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AP Environmental Science Topics

1. Introduction a. Environmental Problems: Their causes and sustainability

2. Science, Systems, Matter and Energy a. The Nature of Science: Models, matter and energy forms, Law of Conservation of Matter, Laws of Thermodynamics

3. The Living World a. Ecosystem Structure: Biological populations b. Energy Flow: Photosynthesis and cellular respiration, food webs and trophic levels, ecological pyramids c. Soil: formation, composition, physical and chemical properties, soil types d. Natural Biogeochemical Cycles: Carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur, e. Ecosystem Diversity: Biodiversity, natural selection, evolution, ecosystem services

4. Climate and Biodiversity a. Atmospheric Concepts: Seasons, solar intensity, latitude, weather, climate, circulation, coriolis effect, atmosphere- ocean interactions b. Biomes and Aquatic Life Zones: major terrestrial, aquatic environments, saltwater and freshwater c. Ecosystem Interactions: communities, ecological niches, species interactions, keystone species, species diversity d. Natural Ecosystem Change: Climate shifts, species movement, ecological succession

5. Population a. Population Biology Concepts: Population ecology, carrying capacity, reproductive strategies, survivorship b. Human Population- Human Population Dynamics: Historical population sizes, distribution, fertility rates, growth rates and doubling times, demographic transition, age-structure diagrams c. Human Population Size: strategies for sustainability, case studies, national policies d. Impacts of Human Population Growth: Hunger, disease, economic effects, resource use, habitat destruction

6. Sustaining Biodiversity a. Forestry: Tree plantations, old growth forests, forest fires, deforestation, forest management, national forests b. Public and Federal Lands: Management, wilderness areas, national parks, wildlife refuges, forests, wetlands c. Land Conservation Options: Preservation , remediation, mitigation, restoration d. Loss of Biodiversity: Habitat loss, overuse, , introduced species, endangered and extinct species, relevant laws and treaties e. Loss of Biodiversity: Maintenance and conservation

7. Land and Water Use a. Agriculture- Feeding a Growing Population: types of agriculture, green revolution b. Soil Dynamics: Erosion, problems, overgrazing, desertification deforestation, irrigation, and conservation c. Food Production and Nutrition: Human nutrition requirements, genetic engineering and crop production, sustainable agriculture d. Meat Production and Rangelands: rangeland management, federal rangelands e. Fish and Shellfish Production: Fisheries harvest, over- fishing, fishing techniques, aquaculture, agricultural government policies, relevant laws and treaties f. Global Water Resources and Use: Freshwater, saltwater, ocean circulation, agricultural, industrial and domestic use, surface and issues, global problems, conservation

8. Earth Systems and Resources a. Earth Science Concepts: Geologic time, plate tectonics, earthquakes and volcanism, the rock cycle b. : formation, extraction, global reserves, relevant laws and treaties 9. Energy Resources and Consumption a. Energy Consumption: - History: Industrial revolution, exponential growth, energy crises Present global energy use, future global energy needs b. Fossil Fuel Resources and Use: Formation of coal, oil, and natural gas, extraction and purification methods, world reserves and global demand, synfuels, environmental advantages and disadvantages of sources c. . Nuclear Energy: Nuclear fission process, nuclear fuel, electricity production, nuclear reactor types, environmental advantages/ disadvantages, safety issues, radiation and human health, radioactive wastes, nuclear fusion d. Renewable Energy: Solar energy, solar electricity, biomass, wind energy, small-scale hydroelectric, ocean waves and tidal energy, geothermal, hydrogen fuel cells, environmental advantages/ disadvantages e. Energy Concepts:, power, units, conversions, Energy Conservation: Energy efficiency

10. Impacts of the Environment on Human Health a. Hazards to Human Health: Environmental risk analysis, acute and chronic effects, biomagnifications, dose- response relationships, air , smoking and other risks b. Hazards in the Environment: Chemical and biological, relevant laws

11. a. Atmosphere: structure, composition b. Sources- primary and secondary, major air pollutants, measurement units, , acid deposition – causes and effects, heat islands and temperature inversions, indoor air pollution, remediation and reduction strategies, Clean Air Act and other relevant laws

12. Global Change a. Climate Change: Greenhouse gases and greenhouse effect, impacts and consequences of global warming, reducing climate change, relevant laws and treaties b. Stratospheric : Formation of stratospheric ozone, ultraviolet radiation, causes of , effects of ozone depletion, strategies of reducing ozone depletion, relevant laws and treaties

13. a. Types, sources, causes, and effects: cultural , , maintaining , water purification, treatment/septic systems, Clean Water Act and other relevant laws

14. Solid Waste Pollution a. Solid Waste: Types, disposal, reduction b. Types of , treatment/ disposal of hazardous waste, cleanup of contaminated sites, biomagnifications, relevant laws

15. Land Use Issues a. Controlling Pests: Types of , cost and benefits of use, integrated pest management, relevant laws b. Urban Land Development: Planned development, suburban sprawl, c. Transportation infrastructure: Federal highway system, canals and channels, road less areas, ecosystem impacts d. Sustainable Land-Use Strategies

16. Global Environmental Policy a. Global Economics:, relevant laws and treaties