Environmental Science & Ecology Flashcards
7 cards from real AP practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Environmental Science & Ecology flashcards as text
What is the primary driving force behind the water cycle?
Answer: Solar energy
Solar energy drives evaporation, the process that initiates the water cycle by converting liquid water into vapor.
Which biogeochemical cycle is most directly disrupted by burning fossil fuels?
Answer: Carbon cycle
Burning fossil fuels releases stored carbon as CO2 into the atmosphere, directly disrupting the carbon cycle's natural balance.
In a food web, which organisms occupy the highest trophic level?
Answer: Tertiary consumers
Tertiary consumers eat secondary consumers and receive energy that has passed through all lower trophic levels, placing them at the apex.
Which of the following best describes a keystone species?
Answer: A species with a disproportionately large impact on its ecosystem
A keystone species has effects on ecosystem structure far greater than expected from its abundance, often controlling community composition.
What process converts atmospheric nitrogen gas (N2) into forms that plants can absorb?
Answer: Nitrogen fixation
Nitrogen fixation, performed by bacteria such as Rhizobium, converts N2 into ammonia (NH3) that plants can take up through their roots.
The CITES international treaty primarily regulates which environmental concern?
Answer: Trade in endangered species
CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) controls international commercial trade in threatened plants and animals.
Which term describes the number of different species present in a defined geographic area?
Answer: Species richness
Species richness counts the number of distinct species in an area and is a fundamental measure of local biodiversity.