AP环境科学知识点概况1---The Living World: Ecosystems

AP环境科学考点概况1--- The living world ：Ecosystems

本章节约占考试比重6~8%，考察学生生态系统中的资源分布以及物种之间的关系。要了解全球多种多样的生态系统，其各自都有不同的气候环境特点，并且这些生态系统的分布会随着全球气候变化而发生变化，同时每个生态系统都是依靠自身的生物地理化学循环来生存发展。

章节在AP环境科学考试的选择题和FRQ的部分都会出现，陆生水生生态系统以及营养循环的内容一般以选择题为主，但是碳循环一定要认真掌握大概率会结合后面污染的章节来考察，另外需要弄清专业名词概念。

AP环境科学单词1---The living world ：Ecosystems

abioticNonliving.

aerobic respirationThe process by which cells convert glucose and oxygen intoenergy, carbon dioxide, and water.

ammonificationThe process by which fungal and bacterial decomposers break down the organic nitrogen found in dead bodies and waste products and convert it into inorganic ammonium (NH4+).

anaerobic respirationThe process by which cells convert glucose into energy in theabsence of oxygen.

aquatic biomeAn aquatic region characterized by a particular combination of salinity,depth, and water flow.

assimilationThe process by which producers incorporate elements into their tissues.

biogeochemical cycleThe movements of matter within and between ecosystems.

biosphereThe region of our planet where life resides,the combination of all ecosystems on Earth.Biotic：Living.

boreal forestA forest biome made up primarily of coniferous evergreen trees that can tolerate cold winter sand short growing seasons.

carbohydrateA compound composed of carbon,hydrogen,and oxygen atoms.

carbon cycleThe movement of carbon around the biosphere.

carnivoreA consumer that eats other consumers.

cellular respirationThe process by which cells unlock the energy of chemical compounds.

Chaparral/shrublandA biome characterized by hot,dry summers and mild, rainy winters.

chemosynthesisA process used by some bacteria in the ocean to generate energy with methane and hydrogen sulfide.

closed systemA system in which matter and energy exchanges do not occur across boundaries.

commensalismA relationship between species in which one species benefits and the other species is neither harmed nor helped.

communityAll of the populations of organisms within a given area.

competitionThe struggle of individuals to obtain a shared limiting resource.

competitive exclusion principleThe principle stating that two species competing for the same limiting resource cannot coexist.

consumerAn organism that is incapable of photosynthesis and must obtain its energy by consuming other organisms. Also known asheterotroph.

coral bleachingA phenomenon in which algae inside corals die, causing the corals to turn white.

coral reefThe most diverse marine biome on Earth,found in warm, shallow waters beyond the shoreline.

cultural eutrophicationAn increase in fertility in a body of water, the result of anthropogenic inputs of nutrients.

decomposersFungi or bacteria that convert organic matter into small elements and molecules that can be recycled back into the ecosystem.

denitrificationThe conversion of nitrate (NO3– ) in a series of steps into the gases nitrous oxide (N2O) and,eventually, nitrogen gas (N2), which is emitted into the atmosphere.

detritivoreAn organism that specializes in breaking down dead tissues and waste products into smaller particles. Ecosystem：A particular location on Earth with interacting biotic and abiotic components.

entropyRandomness in a system.

evapotranspirationThe combined amount of evaporation and transpiration.

first law of thermodynamicsA physical law which states that energy can neither be created nor destroyed but can change from one form to another.

food chainThe sequence of consumption from producers through tertiary consumers.

food webA complex model of how energy and matter move between trophic levels.

fundamental nicheThe suite of abiotic conditions under which a species can survive, grow, and reproduce.

herbivoreA consumer that eats producers. Also known as primary consumer.

herbivoryAn interaction in which an animal consumes a producer.

hydrologic cycleThe movement of water through the biosphere.

inorganic compoundA compound that does not contain the element carbon or contains carbon bound to elements other than hydrogen.

leachingThe transportation of dissolved molecules through the soil via groundwater.

limiting resourceA resource that a population cannot live without and that occurs in quantities lower than the population would require to increase in size.

mutualismAn interaction between two species that increases the chances of survival or reproduction for both species.

negative feedback loopA feedback loop in which a system responds to a change by returning to its original state, or by decreasing the rate at which the change is occurring.

net primary productivity (NPP)The energy captured by producers in an ecosystem minus the energy producers respire.

nitrificationThe conversion of ammonia (NH4+) into nitrite (NO2– ) and then into nitrate (NO3– ).

nitrogen cycleThe movement of nitrogen around the biosphere.

nitrogen fixationA process by which some organisms can convert nitrogen gas molecules directly into ammonia.

parasitismAn interaction in which one organism lives on or in another organism.

parasitoidA specialized type of predator that lays eggs inside other organisms—referred to as its host.

phosphorus cycleThe movement of phosphorus around the biosphere.

photosynthesisThe process by which producers use solar energy to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose.

phytoplanktonFloating algae.

positive feedback loopA feedback loop in which change in a system is amplified.

predationAn interaction in which one animal typically kills and consumes another animal.

producerAn organism that uses the energy of the Sun to produce usable forms of energy. Also known asautotroph.

realized nicheThe range of abiotic and biotic conditions under which a species actually lives.

resource partitioningWhen two species divide are source based on differences in their behavior or morphology.

run offWater that moves across the land surface and into streams and rivers.

second law of thermodynamicsThe physical law stating that when energy is transformed, the quantity of energy remains the same, but its ability to do work diminishes.

secondary consumerA carnivore that eats primary consumers.

symbiotic relationshipThe relationship between two species that live in close association with each other.

temperate grassland/cold desertA biome characterized by cold, harsh winters, and hot, dry summers.

temperate rainforestA coastal biome typified by moderate temperatures and high precipitation.

temperate seasonal forestAbiome with warm summers and cold winters with over 1m (39 inches) of precipitation annually.

terrestrial biomeA geographic region categorized by a particular combination of average annual temperature,annual precipitation, and distinctive plant growth forms on land.

tertiary consumerA carnivore that eats secondary consumers.

transpirationThe release of water from leaves during photosynthesis.

trophic levelsThe successive levels of organisms consuming one another.

tropical rainforestA warm and wet biome found between 20° N and 20° S of the equator, with little seasonal temperature variation and high precipitation.

tropical seasonal forest/savannaA biome marked by warm temperatures and distinct wet and dry seasons.

tundraA cold and treeless biome with low-growing vegetation.