Something helpful for AP Environ. test-takers

Test Preparation
1

<p>So, we’ve all been stressing about Environmental Science… Our teacher reccomended that even if we don’t study anything, we should study vocabulary at the very least and we’d still be able to scrape a 3 with it. Anyway, our class compiled vocabular…and breathe in…because it’s A LOT and I do agree with her, because we’ve taken some old exams and if you know the vocabulary, you have a good chance of choosing the right answer even if you may not directly know the answer.
Here it is for all those who are interested in looking at it.
By the way, does any teacher have predictions for FRQs?

  1. Acute Poverty-Insufficient income or access to
    resources needed to provide the basic necessities for
    life.
    Example: Food, shelter, water, sanitation, clean
    water, medical care, and education.
  2. Biocentric preservation-A philosophy that
    emphasizes the fundamental right of living organisms
    to exist and to pursue their own goods.
  3. Cornucopian fallacy-The belief that nature is
    limitless in its abundance and that perpetual growth
    is not only possible but essential.
  4. HDI-
  5. neo-Malthusian-A belief that the world is
    characterized by scarcity and competition in which too
    many people fight for too few resources. Named for
    Thomas Mathus, who predicted a dismal cycle of misery,
    vice, and starvation as a result of human
    overpopulation.
  6. Promethean environmentalism-
  7. Sustainable development-A real increase in
    well-being and standard of life for the average person
    that can be maintained over the long-term without
    degrading the environment or compromising the ability
    of future generations to meet their own needs.
  8. Utilitarian conservation-A philosophy that
    resources should be used for the greatest good for the
    greatest number for the longest time.
  9. Anthropocentric-The belief that humans hold a
    special place in nature; being centered primarily on
    humans and human affairs.
  10. Biocentric-Life centered
  11. Ecocentric-A philosophy that claims moral values
    and rights for both organisms and ecological systems
    and processes.
  12. Environmental racism-Decisions that restrict
    certain people or groups of people to polluted or
    degraded environments on the basis of race.
  13. NIMBY-Not In My Back Yard: the rallying cry of
    those opposed to LULUs.
  14. Stewardship-A philosophy that humans have a unique
    responsibility to manage, care for, and improve
    nature.
  15. Acids-Substance that release hydrogen ions
    (protons) in water.
    Example: Hydrochloric acid (HCl)
  16. Bases-Substances that bond readily with hydrogen
    ions.
    Example: Sodium hydroxide (NaOH)
  17. Biological community-The populations of plants,
    animals, and microorganisms living and interacting in
    a certain area at a given time.
  18. Biomass-The total mass or weight of all living
    organisms in a given population or area.
  19. Carbon cycle-The circulation and reutilization of
    carbon atoms, especially via the processes of
    photosynthesis and respiration.
  20. Carbon sinks-Places of carbon accumulation, such
    as in large forests (organic compounds) or ocean
    sediments (calcium carbonate); carbon is thus removed
    from the carbon cycle for moderately long to very long
    periods of time.
  21. carnivores-organisms that mainly prey upon
    animals.
  22. cells-minute biological compartments within which
    the processes of life are carried out.
  23. cellular respiration-the process in which a cell a
    cell breaks down sugar or other organic compounds to
    release energy used for cellular work
  24. chemical energy-potential energy stored in
    chemical bonds of molecules.
  25. consumers-organisms that obtain energy and
    nutrients by feeding on other organisms or their
    remains.
  26. decomposers-fungi and bacteria that break complex
    organic material into smaller molecules.
  27. detritivores-organisms that consume organic
    litter, debris, and dung.
  28. ecology-the scientific study of relationships
    between organisms and their environment.<br>
  29. ecosystem-a specific biological community and its
    physical environment interacting in an exchange of
    matter and energy.
  30. energy-the capacity to do work.
  31. enzymes-molecules, usually proteins or nucleic
    acids, that act as catalysts in biochemical reactions.</p>

