AP Environmental Science Cheatsheets

AP Environmental Science, unit by unit

What each unit's one-page cheatsheet covers. Open a unit to read the start of its sheet.

1. Unit 1: The Living World: Ecosystems

   Species Interactions & Resource Competition · Phosphorus Cycle: Scarcity & Role · Hydrologic Cycle & Primary Productivity · Terrestrial Biomes: Distribution & Climate · Carbon Cycle: Reservoirs & Timescales · Energy Flow: Trophic Levels & the 10% Rule · Aquatic Biomes: Freshwater & Marine · Nitrogen Cycle: Steps & Limiting Factor · Food Chains, Food Webs & Feedback

2. Unit 2: The Living World: Biodiversity

   Three Levels of Biodiversity · Island Biogeography & Evolution · Test-Solving Priorities · Ecological Tolerance & Limits · Ecosystem Services & Human Disruption · Keystone & Indicator Species · Natural Disruptions: Scales & Types · Adaptation & Population Response · Ecological Succession: Types & Process

3. Unit 3: Populations

   Generalist vs. Specialist Species · Survivorship Curves · Human Population Dynamics & Demographic Metrics · K-Selected vs. r-Selected Species · Age Structure & Population Growth · Total Fertility Rate (TFR) & Human Population · Invasive Species & Selection Strategy · Carrying Capacity (K) & Overshoot · Resource Availability & Population Growth · Demographic Transition Model (DTM)

4. Unit 4: Earth Systems and Resources

   Plate Boundaries & Geological Events · Atmosphere: Layers & Composition · Common Confusions & Test Strategy · Soil Texture & Properties · Solar Radiation & Earth's Seasons · Global Wind Patterns & Watersheds · Geography, Climate & Rain Shadow · El Niño & La Niña (ENSO) · Interpreting Soil & Climate Data

5. Unit 5: Land and Water Use

   Tragedy of the Commons & Resource Depletion · Urbanization & Impervious Surfaces · Sustainable Practices & Indicators · Clearcutting: Costs & Carbon · Irrigation Methods: Efficiency vs. Cost · Pest Control: Resistance & Genetic Engineering · Green Revolution: Methods & Trade-offs · Meat Production: CAFOs vs. Pasture Systems · Mining & Resource Extraction

6. Unit 6: Energy Resources and Consumption

   Nonrenewable vs. Renewable Energy · Global Energy Consumption Patterns · Fossil Fuel Types & Properties · Fossil Fuel Power Generation & Combustion · Nuclear Power: Fission & Waste · Solar Energy Systems · Renewable Energy: Hydro, Geothermal, Wind · Biomass & Hydrogen Fuel Cells · Energy Conservation Methods · Natural Resource Distribution & Geologic Context

7. Unit 7: Atmospheric Pollution

   Primary & Secondary Pollutants from Fossil Fuels · Photochemical Smog Formation & Timing · Thermal Inversion & Pollution Trapping · Indoor Air Pollutants: Sources & Classification · Radon: Entry & Health Impact · Acid Deposition: Formation & Regional Impact · Pollution Control Devices & Methods · Reducing Photochemical Smog & Lead Regulation · Noise Pollution: Sources & Ecological Effects

8. Unit 8: Aquatic and Terrestrial Pollution

   Point vs. Nonpoint Sources · Organism Tolerance & Aquatic Stress · Eutrophication & Oxygen Dynamics · POPs, Bioaccumulation & Biomagnification · Endocrine Disruptors & Wetlands · Solid Waste & Disposal Methods · Waste Reduction & Sewage Treatment · Toxicology & Human Health · Pathogens & Infectious Diseases

9. Unit 9: Global Change

   Stratospheric Ozone: Role & Depletion · Ocean Warming: Causes & Consequences · Biodiversity Loss: HIPPCO & Mitigation · Greenhouse Gases & Global Warming Potential · Ocean Acidification Chemistry & Impacts · Climate Change: Atmospheric & Oceanic Transport · Polar Regions & Positive Feedback Loops · Invasive Species: Definition & Control · Endangered Species: Causes & Protection