Disruptions in Ecosystems - AP Biology

Ingestion and entanglement of marine organisms. Plastic debris is mistaken for food and physically traps animals.

Deforestation. Tree removal exposes soil to wind and water erosion.

Reforestation. Replanting trees helps restore habitat and ecosystem services.

Ability of an ecosystem to recover after disturbances. Higher biodiversity generally increases ecosystem stability and recovery capacity.

Carbon dioxide. Most abundant greenhouse gas from human activities like burning fossil fuels.

Number of different species represented in an ecosystem. Counts total number of species, not their relative abundances.

Habitat destruction. Direct loss of natural areas eliminates species' homes and resources.

Alters temperature and precipitation patterns, affecting species. Shifts in climate force species to migrate or adapt to new conditions.

Sea otter. Controls sea urchin populations, protecting kelp forest ecosystems.

Toxicity in water bodies harming aquatic life. Chemical contaminants disrupt physiological processes and food chains.

Ecosystem engineer. Physically modifies habitat structure, creating new environmental conditions.

Carbon dioxide. Most abundant greenhouse gas from human activities like burning fossil fuels.

Ability of an ecosystem to recover after disturbances. Higher biodiversity generally increases ecosystem stability and recovery capacity.

Reducing carbon emissions. Decreases atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations to limit warming.

Primary occurs on bare substrate, secondary on disturbed soil. Primary starts from rock or lava; secondary starts from existing soil.

Process of change in species structure of an ecosystem over time. Community composition changes from pioneer to climax species over time.

Loss of biodiversity and habitat destruction. Removes trees that provide habitat and disrupt carbon and water cycles.

Habitat destruction. Direct loss of natural areas eliminates species' homes and resources.

Nutrient enrichment of water bodies, causing algal blooms. Excess nutrients promote algae growth, depleting oxygen when they decompose.

Alters temperature and precipitation patterns, affecting species. Shifts in climate force species to migrate or adapt to new conditions.

Sea otter. Controls sea urchin populations, protecting kelp forest ecosystems.

Toxicity in water bodies harming aquatic life. Chemical contaminants disrupt physiological processes and food chains.

A biological community and its physical environment. Includes both living organisms and non-living components like water, soil, and air.

Deforestation. Tree removal exposes soil to wind and water erosion.

Reforestation. Replanting trees helps restore habitat and ecosystem services.

Region with significant levels of biodiversity under threat. Contains many endemic species facing high extinction risk from human activities.

Ecosystem engineer. Physically modifies habitat structure, creating new environmental conditions.

Number of different species represented in an ecosystem. Counts total number of species, not their relative abundances.

Coral bleaching and potential death. Heat stress causes corals to expel symbiotic algae they depend on.