<li>first law of thermodynamics-states that energy is
conserved: that is, it is neither created or destroyed
under normal conditions. </li>
<li>second law of thermodynamics-states that, with
each successive energy transfer or transformation in a
system, less energy is available to do work. </li>
<li>food chain-a linked feeding series; in an
ecosystem, the sequence of organisms through which
energy and materials are transferred, in the form of
food, from one trophic level to another. </li>
<li>food web-a complex, interlocking series of
individual food chains in an ecosystem. </li>
<li>heat-a form of energy transferred from one body to
another because of a difference in temperatures. </li>
<li>herbivores-organisms that eats only plants. </li>
<li>homeostasis-maintaining a dynamic, steady state in
a living system through opposing, compensating
adjustments. </li>
<li>isotopes-forms of a single element that differ in
atomic mass due to a different number of neutrons in
the nucleus.<br></li>
<li>joules(j)- units of energy; one joule is the
energy expended in 1 second by a current of 1 amp
flowing through a resistance of 1 ohm.</li>
<li>kinetic energy- energy contained in moving objects
such as a rock rolling down a hill, the wind blowing
through the trees or water flowing over a dam; energy
in motion. </li>
<li>potential energy- stored energy that is latent but
available for use. A rock poised at the top of a hill
or water stored behind a dam are examples for
potential energy.</li>
<li>metabolism- all the energy and matter exchanges
that occur within a living cell or organism;
collectively, the life processes.</li>
<li>nitrogen cycle- the circulation and reutilization
of nitrogen in both organic and inorganic phases.</li>
<li>omnivores- organisms who eat both plant and animal
matter.</li>
<li>organic compound- complex molecules organized
around skeletons of carbon atoms arranged in rings or
chains; includes biomolecules, molecules synthesized
by living organisms.</li>
<li>pH- a value that indicates the acidity or
alkalinity of a solution on a scale of 0 to 14, based
on the proportion of H+ ions present.</li>
<li>phosphorus cycle- the movement of phosphorus atoms
from rocks through the biosphere and the hydrosphere
and back to rocks. The phosphorus cycle carries
essential mineral from its source in rocks and soil,
through plants and animals, and back to sediments as
wastes and carrion.</li>
<li>photosynthesis- the biochemical process by which
green plants and some bacteria capture light energy
and use it to produce chemical bonds. Carbon dioxide
and water are consumed while oxygen and simple sugars
are produced.</li>
<li>population- a group of individuals of the same
species occupying a given area.</li>
<li>producer- an organism that synthesizes food
molecules from organic compounds by using an external
energy source; most producers are photosynthetic.</li>
<li>productivity- the amount of biomes (biological
material) produced in a given area during a given
period of time.</li>
<li>scavengers- organisms that feed on the dead bodies
of other organisms.</li>
<li>species- a population of morphologically similar
organisms that can reproduce sexually among themselves
but that cannot produce fertile offspring when mated
with other organisms.</li>
<li>sulfur cycle- the chemical and physical reactions
by which sulfur moves into or out of storage and
through the environment.</li>
<li>temperature- a measure of the speed of motion of
an atom or molecule in an object.</li>
<li>Tropic level-step in the movement of energy
through an ecosystem; an organism’s feeding status in
an ecosystem.</li>
<li>Trophic level- step in the movement of energy
through an ecosystem; an organism’s feeding status in
an ecosystem.</li>
<li>Abundance- the number or amount of something</li>
<li>Climax community- stable, long-lasting community
reached in a succession series</li>
<li>Commensalism- a symbiotic relationship in which
one member is benefited and the second is neither
harmed nor benefited. Example- cattle greets
living on cattle</li>
<li>Complexity- the number species at each trophic
level and the number of trophic levels in a community.
Example- tropical rainforests</li>
<li>Disclimax communities- landscapes that never reach
a stable climax.</li>
<li>Diversity- the number of species in a community.</li>
<li>Ecological niche- the functional role and position
of a species.(how it lives)</li>
<li>Ecotones- a boundary between two types of
ecological communities</li>
<li>Edge effect- a change in species composition,
physical conditions, or other ecological factors at
the boundary between two ecosystem.</li>
<li>Environmental indicators- organisms or physical
factors that serve as a gauge for environmental
changes.</li>
<li>Evolution- a theory that explains hoe random
changes in genetic material and competition for scarce
resources cause species to change gradually.</li>
<li>Equilibrium community- a community subject to
periodic disruptions, usually by fire, that prevent it
from reaching a climax stage.</li>
<li>Habitat- The place or set of environmental
conditions in which a particular organism lives. </li>
<li>Interspecific Competition- in a community,
competition for resources between members of different
species.</li>
<li>Intraspecific Competition- in a community,
competition for resources between members of the same
species.</li>
<li>Keystone Species- a species whose impacts on its
community or ecosystem are much larger and more
influential than would be expected.</li>
<li>Mutualism- a symbiotic relationship between
individuals or two different species in which both
species benefit.</li>
</ol>

2

<ol>
<li>Natural Selection- Environmental pressures cause
certain genetic combinations in a population to become
more abundant </li>
<li>Parasites- an organism that in or on another
organism, deriving nourishment at the expense of its
host usually without killing it.</li>
<li>Pathogens- an organism that produces disease in a
host organism, disease being an alteration of one or
more metabolic functions in response to the presence
of the organism.</li>
<li>Pioneer Species- the plants, lichens and microbes
that first colonize the site.</li>
<li>Plankton- primarily microscopic organisms that
occupy the upper water layers in both freshwater and
marine ecosystems. </li>
<li>Predator- An organism that feeds directly on other
organisms in order to survive; live-feeders, suck as
herbivores and carnivores.</li>
<li>Primary productivity- Synthesis of organic
materials (biomass) by green plants using the energy
captured in photosynthesis.</li>
<li>Primary Succession- An ecological succession that
begins in an area where no biotic community previously
existed.</li>
<li>Resource Partitioning- In a biological community,
various populations sharing environmental resources
through specialization, thereby reducing direct
competition.</li>
<li>Secondary succession – Succession on a site where
an existing community has been disrupted.</li>
<li>Symbiosis- The intimate living together of members
of two different species.</li>
<li>Territoriality- An intense form of introspective
competition in which organisms define an area
surrounding their home site or nesting site and defend
it, primarily against other members of their own
species.</li>
<li>Tolerance Limits- Chemical or physical factors
that limit the existence, growth, abundance, or
distribution of an organism.</li>
<li>Benthos- The bottom of a sea or lake.</li>
<li>Biomes- Broad regional types of ecosystems
characterized by distinctive climate and soil
conditions and a distinctive conditions and a
distinctive kind of biological community adapted to
those conditions.</li>
<li>Bogs- Areas of waterlogged soil that tends to be
peaty.</li>
<li>Boreal Forest- A broad band of mixed coniferous
and deciduous trees that stretches across northern
North America.</li>
<li>Chaparral- Consists of evergreen shrubs, small
trees, and fires burn fiercely in this area.</li>
<li>Conifer- Needle-bearing tree that produce seeds in
cones.</li>
<li>Deciduous- Trees and shrubs that shed their leaves
at the end of the growing season.</li>
<li>Estuary: A bay or drowned valley where a river
empties into the sea. Interaction between the river
and near-shore ocean waters, creates tidal action and
river flow mix fresh and salt water. Such areas
include bays, mouths of rivers, salt marshes, and
lagoons. These brackish water ecosystems shelter and
feed marine life, birds, and wildlife.</li>
<li>Fen: An area of water-logged soil that tends to be
peaty; Fed mainly bu upwelling water and is low in
productivity. This type of wetland that accumulates
peat deposits. Fens are less acidic than bogs,
deriving most of their water from groundwater rich in
calcium and magnesium.</li>
<li>Grasslands: A biome dominated by grasses and
associated herbaceous plants.</li>
<li>Landscape Ecology: The study of the distribution
patterns of communities and ecosystems, the ecological
processes that affect those patterns, and changes in
pattern and process over time.</li>
<li>Marsh: A type of wetland that is dominated by
herbaceous vegetation. Marshes may be either fresh or
saltwater, tidal or non-tidal.
101.) mitigate- to alleviate a contaminated site of
its contamination
102.) reclamation- chemical, biological, or physical
cleanup and reconstruction of severely contaminated or
degraded sites to return them to something like their
original topography and vegetation
103.) re-creation- construction of an entirely new
biological community to replace one that has been
destroyed on that or another site
104.) swamps- wetland with trees
105.) thermocline- in water, a distinctive temperature
transition zone that separates an upper layer that is
mixed by the wind and a colder, deep layer that is not
mixed
106.) tundra- treeless arctic or alpine biome
characterized by cold, harsh winters, a short growing
season, and potential for frost any month of the year
107.) wetlands- ecosystems of several types in which
rooted vegetation is surrounded by standing water
during part of the year
108.) abiotic- pertaining to nonliving organisms
109.) biotic- pertaining to life
110.) biotic potential- the maximum reproductive rater
of an organism, given unlimited resources and ideal
environmental conditions
111.) carrying capacity- the maximum number of
individuals of any species that can be supported by a
particular ecosystem on a long-term basis
112.) chaotic system- system that exhibits
variability, which may not be necessarily random, yet
whose complex patterns are not discernible over a
normal human time scale
113.) dieback- a sudden population decline
114.) emigration- the movement of members from a
population
115.) environmental resistance- all the limiting
factors that then to reduce population growth rates
and set the maximum allowable population size or
carrying capacity of an ecosystem
116.) exponential growth- growth at a constant rate of
increase per unit of time
117.) fecundity- the physical ability to reproduce
118.) fertility- measurement of actual number of
offspring produced through sexual reproduction
119.) Malthusian growth- a population explosion
followed by a population crash
120.) J curve- a growth curve that depicts exponential
growth</li>
</ol>

