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, water 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, pollution, 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 groundwater issues, global problems, conservation 8. Earth Systems and Resources a. Earth Science Concepts: Geologic time, plate tectonics, earthquakes and volcanism, the rock cycle b. Mining: Mineral 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 pollutants, smoking and other risks b. Hazards in the Environment: Chemical and biological, relevant laws 11. Air Pollution a. Atmosphere: structure, composition b. Sources- primary and secondary, major air pollutants, measurement units, smog, 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 Ozone: Formation of stratospheric ozone, ultraviolet radiation, causes of ozone depletion, effects of ozone depletion, strategies of reducing ozone depletion, relevant laws and treaties 13. Water Pollution a. Types, sources, causes, and effects: cultural eutrophication, groundwater pollution, maintaining water quality, water purification, sewage treatment/septic systems, Clean Water Act and other relevant laws 14. Solid Waste Pollution a. Solid Waste: Types, disposal, reduction b. Types of hazardous waste, treatment/ disposal of hazardous waste, cleanup of contaminated sites, biomagnifications, relevant laws 15. Land Use Issues a. Controlling Pests: Types of pesticides, cost and benefits of pesticide use, integrated pest management, relevant laws b. Urban Land Development: Planned development, suburban sprawl, urbanization 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 .