathering.
  • Water Cycle:
    • Driven by solar energy.
    • Processes: Evaporation, condensation, infiltration.
    • Major Reservoir: Oceans.

Energy Flow in Ecosystems

• Primary Productivity: Rate of photosynthesis.
• Gross vs. Net Productivity:
  • Gross: Total energy produced.
  • Net: Energy stored after respiration.
• Trophic Pyramids:
  • Structure: Producers at base, energy decreases up the pyramid.
  • 10% Rule: Only 10% energy transferred to next level.

Food Webs

• Energy Movement: Arrows show direction of energy & matter movement.
• Trophic Cascades: Impact of removing a species, especially top predators.

Conclusion

• Review: Use resources provided to master Unit 1.
• Encouragement: Think like a mountain, write like a scholar.