<p>121 S curve- A curve that depicts logistic growth;
called S curve because of its shape.
122 Life expectancy- The probable number of years of
survival for an individual of a given age. Ex. The
average life expectancy for a female is 79.
123 Life span- The longest period of life reached by a
given type of organism.
124 Logistic growth- Growth rates regulated by
internal and external factors that establish an
equilibrium with environmental resources.
125 Mortality- Death rate in a population.
126 Natality- The production of new individuals by
birth, hatching, germination, or cloning, and is the
main source of addition to most biological
populations.
127 Overshoot- The extent to which a population
exceeds the carrying capacity of its environment.
128 Population crash- A sudden population decline
caused by predation, waste accumulation, or resource
depletion. Ex. Dieback
129 Survivorship- The percentage of a population
reaching a given age or the proportion of the maximum
life span of the species reached by any individual.
130 Crude birth rate- The number of births in a year
divided by the midyear population.
131 Crude death rate- The number of deaths per
thousand persons in a given year also called crude
mortality rate.
132 Demographic transition- A pattern of falling death
rates and birthrates in response to improved living
conditions; could be reversed in deteriorating
conditions.
133 Demography- Vital statistics about people: births,
marriages, deaths, etc.; the statistical study of
human populations.
134 Dependency ratio- The number of nonworking members
compared to working members for a given population.
135 Total fertility rate- The number of children born
to an average woman in a population during her entire
reproductive life.
136 Total growth rate- The net rate of population
growth resulting from births, deaths, immigration, and
emigration.
137 Acute effects- Toxic effects that are caused by a
single exposure to the toxin and result in an
immediate health crisis of some sort.
138 Allergens- Substances that activate the immune
system.
139 Antigens- Recognized as foreign by white blood
cells and stimulate the production of specific
antibodies.
140 Bioaccumulation- The selective absorption and
concentration of molecules by cells.
141. Biomagnification - increase in chemicals a you
travel farther up the trophic levels
142. Carcinogen- cancer causing agent, or substance
143. Chronic effects- long lasting results of an
exposure to a toxin
144. DALY-
145.Emergent disease- a new disease or one that has
been absent for more than 20 years
146. Fetal alcohol syndrome- permanent mental, or
physical effects of drinking during pregnancy
147. LD50- Chemical dose lethal to half of a
population
148. Morbidity- illness, or disease
149. Mutagens- agents such as chemicals, or radiation
that damage, or alter genetic makeup of DNA
150. Neurotoxin- toxic substances that poison, or
damage nerve cells (lead, mercury)
151. Risks- probability that something will happen as
a consequence to an exposure
152. Teratogens - chemicals, or other factors that
cause abnormalities during embryonic growth
153. Toxins- Poisonous chemicals that react with cell
components to kill cells, or alter their growth.
154. Anemia- Low levels of hemoglobin due to lack of
iron, and red blood cells
155. Contour plowing- plowing along a hill, instead of
up or down a hill, reduces soil erosion
156. Cover crops- plants such a rye, clover, and
alfalfa that can be planted right after harvest to
prevent soil loss
157. Famines- acute food shortages associated with
loss of life, and economic chaos
158. GMO’s -<br>
159. Green revolution- dramatic increase of crops
caused by pesticides, plant nutrients, and large
amounts of water
160. Gully erosion- removal of layers of soil creating
large channels, and ravines</p>

