AP Environmental Science Mid-Term Exam Study Guide

Exam Date/Location: Friday, January 13, 2012 8:00am 10:00am - Burk 116 Exam Value: 150 points (14.4% of your semester grade) Format for the Exam: correctly answer 55 multiple choice questions correctly answer 2 free response questions on Chapters 10 and/or 11 No curve, no corrections

How to Prepare: Attached are the review sheets for each unit. Go over all terms and concepts. Be sure that not only can you explain the meaning of a vocabulary term, but also be able to explain how it relates to other terms. Be sure that you understand the concepts (big ideas) behind each vocabulary term. Be sure that you can perform what each objective statement states. Review old homework sheets, tests, and laboratory handouts. Many questions will be taken or adapted from these. Be sure to make corrections to your assignments before you begin studying from them. Think of the questions that I have asked in the past semester on tests. Think about my questioning style, patterns, and the style of my tests. What you will need to sit for the exam: It is advisable to bring extra pens and pencils in case your pen runs out of fluid or the pencil point breaks. At minimum, eat a good carbohydrate meal on Thursday evening and have a balanced breakfast on Friday morning fruits, low-fat milk, whole grain cereals, oatmeal, etc. Get a good nights rest on the evening before the exam.

Terms in italics are from the notes, but not the text. Chapter 1 Environmental Problems, Their Causes, and Sustainability
Page # 8-10

Terms
Sustainability, natural capital, natural resources

Concepts
Be able to identify and analyze the effect of a particular practice on the natural resources and natural services of a particular system Figure 1-4 Be able to calculate facts and figures, per capita (i.e. dividing a given numerical value by the population to which it pertains). Be able to compare and contrast developed and developing countries using the I-PAT equation or other factors discussed in the course. Calculate a populations doubling time using the rule of 70. Explain the tragedy of the commons and be able to identify such situations. Compare and contrast renewable and non-renewable resources. Be able to use the I-PAT equation to discuss the relative impacts (I) that various societies make on the Earth given their relative population (P), affluence (A), and technology (T). Figure 1-14 Be able to identify the difference in sustainability between a linear consumptive model and a cyclical economic model.

10-11

economic growth, gross domestic product (GDP), per capita, developed country, developing country, doubling time, rule of 70

12

16-20

resource, perpetual resource, renewable resource, non-renewable resource, environmental degradation, free-access resources, tragedy of the commons Environmental impact theory

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Planned obsolescence, perceived obsolescence, linear model of consumption, matter-reuserecycling economy

Chapter 3 Ecosystems: What Are They and How Do They Work?

Page # 51 53 54 Terms ecology, organism, species population, habitat, distribution, range, community, ecosystem, biosphere atmosphere, troposphere, stratosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere crust, asthenosphere, core natural greenhouse effect, radiation Concepts Figure 3-2 Understand how living and non-living things fit into the organizational hierarchy of life (ecologically-speaking) Identify the four parts of our planet and how they interact Know how the Earth is structured Figure 3-6 Understand what happens to solar radiation when it reaches the Earth and how energy (radiation) can move through space to reach Earth. Figure 3-8 Atmospheric Processes laboratory Know the difference between a biotic and abiotic factor. Understand that organisms withstand variations in abiotic conditions in their environment to a certain threshold. Figure 3-11 Identify the trophic levels in a food chain/food web. Determine how an organism obtains its energy given its position in a food chain/food web Understand the role of photosynthesis, chemosynthesis, and respiration in cycling matter and energy through living systems.

54-56

56 57-58

biome, aquatic life zone abiotic, biotic range of tolerance, limiting factor, limiting factor principle Producer, autotroph, photoautotroph, chemoautotroph, consumer, heterotroph, primary consumer, herbivore, secondary consumer, carnivore, omnivore, decomposer, detritivore Photosynthesis, chemosynthesis, aerobic respiration, anaerobic respiration

58-60

58-60

Chapter 3 Ecosystems: What Are They and How Do They Work? - continued
Page # 63-66 Terms food chain, food web, trophic level, biomass, ecological efficiency, pyramid of energy, pyramid of biomass, pyramid of numbers, rule of 10, first law of thermodynamics, second law of thermodynamics Concepts Explain how matter and energy are transferred through ecosystems. Characterize ecosystems by the amount of matter and energy flows through them or by how many organisms exist within them at any given time. Figures 3-17, 3-18, 3-19 Owl Pellet Laboratory Explain the difference between GPP and NPP and the factors that influence each. Determine the GPP, NPP, or respiration of a system given two of the three. Identify the terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems with the highest NPP values on Earth. Figure 3-22 Excel Productivity Assignment Explain how carbon, nitrogen, water, phosphorus, and sulfur cycle through the lithosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere and biosphere. Understand the role of the various processes involved in biogeochemical cycles. Know the difference between the biological carbon cycle and the geological carbon cycle and explain how each plays a role in influencing Earths climate. Figures 3-26, 3-27, 3-29, 3-31, 3-32 Interpret the Gaia hypothesis.

