♻️AP Environmental Science
Key Terms

1258 essential vocabulary terms and definitions to know for your AP Environmental Science exam

♻️AP Environmental Science
Key Terms by Unit

Unit 1 – The Living World: Ecosystems

1.10 Energy Flow and the 10% Rule

1.1 Introduction to Ecosystems

1.11 Food Chains and Food Webs

1.2 Terrestrial Biomes

1.3 Aquatic Biomes

1.4 The Carbon Cycle

1.5 The Nitrogen Cycle

1.6 The Phosphorous Cycle

1.7 The Hydrologic Cycle

1.8 Primary Productivity

1.9 Trophic Levels

Unit 2 – The Living World: Biodiversity

2.1 Introduction to Biodiversity

2.2 Ecosystem Services

2.3 Island Biogeography

2.4 Ecological Tolerance

2.5 Natural Disruptions to Ecosystems

2.6 Adaptations

2.7 Ecological Succession

Unit 3 – Populations

3.1 Generalist and Specialist Species

3.2 K-Selected r-Selected Species

3.3 Survivorship Curves

3.4 Carrying Capacity

3.5 Population Growth and Resource Availability

3.6 Age Structure Diagrams

3.7 Total Fertility Rate

3.8 Human Population Dynamics

3.9 Demographic Transition

Unit 4 – Earth Systems & Resources

4.1 Tectonic Plates

4.2 Soil Formation and Erosion

4.3 Soil Composition and Properties

4.4 Earth's Atmosphere

4.5 Global Wind Patterns

4.6 Watersheds

4.7 Solar Radiation and Earth's Seasons

4.8 Earth's Geography and Climate

4.9 El Niño and La Niña

Unit 5 – Land & Water Use

5.10 Impacts of Urbanization

5.1 The Tragedy of the Commons

5.11 Ecological Footprints

5.12 Intro to Sustainability

5.13 Methods to Reduce Urban Runoff

5.14 Integrated Pest Management

5.15 Sustainable Agriculture

5.16 Aquaculture

5.17 Sustainable Forestry

5.2 Clearcutting

5.3 The Green Revolution

5.4 Impacts of Agricultural Practices

5.5 Irrigation Methods

5.6 Pest Control Methods

5.7 Meat Production Methods

5.8 Impacts of Overfishing

5.9 Impacts of Mining

Unit 6 – Energy Resources & Consumption

6.1 Renewable and Nonrenewable Resources

6.10 Geothermal Energy

6.11 Hydrogen Fuel Cell

6.12 Wind Energy

6.13 Energy Conservation

6.2 Global Energy Consumption

6.3 Fuel Types and Uses

6.4 Distribution of Natural Resources

6.5 Fossil Fuels

6.6 Nuclear Power

6.7 Energy from Biomass

6.8 Solar Energy

6.9 Hydroelectric Power

Unit 7 – Atmospheric Pollution

7.1 Introduction to Air Pollution

7.2 Photochemical Smog

7.3 Thermal Inversion

7.4 Atmospheric CO2 and Particulates

7.5 Indoor Air Pollutants

7.6 Reduction of Air Pollutants

7.7 Acid Rain

7.8 Noise Pollution

Unit 8 – Aquatic & Terrestrial Pollution

8.1 Sources of Pollution

Waste Reduction Methods

Sewage Treatment

Lethal Dose 50% (LD50)

Dose Response Curve

Pollution and Human Health

8.15 MC Answers and Review

8.2 Human Impacts on Ecosystems

8.3 Endocrine Disruptors

8.4 Human Impacts on Wetlands and Mangroves

8.5 Eutrophication

Thermal Pollution

Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)

8.8 Bioaccumulation and Biomagnification

Solid Waste Disposal

Unit 9 – Global Change

9.10 Human Impacts on Biodiversity

9.1 Stratospheric Ozone Depletion

9.2 Reducing Ozone Depletion

9.3 The Greenhouse Effect

9.4 Increases in the Greenhouse Gases

9.5 Global Climate Change

9.6 Ocean Warming

9.7 Ocean Acidification

9.8 Invasive Species

9.9 Endangered Species

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