3

<ol>
<li>humus- Sticky, brown insoluble residue from the
bodies of dead plants and animals; gives soil its
structure, coating mineral particles and holding them
together; serves as a major source of plant nutrients.</li>
<li>Malnourishment- A nutritional imbalance caused by
lack of specific dietary components or inability to
absorb or utilize essential nutrients.</li>
<li>Marasmus - A widespread human protein deficiency
disease caused by a diet low in calories and protein
or imbalanced in essential amino acids.</li>
<li> Mulch- Protective ground cover, including both
natural products and synthetic materials that protect
the soil, save water, and prevent weed growth.</li>
<li> Overnutrition - Receiving too many calories.</li>
<li> Perennial Species- Plants that grow for more than
two years.</li>
<li> Reduced Tillage Systems- Systems, such as minimum
till, conserve-till, and no-till, that preserve soil,
save energy and water, and increase crop yields. </li>
<li> Regeneration Farming- farming techniques and land
stewardship that restore the health and productivity
of the soil by rotating crops, planting ground cover,
protecting the surface with crop residue, and reducing
synthetic chemical inputs and mechanical compaction.</li>
<li> Rill Erosion- The removing of thin layers of soil
as little rivulets of water running water gather and
cut small channels in the soil.</li>
<li> Salinization - A process in which mineral salts
accumulate in the soil, killing plants; occurs when
soils in dry climates are irrigated profusely.</li>
<li> Soil- A complex mixture of weathered mineral
materials from rocks, partially decomposed organic
molecules, and a host of living organisms.</li>
<li> Soil Horizons- Horizontal layers that reveal a
soil’s history, characteristics, and usefulness.</li>
<li> Soil Profile- </li>
<li> Strip-farming- Planting different kinds of crops
in alternating along land contours; when one crop is
harvested, the other crop remains to protect the soil
and prevent water from running straight down a hill.</li>
<li> Subsoil- A layer of soil beneath the topsoil that
has lower organic content and higher concentrations of
fine mineral particles; often contains soluble
compounds and clay particles carried down by
percolating water.</li>
<li> Sustainable Agriculture- An ecologically sound,
economically viable, socially just, and humane
agricultural system.</li>
<li> Topsoil- The first true layer of soil; layer in
which organic material is mixed with mineral
particles; thickness ranges from a meter or more under
virgin prairie to zero in some deserts.</li>
<li> Undernourished- Those who receive less than 90
percent of the minimum dietary intake over a long-term
time period; they lack energy for an active,
productive life and are more susceptible to infectious
diseases.</li>
<li> Biocide- A broad-spectrum poison that kills a
wide range of organisms.</li>
<li> Biological Controls- Use of natural predators,
pathogens, or competitors to regulate pest
populations.</li>
<li>Biological pests- organisms that reduce the
availability, quality, or value of recourses useful to
humans.</li>
<li>Delaney Clause- a constitutional amendment to the
Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic act, added in 1958,
prohibiting the addition of any known cancer-causing
agent to processed foods, drugs, or cosmetics. </li>
<li>Economic thresholds- in pest management, the
point at which the cost of pest damage exceeds the
costs of pest control. </li>
<li>Fungicides- a chemical that kills fungi.</li>
<li>Herbicides- a chemical that kills plants.</li>
<li>Insecticides- a chemical that kills insects.</li>
<li>IPM- an ecologically based pest-control strategy
that relies on natural mortality factors, such as
small enemies, weather, cultural control methods, and
carefully applied doses of pesticides. </li>
<li>Pest resurgence- rebound of pest populations due
to acquired resistance to chemicals and nonspecific
destruction of natural predators and competitors by
broad scale pesticides. </li>
<li>Pesticide- any chemical that kill, controls,
drives away, or modifies the behavior of a pest. </li>
<li>Pesticide treadmill- a need for constantly
increasing doses or new pesticides to prevent pest
resurgence. </li>
<li>Biodiversity- the genetic, species, and
ecological diversity of the organisms in a given area.</li>
<li>Endangered Species- a species considered to be in
imminent danger of extinction. </li>
<li>Existence value- the importance we place on just
knowing that particular species or organism exists. </li>
<li>Exotic organism- Alien species introduced by
human agency into biological communities where they
would not naturally occur. </li>
<li>Extinction- The irrevocable elimination of
species; can be a normal process of the natural world
as species out compete or kill off others or as
environmental conditions occur. </li>
<li>Genetic assimilation- the disappearance of a
species as its genes are diluted through crossbreeding
with a closely related species. </li>
<li>Threatened species- while still abundant in parts
of its territorial range, this species has declined
significantly in total numbers and may be on the verge
of extinction in certain regions or localities. </li>
<li>Vulnerable species- natural rare organisms or
species whose numbers have been so reduced by human
activities that they are susceptible to actions that
could push them into threatened or endangered status. </li>
<li>Clear-cutting- cutting every tree in a given area
regardless of size or species. An appropriate harvest
method for some species; can be destructive if not
carefully controlled.</li>
<li>Closed canopy- a forest where tree crowns spread
over 20% of the ground; has the potential for
commercial timber harvests. </li>
<li>Debt-For-Nature-Swaps- Forgiveness of
international debt in exchange for nature protection
in developing countries.</li>
<li>Desertification- Denuding and degrading a
once-fertile land, initiating a desert producing cycle
that feeds on itself and causes long-term changes in
soil, climate, and biota of an area.</li>
<li>Forest Management- Scientific planning and
administration of forest resources for sustainable
harvest, multiple use, regeneration, and maintenance
of a healthy biological community.</li>
<li>Land Reform- Democratic redistribution of land
ownership to recognize the rights of those who
actually work the land to a fair share of the products
of their labor.</li>
<li>Milpa Agriculture- An ancient farming system in
which small patches of tropical forests are cleared
and perennial polyculture agriculture practiced and is
then followed b many years of fallow to restore the
soil; also called Swidden Agriculture. </li>
<li>Polyculture- ?</li>
<li>Monoculture Forestry- Intensive planting of a
single species; and efficient wood production
approach, but one that encourages pests and disease
infestations and conflicts with wildlife habitat or
recreation uses.</li>
<li>Open Canopy- A forest where trees cover less than
20 percent of the ground; also called woodland.</li>
<li>Rotational Grazing- ?</li>
<li>selective cutting-when only mature trees are
taken in 10-20 year periods</li>
<li>strip cutting-harvesting all the trees in a
narrow area</li>
<li>swidden agriculture-method of farming which is
sometimes referred to as slash and burn</li>
<li>biogeographical area-the entire self contained
ecosystem and its surrounding land</li>
<li>corridors-isolated refuges that support
populations with small territories</li>
<li>wilderness-an area of undeveloped land affected
by forces of nature</li>
<li>wildlife refuges-part of a system that helps with
the preservation of wildlife</li>
<li>core-interior of earth composed of dense,
intensely hot metal</li>
<li>crust-brittle layer that floats on mantle</li>
<li>earthquakes-sudden movements on earth’s crust
that happen along faults</li>
<li>heap-leach extraction-technique that makes it
possible to separate gold from ores</li>
<li>igneous rocks- crystalline minerals solidified
from molten magma from deep in the earth’s interior;
basalt, rhyolite, andesite, lava, and granite are
examples.</li>
<li>landslide- the sudden fall of rock and earth from
a hill or cliff. Often triggered by an earthquake or
heavy rain.</li>
<li>magma- molten rock from deep in the earth’s
interior; called lava when it spews from volcanic
vents.<br></li>
<li>metamorphic rock- igneous and sedimentary rocks
modified by heat, pressure, and chemical reactions. </li>
<li>rock cycle- The process whereby rocks are broken
down by chemical and physical forces; sediments are
moved by wind, water, and gravity, sedimented and
reformed into rock, and then crushed, folded, melted,
and recrystallized into new forms.
.</li>
</ol>