64-67

gross primary productivity (GPP), net primary productivity (NPP)

70-78

Nutrient, biogeochemical cycle, nutrient cycle, hydrologic cycle, carbon cycle, nitrogen cycle, nitrogen fixation, nitrification, denitrification, ammonification, acid deposition, phosphorus cycle, sulfur cycle, dimethyl sulfide (DMS) Snowball Earth

78

Gaia hypothesis

Chapter 4 Evolution and Biodiversity

Page # 83-87

Terms
natural selection, mutation, differential reproduction, adaptation

Concepts
Explain the four aspects of Darwins theory of natural selection (variation, geometric growth, differential reproduction, and survival of the fittest. Figure 4-2 Define niche and be able to explain the difference between a specialist and generalist specie with respect to their niches. Explain how geographic isolation can lead to reproductive isolation which can lead to speciation. Figure 4-10

89 91-92

ecological niche, generalist species, specialist species geographic isolation, reproductive isolation, allopatric speciation

Chapter 5 Climate and Terrestrial Biodiversity

Page # 101

Terms
weather, climate, latitude, elevation

Concepts
Explain the difference between weather and climate. Understand the how latitude and elevation influence climate and weather patterns. Identify the major determinants of climate. Understand the four major factors that determine global air circulation patterns. Describe how a convection cell functions and their role in distributing heat and moisture in the atmosphere. Compare the Hadley, Ferrell, and Polar convection cells in terms of altitude, intensity, and direction of circulation. Explain how the Coriolis effect influences global wind belts. Figures 5-2, 5-3, 5-4, 5-5, 5-6 Know the major characteristics of each terrestrial biome and where they occur on the Earth. Be able to interpret a climate diagram. Identify a biome by examining its climate diagram. Figures 5-9, 5-10, 5-11, 5-12, 5-14, 5-19

102-105

Coriolis effect, convection, Hadley cell

105-123

biome, desert, grassland (prairie), savanna, steppe, tundra, permafrost, shrubland, chapparal, forest, tropical rainforest, deciduous, coniferous, taiga

Chapter 6 Aquatic Biodiversity

Page # 126-135

Terms
coral reef, coastal zone, estuary, wetland, intertidal zone, open sea Lake, lentic, lotic, littoral, limnetic, profundal, benthic, watershed

Concepts
Know the major characteristics of marine aquatic life zones. Figure 6-5, 6-9, 6-10 Know the major characteristics of freshwater systems. Figure 6-15, 6-17

136-140

Chapter 7 Community Ecology

Page # 145

Terms
species diversity, species richness, species evenness, community structure, community function, closed community, open community, ecotone, niche structure interspecific competition, resource partitioning, competitive exclusion principle

Concepts
Explain species diversity and the factors that contribute to it. Explain the difference between open and closed communities.

150

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Equilibrium model of island biogeography, species-area curves Shannon Weiner Diversity index, Simpsons index, ecological succession, primary succession, secondary succession, pioneer species, early successional species, late successional species, sere, disturbance, intermediate disturbance hypothesis, climax community, lichen

155-158

Explain how interspecific competition contributes to species diversity. Understand how organisms can avoid direct competition by partitioning their resources. Figure 7-6, 7-7 Explain MacArthur and Wilsons model and use it to predict the diversity of species on real or imaginary islands. Explain the assumptions of various diversity indices and how the information can be interpreted. Diversity index homework Explain succession and the factors that influence the process. Describe how different communities can occur in the same place depending upon the colonizers and proximity to immigrant species. Understand why the term climax community is a misnomer. Figure 7-11, 7-12 Floristic Relay Game

Chapter 8 Population Ecology

Page # 162

Terms
population distribution, random, clumping, dispersive, uniform, birth, death, immigration, emigration prereproductive, reproductive, postreproductive

Concepts
Identify population distribution patterns and analyze their underlying causes. Calculate a population size based upon the variables of change given (i.e. apply P = (B+I)-(D+E)) Identify the various age structures and describe their relative size on the effect of the total population (i.e. growing, stable, and declining). Explain the tension between a populations biotic potential and its environmental resistance. Describe the concept of carrying capacity, identify it on a graph of population versus time, and explain its plasticity. Figure 8-3 Bacteria in the Can homework Compare S- and J-shaped growth curves. Identify density dependent and density independent population control factors. Plague of Deer assignment Explain the four general patterns for the variation in population size. Explain how predators and prey interact in boom-and-bust cycles. Figure 8-7 Lynx and Hares Lab and reading Compare and contrast the advantages and disadvantages of both types of reproduction. Identify characteristics of r- and K-selected species. Predict the survivorship curves for various species based on their reproductive strategies.

