AP Environmental Science Flashcards: Introduction To Biodiversity

What this deck covers

This deck focuses on Introduction To Biodiversity, giving you a quick way to review the definitions, rules, and examples that matter most for AP Environmental Science.

How to use these flashcards

Work through these flashcards in short sessions. Try to answer each prompt before flipping the card, then revisit any cards you miss until the explanation feels automatic.

Flashcard 1: What is secondary succession?

Answer: Succession occurring in areas where soil exists. Follows disturbances like fires or storms in established ecosystems.

Flashcard 2: What is the impact of overharvesting on biodiversity?

Answer: It depletes species populations. Removes individuals faster than natural reproduction rates.

Flashcard 3: What is the role of a producer in an ecosystem?

Answer: Producers convert solar energy into chemical energy. Photosynthesis captures sunlight to create organic compounds.

Flashcard 4: Identify one example of a keystone species.

Answer: The gray wolf in Yellowstone National Park. Regulates prey populations and maintains ecosystem balance.

Flashcard 5: Which term describes a group of interbreeding organisms?

Answer: Species. Members can produce fertile offspring under natural conditions.

Flashcard 6: Which process can lead to speciation?

Answer: Geographic isolation can lead to speciation. Physical barriers prevent gene flow between populations.

Flashcard 7: Which process can lead to genetic drift?

Answer: Random changes in allele frequencies. Occurs more frequently in small, isolated populations.

Flashcard 8: What is ecosystem diversity?

Answer: Ecosystem diversity is the variety of ecosystems in a region. Includes different habitats like forests, wetlands, and grasslands.

Flashcard 9: Identify the three levels of biodiversity.

Answer: Genetic, species, and ecosystem diversity. These represent the hierarchical organization from genes to communities.

Flashcard 10: Which factor increases genetic diversity in a population?

Answer: Mutation and sexual reproduction. Create new genetic combinations and introduce novel traits.

Flashcard 11: What is the primary source of energy for most ecosystems?

Answer: The Sun. Solar radiation drives photosynthesis and most food webs.

Flashcard 12: Which factor is a major threat to biodiversity?

Answer: Habitat loss is a major threat to biodiversity. Destruction of natural habitats eliminates species' living spaces.

Flashcard 13: Which factor is crucial for maintaining genetic diversity?

Answer: Gene flow between populations. Migration prevents inbreeding and maintains genetic variation.

Flashcard 14: What is genetic diversity?

Answer: Genetic diversity is the variety of genes within a species. Enables adaptation and survival through genetic variation within populations.

Flashcard 15: What is the primary cause of habitat destruction?

Answer: Human activities, such as deforestation. Development and agriculture convert natural habitats to human use.

Flashcard 16: Which factor is a major threat to biodiversity?

Answer: Habitat loss is a major threat to biodiversity. Destruction of natural habitats eliminates species' living spaces.

Flashcard 17: What is an ecological footprint?

Answer: A measure of human demand on Earth's ecosystems. Quantifies resource consumption compared to Earth's regenerative capacity.

Flashcard 18: What is the impact of overharvesting on biodiversity?

Answer: It depletes species populations. Removes individuals faster than natural reproduction rates.

Flashcard 19: Which level of biodiversity involves different species?

Answer: Species diversity. Focuses on variety and abundance of different species.

Flashcard 20: What is an ecological niche?

Answer: An ecological niche is the role a species plays in its ecosystem. Includes habitat requirements, feeding behavior, and interactions.

Flashcard 21: Define habitat fragmentation.

Answer: The process by which habitat loss results in the division of large habitats. Creates isolated patches that cannot support viable populations.

Flashcard 22: What does 'trophic level' mean?

Answer: A trophic level is a position in a food chain. Indicates feeding relationships and energy transfer pathways.

Flashcard 23: Identify one benefit of high biodiversity.

Answer: High biodiversity enhances ecosystem resilience. More species provide greater stability against environmental disturbances.

Flashcard 24: Define habitat fragmentation.

Answer: The process by which habitat loss results in the division of large habitats. Creates isolated patches that cannot support viable populations.

Flashcard 25: Which level of biodiversity involves different species?

Answer: Species diversity. Focuses on variety and abundance of different species.

Flashcard 26: What is an ecological niche?

Answer: An ecological niche is the role a species plays in its ecosystem. Includes habitat requirements, feeding behavior, and interactions.

Flashcard 27: What does 'keystone species' mean?

Answer: A keystone species has a disproportionately large effect on its ecosystem. Their removal dramatically alters ecosystem structure and function.

Flashcard 28: Identify one consequence of losing biodiversity.

Answer: Ecosystem services may be reduced. Loss of pollination, water purification, and climate regulation.

Flashcard 29: What is ecosystem diversity?

Answer: Ecosystem diversity is the variety of ecosystems in a region. Includes different habitats like forests, wetlands, and grasslands.

Flashcard 30: Which term describes a species that no longer exists?

Answer: Extinct. Complete disappearance means no living individuals remain anywhere.

Flashcard 31: Identify one consequence of losing biodiversity.

Answer: Ecosystem services may be reduced. Loss of pollination, water purification, and climate regulation.

Flashcard 32: What is primary succession?

Answer: Succession occurring on surfaces without soil. Begins on bare rock, sand, or lava without existing soil.

Flashcard 33: Which factor increases genetic diversity in a population?

Answer: Mutation and sexual reproduction. Create new genetic combinations and introduce novel traits.