4

<ol>
<li>humus- Sticky, brown insoluble residue from the
bodies of dead plants and animals; gives soil its
structure, coating mineral particles and holding them
together; serves as a major source of plant nutrients.</li>
<li>Malnourishment- A nutritional imbalance caused by
lack of specific dietary components or inability to
absorb or utilize essential nutrients.</li>
<li>Marasmus - A widespread human protein deficiency
disease caused by a diet low in calories and protein
or imbalanced in essential amino acids.</li>
<li> Mulch- Protective ground cover, including both
natural products and synthetic materials that protect
the soil, save water, and prevent weed growth.</li>
<li> Overnutrition - Receiving too many calories.</li>
<li> Perennial Species- Plants that grow for more than
two years.</li>
<li> Reduced Tillage Systems- Systems, such as minimum
till, conserve-till, and no-till, that preserve soil,
save energy and water, and increase crop yields. </li>
<li> Regeneration Farming- farming techniques and land
stewardship that restore the health and productivity
of the soil by rotating crops, planting ground cover,
protecting the surface with crop residue, and reducing
synthetic chemical inputs and mechanical compaction.</li>
<li> Rill Erosion- The removing of thin layers of soil
as little rivulets of water running water gather and
cut small channels in the soil.</li>
<li> Salinization - A process in which mineral salts
accumulate in the soil, killing plants; occurs when
soils in dry climates are irrigated profusely.</li>
<li> Soil- A complex mixture of weathered mineral
materials from rocks, partially decomposed organic
molecules, and a host of living organisms.</li>
<li> Soil Horizons- Horizontal layers that reveal a
soil’s history, characteristics, and usefulness.</li>
<li> Soil Profile- </li>
<li> Strip-farming- Planting different kinds of crops
in alternating along land contours; when one crop is
harvested, the other crop remains to protect the soil
and prevent water from running straight down a hill.</li>
<li> Subsoil- A layer of soil beneath the topsoil that
has lower organic content and higher concentrations of
fine mineral particles; often contains soluble
compounds and clay particles carried down by
percolating water.</li>
<li> Sustainable Agriculture- An ecologically sound,
economically viable, socially just, and humane
agricultural system.</li>
<li> Topsoil- The first true layer of soil; layer in
which organic material is mixed with mineral
particles; thickness ranges from a meter or more under
virgin prairie to zero in some deserts.</li>
<li> Undernourished- Those who receive less than 90
percent of the minimum dietary intake over a long-term
time period; they lack energy for an active,
productive life and are more susceptible to infectious
diseases.</li>
<li> Biocide- A broad-spectrum poison that kills a
wide range of organisms.</li>
<li> Biological Controls- Use of natural predators,
pathogens, or competitors to regulate pest
populations.</li>
<li>Biological pests- organisms that reduce the
availability, quality, or value of recourses useful to
humans.</li>
<li>Delaney Clause- a constitutional amendment to the
Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic act, added in 1958,
prohibiting the addition of any known cancer-causing
agent to processed foods, drugs, or cosmetics. </li>
<li>Economic thresholds- in pest management, the
point at which the cost of pest damage exceeds the
costs of pest control. </li>
<li>Fungicides- a chemical that kills fungi.</li>
<li>Herbicides- a chemical that kills plants.</li>
<li>Insecticides- a chemical that kills insects.</li>
<li>IPM- an ecologically based pest-control strategy
that relies on natural mortality factors, such as
small enemies, weather, cultural control methods, and
carefully applied doses of pesticides. </li>
<li>Pest resurgence- rebound of pest populations due
to acquired resistance to chemicals and nonspecific
destruction of natural predators and competitors by
broad scale pesticides. </li>
<li>Pesticide- any chemical that kill, controls,
drives away, or modifies the behavior of a pest. </li>
<li>Pesticide treadmill- a need for constantly
increasing doses or new pesticides to prevent pest
resurgence. </li>
<li>Biodiversity- the genetic, species, and
ecological diversity of the organisms in a given area.</li>
<li>Endangered Species- a species considered to be in
imminent danger of extinction. </li>
<li>Existence value- the importance we place on just
knowing that particular species or organism exists. </li>
<li>Exotic organism- Alien species introduced by
human agency into biological communities where they
would not naturally occur. </li>
<li>Extinction- The irrevocable elimination of
species; can be a normal process of the natural world
as species out compete or kill off others or as
environmental conditions occur. </li>
<li>Genetic assimilation- the disappearance of a
species as its genes are diluted through crossbreeding
with a closely related species. </li>
<li>Threatened species- while still abundant in parts
of its territorial range, this species has declined
significantly in total numbers and may be on the verge
of extinction in certain regions or localities. </li>
<li>Vulnerable species- natural rare organisms or
species whose numbers have been so reduced by human
activities that they are susceptible to actions that
could push them into threatened or endangered status. </li>
<li>Clear-cutting- cutting every tree in a given area
regardless of size or species. An appropriate harvest
method for some species; can be destructive if not
carefully controlled.</li>
<li>Closed canopy- a forest where tree crowns spread
over 20% of the ground; has the potential for
commercial timber harvests. </li>
<li>Debt-For-Nature-Swaps- Forgiveness of
international debt in exchange for nature protection
in developing countries.</li>
<li>Desertification- Denuding and degrading a
once-fertile land, initiating a desert producing cycle
that feeds on itself and causes long-term changes in
soil, climate, and biota of an area.</li>
<li>Forest Management- Scientific planning and
administration of forest resources for sustainable
harvest, multiple use, regeneration, and maintenance
of a healthy biological community.</li>
<li>Land Reform- Democratic redistribution of land
ownership to recognize the rights of those who
actually work the land to a fair share of the products
of their labor.</li>
<li>Milpa Agriculture- An ancient farming system in
which small patches of tropical forests are cleared
and perennial polyculture agriculture practiced and is
then followed b many years of fallow to restore the
soil; also called Swidden Agriculture. </li>
<li>Polyculture- ?</li>
<li>Monoculture Forestry- Intensive planting of a
single species; and efficient wood production
approach, but one that encourages pests and disease
infestations and conflicts with wildlife habitat or
recreation uses.</li>
<li>Open Canopy- A forest where trees cover less than
20 percent of the ground; also called woodland.</li>
<li>Rotational Grazing- ?</li>
<li>selective cutting-when only mature trees are
taken in 10-20 year periods</li>
<li>strip cutting-harvesting all the trees in a
narrow area</li>
<li>swidden agriculture-method of farming which is
sometimes referred to as slash and burn</li>
<li>biogeographical area-the entire self contained
ecosystem and its surrounding land</li>
<li>corridors-isolated refuges that support
populations with small territories</li>
<li>wilderness-an area of undeveloped land affected
by forces of nature</li>
<li>wildlife refuges-part of a system that helps with
the preservation of wildlife</li>
<li>core-interior of earth composed of dense,
intensely hot metal</li>
<li>crust-brittle layer that floats on mantle</li>
<li>earthquakes-sudden movements on earth’s crust
that happen along faults</li>
<li>heap-leach extraction-technique that makes it
possible to separate gold from ores</li>
<li>igneous rocks- crystalline minerals solidified
from molten magma from deep in the earth’s interior;
basalt, rhyolite, andesite, lava, and granite are
examples.</li>
<li>landslide- the sudden fall of rock and earth from
a hill or cliff. Often triggered by an earthquake or
heavy rain.</li>
<li>magma- molten rock from deep in the earth’s
interior; called lava when it spews from volcanic
vents.<br></li>
<li>metamorphic rock- igneous and sedimentary rocks
modified by heat, pressure, and chemical reactions. </li>
<li>rock cycle- The process whereby rocks are broken
down by chemical and physical forces; sediments are
moved by wind, water, and gravity, sedimented and
reformed into rock, and then crushed, folded, melted,
and recrystallized into new forms.</li>
<li>sedimentary rock- deposited material that remains
in place long enough or is covered with enough
material to compact into stone; examples include
shale, sandstone, breccia, and conglomerates. </li>
<li>sedimentation- the deposition of organic
materials or minerals by chemical, physical, or
biological processes.</li>
<li>strategic metals and minerals- materials a
country cannot produce itself but that it uses for
essential material or processes. </li>
<li>tectonic plates- huge blocks of the earth’s
crust that slide around slowly, pulling apart to open
new ocean basins or crashing ponderously into each
other to create new, larger landmasses.</li>
</ol>