162-163

163

biotic potential, environmental resistance, carrying capacity

163-165 165

exponential growth, logistic growth, reproductive time lag, dieback, crash population density, density-dependent population control, density independent population control Stable, irruptive, cyclic, irregular, boom-and-bust cycles, top down population regulation, bottom-up population regulation

166

167

asexual reproduction, sexual reproduction, tangled bank hypothesis, Red Queen hypothesis, r-selected species, K-selected species, opportunist, competitor, survivorship curve, life table, early loss, constant loss, late loss

Chapter 9 Applying Population Ecology: The Human Population and Its Impact
Page # 172-173 173-178

Terms
--birth rate, death rate, fertility, replacement-level fertility, total fertility (TFR), baby boom, life expectancy, infant mortality rate, migration

Concepts
Identify the major factors that have contributed to the exponential growth of the human population. Explain the factors that have contributed to the fluctuations of the U.S. population over the last 100 years. Compare replacement-level fertility and total fertility. Identify factors that affect fertility. Understand the importance of infant mortality rate as a predictor of societal well-being. Figures 9-5 and 9-6 Use population age structure diagrams to predict the demographic changes that will occur in a population and the differences between developed and developing countries in this regard. Figures 9-9 and 9-10 Free Response Question #6 Explain the stages of the demographic transition and their characteristic birth and death rates. Explain the effects (pros and cons) of population control policies like the ones in China and India on population growth.

178-182

population age structure diagram

182-189

demographic transition, preindustrial stage, transitional stage, industrial stage, post-industrial stage

Chapter 10 Sustaining Terrestrial Biodiversity: The Ecosystem Approach

Page # 193-199

Terms
old-growth forest, second-growth forest, tree plantation, clear-cutting, selective cutting, stripcutting, National Forest System

Concepts
Explain the differences between different types of forests. Describe the ecological and economic services provided by forests. Explain the advantages and disadvantages of various types of tree harvesting methods. Figure 10-9 and 10-11 Compare and contrast various types of forest fires. Explain the advantages to ecosystems, wildlife, and humans from prescribed burning. Understand federal legislation designed to promote healthier sustainable forests. 2000 Forest Fire Season data homework Explain the local and global ramifications of tropical deforestation. Describe strategies used to slow or eliminate deforestation in tropical areas. Explain why grasslands occur as climax communities in certain locales versus forests. Explain the major factors threatening grasslands worldwide. Review management strategies for grasslands. Homes on the Range case study Understand threats facing national parks and nature reserves. Compare various models and strategies for conserving wildlife and ecosystems. Amargosa toad and Project Puffin Case studies Saving Species discussion board

199-202

surface fire, ground fire, crown fire, prescribed burn, slash, Healthy Forest Restoration Act, Healthy Forest Initiative

202-208

Debt-for-nature swaps, conservation concessions

208-210

savanna, steppe, prairie, grassland, rangeland, pasture, overgrazing, undergrazing, rotational grazing, riparian zones, conservation easements

210-219

national park, inholding, habitat corridors, buffer zone concept, biodiversity hot spots, communitybased conservation, wilderness, ecological restoration

Chapter 11 Sustaining Biodiversity: The Species Approach

Page # 223-224

Terms
local extinction, ecological extinction, biological extinction, endangered species, threatened species World Conservation Union (IUCN), red list HIPPO endemic species, habitat island, habitat fragmentation deliberately introduced species, accidentally introduced species bushmeat

Concepts
Define terms (at left) and be able to give examples of each. Figure 11-3 Understand the importance of the CITES treaty and its role in international conservation of endangered species. Understand this acronym and be able to apply it to case studies of endangered or threatened animals Understand the role of habitat destruction to the endangerment of species. Understand the role of invasive species to the endangerment of species. Figures 11-13 and 11-14 Understand the role of overharvesting and overexploitation to the endangerment of species. Review the provisions of the original Lacey Act. Explain the roles of legislation and other conservation tactics in conserving and preserving species. Understand reconciliation ecology and how it can be used to restore species

225 229 229-232 233-236

237-239

240-245

245-246

Endangered Species Act of 1973, , National Wildlife Refuge Administration Act of 1966, National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 reconciliation ecology