Flashcard 34: What is an invasive species?

Answer: An invasive species is non-native and harms the ecosystem. Lacks natural predators and disrupts established ecological relationships.

Flashcard 35: Which process can lead to genetic drift?

Answer: Random changes in allele frequencies. Occurs more frequently in small, isolated populations.

Flashcard 36: Define ecological succession.

Answer: The gradual process of change in an ecosystem's species structure. Communities develop predictably from simple to complex over time.

Flashcard 37: Identify one human activity that reduces biodiversity.

Answer: Pollution. Contaminates habitats and directly harms wildlife populations.

Flashcard 38: What is the role of a decomposer in an ecosystem?

Answer: Decomposers break down dead organic matter. Recycle nutrients back into the ecosystem for reuse.

Flashcard 39: Which term describes a group of interbreeding organisms?

Answer: Species. Members can produce fertile offspring under natural conditions.

Flashcard 40: What is genetic diversity?

Answer: Genetic diversity is the variety of genes within a species. Enables adaptation and survival through genetic variation within populations.

Flashcard 41: Identify one human activity that reduces biodiversity.

Answer: Pollution. Contaminates habitats and directly harms wildlife populations.

Flashcard 42: Identify one example of a biodiversity hotspot.

Answer: The Amazon rainforest is a biodiversity hotspot. Contains exceptional concentrations of endemic species under threat.

Flashcard 43: Define carrying capacity.

Answer: Carrying capacity is the maximum population size an environment can sustain. Limited by resource availability and environmental resistance.

Flashcard 44: What does 'trophic level' mean?

Answer: A trophic level is a position in a food chain. Indicates feeding relationships and energy transfer pathways.

Flashcard 45: Which factor is part of an ecosystem's structure?

Answer: Abiotic factors like soil and water. Non-living components provide the physical foundation for life.

Flashcard 46: What is the primary cause of habitat destruction?

Answer: Human activities, such as deforestation. Development and agriculture convert natural habitats to human use.

Flashcard 47: What is the main difference between primary and secondary succession?

Answer: Soil presence; absent in primary, present in secondary. Primary lacks soil foundation while secondary has existing soil.

Flashcard 48: Define species diversity.

Answer: Species diversity is the variety of species in a given area. Measured by both the number of species and their relative abundance.

Flashcard 49: What is biodiversity?

Answer: Biodiversity refers to the variety of life on Earth. Encompasses all living organisms and their genetic, species, and ecosystem variations.

Flashcard 50: Identify one benefit of high biodiversity.

Answer: High biodiversity enhances ecosystem resilience. More species provide greater stability against environmental disturbances.

Flashcard 51: What does 'keystone species' mean?

Answer: A keystone species has a disproportionately large effect on its ecosystem. Their removal dramatically alters ecosystem structure and function.

Flashcard 52: What is an endemic species?

Answer: An endemic species is found only in a specific location. Geographic isolation often leads to unique evolutionary adaptations.

Flashcard 53: What is the role of a producer in an ecosystem?

Answer: Producers convert solar energy into chemical energy. Photosynthesis captures sunlight to create organic compounds.

Flashcard 54: Which term describes a species that no longer exists?

Answer: Extinct. Complete disappearance means no living individuals remain anywhere.

Flashcard 55: What is biotic potential?

Answer: Biotic potential is the maximum reproductive capacity of a species. Theoretical maximum growth rate under ideal conditions.

Flashcard 56: What is biodiversity?

Answer: Biodiversity refers to the variety of life on Earth. Encompasses all living organisms and their genetic, species, and ecosystem variations.

Flashcard 57: Which term describes the variety of ecosystems?

Answer: Ecosystem diversity. Encompasses variety of habitats and ecological communities.

Flashcard 58: Which factor is part of an ecosystem's structure?

Answer: Abiotic factors like soil and water. Non-living components provide the physical foundation for life.

Flashcard 59: What does 'endangered species' mean?

Answer: A species at risk of extinction. Population has declined to dangerously low levels.

Flashcard 60: What is secondary succession?

Answer: Succession occurring in areas where soil exists. Follows disturbances like fires or storms in established ecosystems.

Flashcard 61: Which process can lead to speciation?

Answer: Geographic isolation can lead to speciation. Physical barriers prevent gene flow between populations.

Flashcard 62: Which factor is crucial for maintaining genetic diversity?

Answer: Gene flow between populations. Migration prevents inbreeding and maintains genetic variation.

Flashcard 63: What is an ecological footprint?

Answer: A measure of human demand on Earth's ecosystems. Quantifies resource consumption compared to Earth's regenerative capacity.

Flashcard 64: What is the role of a decomposer in an ecosystem?

Answer: Decomposers break down dead organic matter. Recycle nutrients back into the ecosystem for reuse.

Flashcard 65: What is the significance of a biodiversity hotspot?

Answer: A hotspot has a high level of endemic species and is under threat. Requires both high endemism and significant habitat loss or degradation.

Flashcard 66: What is biotic potential?

Answer: Biotic potential is the maximum reproductive capacity of a species. Theoretical maximum growth rate under ideal conditions.

Flashcard 67: What is the primary source of energy for most ecosystems?

Answer: The Sun. Solar radiation drives photosynthesis and most food webs.

Flashcard 68: Define carrying capacity.

Answer: Carrying capacity is the maximum population size an environment can sustain. Limited by resource availability and environmental resistance.