5

<p>Thanks man,</p>

<p>I think I may actually read over this. Before I planned on not studying at all b/c I still have to teach myself ap psych tonight. I <3 you.</p>

6

<p>damn how mANY % CORRECT do u need to get a 5</p>

7

<p>Thanks so much for the vocab, Starryq. My guesses for the essay: something to do with global warming/depletion of the ozone layer or population growth - both very important issues.</p>

8

<p>
[quote]
global warming/depletion of the ozone layer or population growth

[/quote]
We just talked about both of these subjects today in Biology!!
Japan & Europe are both decreasing in population growth, but overall, my teacher agreed that the US and other countries as well should limit the amount of babies to a couple like Japan and China do. Oh and by 2150 we're expected to reach carrying capacty. It was a really interesting discussion. And those definitions seem very helpful for the Ecology unit we're studying now. Thanks :)</p>

9

<p>Awesome list, thanks a lot!</p>

<p>I just finished reading Barrons, which means I need all the outside sources I can get to fill in the blanks Barrons doesn't. I'm gonna go through my class notes and barrons and write essential information for each section of the topic outline. Might be able to post it if I get it done in a reasonable amount of time.</p>

10

<p>The estimateded carrying capacity is not absolute. It is debated by almost every environmental science prof. The argument that in 2150 population will become stable is one that is built upon the basis that all countries will become post-industrial. I have a hard time believing.</p>

