APES (A.P. Environmental Science) Course Content - College Board

Current info from the AP course College Board web site

Big Ideas

1)  Energy Transfer (ENG)

2)  Interactions Between Earth Systems (ERT)

3)  Interactions Between Different Species and the Environment (EIN)

4)  Sustainability (STB)

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Units (do not have to be done in order)

*** APES Unit Correlation with our textbook ***

UNIT 1:  The Living World: Ecosystems (6-8% of AP exam)
1.1 Introduction to Ecosysterms
1.2 Terrestrial Biomes
1.3 Aquatic Biomes
1.4 The Carbon Cycle
1.5 The Nitrogen Cycle
1.6 The Phosphorus Cycle
1.7 The Hydrologic (Water) Cycle
1.8 Primary Productivity
1.9 Trophic Levels
1.10 Energy Flow and the 10% Rule
1.11 Food Chains and Food Webs

UNIT 2:  The Living World: Biodiversity (6-8%)
2.1 Introduction to Biodiversity
2.2 Ecosystem Services
2.3 Island Biogeography
2.4 Ecological Tolerance
2.5 Natural Disruptions to Ecosystems
2.6 Adaptations
2.7 Ecological Succession

UNIT 3:  Populations (10-15%)
3.1 Generalist and Specialist Species
3.2 K-selected species; r-selected species
3.3 Survivorship Curves
3.4 Carrying Capacity
3.5 Population Growth and Resource Availability
3.6 Age Structure Diagrams
3.7 Total Fertility Rats
3.8 Human Population Dynamics
3.9 Demographic Transition

UNIT 4:  Earth Systems and Resources (10-15%)
4.1 Plate Tectonics
4.2 Soil Formation and Erosion
4.3 Soil Composition and Properties
4.4 Earth's Atmosphere
4.5 Global Wind Patterns
4.6 Watersheds
4.7 Solar Radiation and Earth's Seasons
4.8 Earth's Geography and Climate
4.9 La Nino and La Nina

UNIT 5:  Land and Water Use (10-15%)
5.1 The Tragedy of the Commons
5.2 Clear Cutting
5.3 The Green Revolution
5.4 Impacts of Agricultural Practices
5.5 Irrigation Methods
5.6 Pest Control Methods
5.7 Meat Production Methods
5.8 Impacts of Overfishing
5.9 Impacts of Mining
5.10 Impacts of Urbanization
5.11 Ecological Footprints
5.12 Introduction to Sustainability
5.13 Methods to Reduce Urban Runoff
5.14 Integrated Pest Management
5.15 Sustainable Agriculture
5.16 Aquaculture
5.17 Sustainable Forestry

UNIT 6:  Energy Resources and Consumption (10-15%)
6.1 Renewable and Nonrenewable Resources
6.2 Global Energy Consumption
6.3 Fuel Types and Uses
6.4 Distribution of Natural Energy Resources
6.5 Fossil Fuels
6.6 Nuclear Power
6.7 Energy from Biomass
6.8 Solar Energy
6.9 Hydroelectric Power
6.10 Geothermal Energy
6.11 Hydrogen Fuel Cell
6.12 Wind Energy
6.13 Energy Conservation

UNIT 7:  Atmospheric Pollution (7-10%)
7.1 Introduction to Air Pollution
7.2 Photochemical Smog
7.3 Thermal Inversion
7.4 Atmospheric CO2 and Particulates
7.5 Indoor Air Pollutants
7.6 Reduction of Air Pollutants
7.7 Acid Rain
7.8 Noise Pollution

UNIT 8:  Aquatic and Terrestrial Pollution (7-10%)
8.1 Sources of Pollution
8.2 Human Impacts on Ecosystems
8.3 Endocrine Disruptors
8.4 Human Impacts on Wetlands and Mangroves
8.5 Eutrophication
8.6 Thermal Pollution
8.7 Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)
8.8 Bioaccumulation and Biomagnification
8.9 Solid Waste Disposal
8.10 Waste Reduction Methods
8.11 Sewage Treatment
8.12 Lethal Dose 50% (LD50 )
8.13 Dose Response Curve
8.14 Pollution and Human Health
8.15 Pathogens and Infectious Diseases

UNIT 9:  Global Change (15-20%)
9.1 Stratospheric Ozone Depletion
9.2 Reducing Ozone Depletion
9.3 The Greenhouse Effect
9.4 Increases in The Greenhouse Gases
9.5 Global Climate Change
9.6 Ocean Warming
9.7 Ocean Acidification
9.8 Invasive Species
9.9 Endangered Species
9.10 Human Impacts on Biodiversity