11

<ol>
<li>tsunami- giant seismic sea swells that move rapidly from the center of an earthquake; the can be
10 to 20 meters high when they reach shorelines
hundreds or even thousands of kilometers from the source.</li>
<li>weathering- changes in rocks brought about by exposure to air, water, changing temperatures, and reactive chemical agents.</li>
<li>aerosols- minute particles or liquid droplets suspended in the air.</li>
<li>albedo- a description of a surface’s reflective properties.</li>
<li>climate- a description of the long-term pattern of weather in a particular area.</li>
<li>convection current- rising or sinking air currents that stir the atmosphere and transport heat from one area to another. Convection currents also occur in water.</li>
<li>Coriolis effect- the influence of friction and
drag on air layers near the earth; deflects air currents to the direction of the earth’s rotation.</li>
<li>ENSO- a climatic change marked by shifting of a large warm water pool from the western Pacific Ocean towards the east. Wind direction and precipitation patterns are changed over much of the Pacific and perhaps around the world.</li>
<li>greenhouse gases- gases added to the atmosphere by human actions that trap heat and cause global warming. </li>
<li>hurricanes- large cyclonic oceanic storms with heavy rain and winds exceeding 119 km/hr (74 mph).</li>
<li>ionosphere- the lower part of the thermosphere. </li>
<li> Jet stream - powerful winds or currents of air that circulate in shifting flows.</li>
<li> Mesosphere - the atmosphere layer above the stratosphere and below the thermosphere.</li>
<li> Kyoto Protocol - an international agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.</li>
<li> Monsoon - a seasonal reversal of wind patterns caused by the different heating and cooling rates of oceans and continents.</li>
<li> Stratosphere - the zone in the atmosphere extending from the tropopause to about 30 mi above the earth’s surface.</li>
<li> Thermosphere - the highest atmospheric zone; a region of hot, dilute gases above the mesosphere.</li>
<li> Tornadoes - violent storms characterized by strong swirling winds and updrafts.</li>
<li> Troposphere - the layer of air nearest to the earth’s surface.</li>
<li> Weather - description of the physical conditions of the atmosphere (moisture, temp,pressure, and wind).</li>
<li> Acid precipitation - acidic rain, snow, or dry particles deposited from the air due to increased acids released by anthropogenic or natural resources.</li>
<li> Ambient air - the air immediately around us.</li>
<li> Bronchitis - a persistent inflammation of bronchi and bronchioles that causes mucus build up, a painful cough, and involuntary muscle spasms that constrict airways.</li>
<li> CFC’s - Chemical compounds with a carbon skeleton and one or more attached chlorine and fluorine atoms.</li>
<li> Criteria pollutants - pollutants that contribute the largest volume of air-quality degradation and also are considered the most serious threat of all air pollutants to human health and welfare.</li>
<li> Electrostatic precipitators - the most common particulate controls in power plants.</li>
<li> Emission standards - regulations for restricting the amounts of air pollutants that can be released from specific point sources.</li>
<li> Emphysema - can result of severe bronchitis, an irreversible obstructive lung disease in which airways become permanently constricted and alveoli are damaged or even destroyed.</li>
<li> Fugitive emissions - substances that enter the air without going through a smoke stack, such as dust from soil erosion, strip mining, rock crushing, construction, and building demolition.</li>
<li> Ozone - a highly reactive molecule containing3 oxygen atoms.</li>
<li> Particulate material - atmospheric aerosols, such as dust, ash, soot, lint, smoke, etc. Originally
applied only to solid particles but now extended to droplets of liquid.</li>
<li>NOx- Highly reactive gases formed when nitrogen in fuel or combustion air is heated to over 1,200degrees F in the presence of oxygen or when bacteria in soil or water oxidize nitrogen-containing compounds. </li>
<li>photochemical oxidants- Products of secondary atmospheric reactions.</li>
<li>primary pollutants- Chemicals released directly into the air in a harmful form.</li>
<li>secondary pollutants- Chemicals modified to a hazardous form after entering the air or that is formed by chemical reactions as components of the air mix and interacts</li>
<li>SOx- a colorless, corrosive gas directly damaging to both plants and animals.</li>
<li>Temperature inversion- The inversion of temperature from Celsius to Fahrenheit</li>
<li>VOC- Organic chemicals that evaporate readily and exist as gases in the air.</li>
<li>noncriteria pollutants- Toxic or hazardous substances, such as asbestos, benzene, beryllium, mercury, polychlorinated biphenyls, and vinyl chloride, not listed in the original Clean Air Act because they were not released in large quantities.</li>
<li>aquifer- Porous, water-bearing layers of sand, gravel, and rock below the earth’s surface; reservoirs of groundwater.</li>
<li>artesian- The result of a pressurized aquifer intersecting the surface or being penetrated by a pipe or conduit, from which water gushes without being pumped.</li>
<li>condensation- The aggregation of water molecules
from vapor to liquid or solid when the saturation concentration is exceeded.</li>
<li>consumption- The fraction of withdrawn water that is lost in transmission or that is evaporated, absorbed, chemically transformed, or otherwise made unavailable for other purposes as a result of human use.</li>
<li>degradation- Deterioration in water quality due to contamination or pollution; makes water unsuitable for other desirable purposes.</li>
<li>condensation nuclei- Tiny particles that float in the air and facilitate the condensation process.</li>
<li>desalination- Removal of salt from water by distillation, freezing, or ultra filtration.</li>
<li>dew point- The temperature at which condensation occurs for a given concentration of water vapor in the air.</li>
<li>discharge- The amount of water that passes a
fixed point in a given amount of time; usually
expressed as liters or cubic feet of water per second.</li>
<li>evaporation- The process in which liquid is changed to vapor.</li>
<li>groundwater- Water held in gravel deposits or porous rock below the earth’s surface; does not include water or crystallization held by chemical bonds in rocks or moisture in upper soil layers.</li>
<li>infiltration- The process of water percolation into the soil and pores and hollows of permeable rocks.</li>
<li>Rain Shadow – Dry area on the downwind side of a mountain.</li>
<li>Recharge Zone – Area where water infiltrates into the aquifer.</li>
<li>Relative Humidity – At any given temperature, a comparison of the actual water content of the air with the amount of water that could be held at that saturation.</li>
<li>Residence Time – The length of time a component, such as an individual water molecule, spends in a particular compartment or location before it moves on through a particular process of cycle.</li>
<li>Saltwater Intrusion – Movement of saltwater into freshwater aquifers in coastal areas where groundwater is withdrawn faster than it’s replenished.</li>
<li>Sinkholes – A large surface crater caused by the collapse of an underground channel or cavern; often triggered by groundwater withdrawal.</li>
<li>Sublimation –The process by which water can move between solid and gaseous states without ever becoming liquid.</li>
<li>Subsidence – A settling of the ground surface caused by the collapse of porous formations that result from withdrawal of large amounts of groundwater, oil, or other underground materials.</li>
<li>Watershed – The land surface and groundwater aquifers drained by a particular river system.</li>
<li>Water Table – The top layer of the zone of saturation; undulates according to the surface topography and subsurface structure.</li>
</ol>

12

<ol>
<li>Withdrawal – A description of the total amount of the total amount of water taken from a lake, river, or aquifer.</li>
<li>Zone of Aeration – Upper soil layers that hold both air and water.</li>
<li>Zone of Saturation – Lower soil layers where all spaces are filler with water.</li>
<li>Atmospheric Deposition – Sedimentation of solids, liquids, or gaseous materials from the air.</li>
<li>BAT – The best pollution control available.</li>
<li>BPT – The best technology for pollution control available at reasonable costs</li>
<li>BOD – A standard test for measuring the amount of dissolved oxygen utilized by aquatic microorganisms.</li>
<li>Coli form Bacteria – bacteria that live in the intestines of humans and other animals; used as a measure of the presence of feces in water or soil.</li>
<li>Cultural Eutrophication – An increase in biological productivity and ecosystem succession cause by human activities.</li>
<li> DO – Amount of oxygen dissolved in a given volume of water and a given temperature and atmospheric pressure; usually expressed in ppm.</li>
<li>Effluent sewage: A low-cost alternative sewage treatment for cities in poor countries that combines some features of septic systems and centralized municipal treatment systems.</li>
<li>Eutrophic: Rivers and lakes rich in organisms
and organic material.</li>
<li>Non-point sources: Scattered. Diffuse sources of
pollutants, such as runoff from farm fields, golf
courses, construction sites, etc.</li>
<li>Oligotrophic: Condition of rivers and lakes that
have clear water and low biological productivity; are usually clear, cold, infertile headwater lakes and streams.</li>
<li>Oxygen sag: Oxygen decline downstream from a pollution source that introduces materials with high biological oxygen demands.</li>
<li>Point Sources: Specific locations of highly concentrated pollution discharge, such as factories, power plants, sewage treatment plants, underground coal mines, and oil wells.</li>
<li>Primary Treatment: A process that removes solids from sewage before it is discharged or treated further.</li>
<li>Secondary Treatment: Bacterial decomposition of
suspended particulates and dissolved organic compounds that remain after primary sewage treatments.</li>
<li>Red tide: A population explosion or bloom of minute, single-celled marine organisms called dinoflagellates.<br></li>
<li>Thermal plume: A plume of hot water discharged into a stream or lake by a heat source, such as a power plant.</li>
<li>TMDL: The amount of particular pollutant that a water body can receive from both point and non-point sources and still meet water quality standards.

<ol>
<li>Black lung disease: Inflammation and fibrosis caused by accumulation of coal dust in the lungs or airways.</li>
</ol></li>
<li>Breeder reactor: A nuclear reactor that produces
fuel by bombarding isotopes of uranium and thorium with high-energy neutrons that convert inert atoms to fissionable ones.</li>
<li>Chain reaction: A self-sustaining reaction in
which the fission of nuclei produces subatomic particles that cause the fission of other nuclei.</li>
<li>Control Rods: Neutron-absorbing material inserted into spaces between fuel assemblies in nuclear reactors to regulate fission reaction.</li>
<li>Fossil fuels: Petroleum, natural gas, and coal created by geological forces from organic wastes and dead bodies of formerly living biological organisms.</li>
<li>Fuel assembly: A bundle of hollow metal rods
containing uranium oxide pellets; used to fuel nuclear reactor.</li>
<li>High-level waste repository: A place where intensely radioactive wastes can be buried and remain
unexposed to groundwater and earthquakes for lots of years.</li>
<li>Inertial confinement: A nuclear fusion process
in which a small pellet of nuclear fuel is bombarded with extremely high-intensity laser light.</li>
<li>Magnetic confinement: A technique for enclosing
a nuclear fusion reaction in a powerful magnetic field inside a vacuum chamber.</li>
<li>methane hydrate- small bubbles or individual molecules of methane trapped in a crystalline matrix of frozen water.</li>
<li>nuclear fission- the radioactive decay process in which isotopes split apart to create two smaller atoms.</li>
<li>nuclear fusion- a process in which two smaller
atomic nuclei fuse into one larger nucleus and release energy; the source of the power in a hydrogen bomb.</li>
<li>power- the rate of energy delivery; measured in horsepower or watts.</li>
<li>work- the application of force through distance; requires energy input.</li>
<li>active solar systems- a mechanical system that actively collects, concentrates, and stores solar energy.</li>
<li>cogeneration- the simultaneous production of electricity and steam or hot water in the same plant. </li>
<li>energy efficiency- using energy to the point where no energy is wasted and the task can be performed with the least amount of energy being exerted.</li>
<li>fuel cells- mechanical devices that use hydrogen
or hydrogen-containing fuel such as methane to produce an electrical current. Fuel cells are clean, quiet, and highly efficient sources of electricity.</li>
<li>gasohol- a mixture of gasoline and ethanol.</li>
<li>geothermal energy- energy drawn from the internal heat of the earth, either through geysers, fumaroles, hot springs, or other natural geothermal features, or through deep wells that pump heated groundwater.</li>
<li>green pricing- prices that help control consumption and pollution.</li>
<li>net energy yield- total useful energy produced during the lifetime of an entire energy system minus the energy used, lost, or wasted in making useful energy available.</li>
<li>passive heat absorption- the use of natural materials or absorptive structures without moving parts to gather and hold heat; the simplest and oldest use of solar energy.</li>
<li>photovoltaic cell- an energy-conversion device that captures solar energy and directly converts it to solar energy.</li>
<li>reformer- a device that strips hydrogen from fuel
cells such as natural gas, methanol, ammonia, gasoline, or vegetable oil so they can be used in a fuel cell.</li>
<li>wind farms- large numbers of windmills concentrated in a single area; usually owned by a utility or large-scale energy producer.</li>
<li>bioremediation- use of biological organisms to remove or detoxify pollutants from a contaminated area.</li>
<li>hazardous waste- any discarded material
containing substances known to be toxic, mutagenic, carcinogenic, or teratogenic to humans or other life-forms; ignitable, corrosive, explosive, or highly reactive alone or with other materials.</li>
<li>Superfund- a fund established by Congress to pay for containment, cleanup, or remediation of abandoned toxic waste sites. The fund is financed by fees paid by toxic waste generators and by cost-recovery from cleanup projects.</li>
<li>Sanitary Landfills – A landfill in which garbage and municipal waste is buried every day under enough soil or fill to eliminate odors, vermin and litter.</li>
<li>Recycling – Reprocessing of discarded materials into new, useful products; not the same as reuse of materials for their original purpose, but the terms are often used interchangeably</li>
<li>Energy Recovery – Incineration of solid waste to produce useful energy.</li>
<li>Demanufacturing – Disassembly of products so components can be reused or recycled.</li>
<li>Secure Landfill – A solid waste disposal site
lined and capped with an impermeable barrier to prevent leakage or leaching. Drain tiles, sampling
wells, and vent systems provide monitoring and pollution control.</li>
<li>Refuse-Derived Fuel – Processing of solid waste to remove metal, glass and other unburnable materials;
organic residue is shredded, formed into pellets and dried to make fuel for power plants.</li>
<li>Composting – The biological degradation of organic material under aerobic conditions to produce compost, a nutrient rich soil amendment and conditioner.</li>
</ol>

13

<p>That's the end of the list. I know it seems a lot, but actually, a lot of the stuff you probably already know and it's just a refresher. I've been at it for about thirty mins and I'm already halfway through the list. So, I would say, give it an hour or a little more and you'll be golden. My teacher almost guarantees that if you know this list you'll get a 3. :P:P Not that we're aiming for 3s. :P But it gives me some sort of reassurance.
Good luck, guys.
Yeah, teacher said the same about global warming and she told me to review solid wastes and cycles (nitrogen, etc)</p>

14

<p>I was talking to older bro and he's using this site to study for Psyche. Check it out. He likes it a lot. :P
<a href="http://www.course-notes.org/psychology/study_guides/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.course-notes.org/psychology/study_guides/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

15

<p>thank you ever so much o.O</p>

16

<p>Great List up there!</p>