Download AP TOPICS and OBJECTIVES Hopp

AP TOPIC: POPULATIONS (10-15%)
From the Collegeboard:
A. Population Biology Concepts (Population ecology; carrying capacity; reproductive strategies; survivorship)
B. Human Population
1. Human population dynamics (Historical population sizes; distribution; fertility rates; growth rates and doubling times;
demographic transition; age-structure diagrams)
2. Population size (Strategies for sustainability; case studies; national policies)
3. Impacts of population growth (Hunger; disease; economic effects; resource use; habitat destruction)
Learning Objectives for class:
 Outline the characteristics of populations that help predict population growth
 Compare logistical and exponential growth
 Explain how limiting factors and carrying capacity impact population growth
 Describe types of survivorship
 Use the growth rate formula to determine a population's growth rate
 Compare K-selected species to R-selected species, give examples and characteristics of each group
 Compare density-independent and density-dependent limiting factors
 Analyze relationships among changes in population size, economic development, and resource consumption at global and
local scales.
 Define fecundity, fertility, replacement level fertility, natality, mortality, and morbidity
 Define immigration and emigration
 Assess the scope of human population growth and potential limits to its growth
 Evaluate how human population, affluence, and technology affect the environment
 Explain and apply the fundamentals of demography
 Outline and assess the concept of demographic transition
 Describe how wealth and poverty, the status of women, and family planning programs affect population growth
 Characterize the dimensions of the HIV/AIDS epidemic
 Solve problems related to population growth rate, birth rates, death rates, etc.
AP TOPIC: ENERGY (10-15%)
From the Collegeboard:
A. Energy Concepts (Energy forms; power; units; conversions; Laws of Thermo dynamics)
B. Energy Consumption
1. History (Industrial Revolution; exponential growth; energy crisis)
2. Present global energy use
3. Future energy needs
C. Fossil Fuel Resources and Use (Formation of coal, oil, and natural gas; extraction/purification methods; world reserves
and global demand; synfuels; environmental advantages/disadvantages of sources)
D. 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)
E. Hydroelectric Power (Dams; flood control; salmon; silting; other impacts)
F. Energy Conservation (Energy efficiency; CAFE standards; hybrid electric vehicles; mass transit)
G. Renewable Energy (Solar energy; solar electricity; hydrogen fuel cells; biomass; wind energy; small-scale hydroelectric;
ocean waves and tidal energy; geothermal; environmental advantages/disadvantages)
Learning Objectives for class:
 Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of all energy sources:
o Fossil fuels-coal, petroleum, natural gas
o Alternate energy-nuclear energy
o Renewable energy-solar, wind, hydroelectricity, biomass/biofuel, geothermal, hydrogen
 Discuss the pros and cons of dams
 Differentiate among the types of energy and recite the basics of energy flow (laws of thermodynamics)
 Convert energy units (Joules, Watts, KiloWatts, BTU)
AP TOPIC: THE LIVING WORLD (10-15%)
From the Collegeboard:
A. Ecosystem Structure (Biological populations and communities; ecological niches; interactions among species; keystone
species; species diversity and edge effects; major terrestrial and aquatic biomes)
B. Energy Flow (Photosynthesis and cellular respiration; food webs and trophic levels; ecological pyramids)
C. Ecosystem Diversity (Biodiversity; natural selection; evolution; ecosystem services)
D. Natural Ecosystem Change (Climate shifts; species movement; ecological succession)
E. Natural Biogeochemical Cycles (Carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur, water, conservation of matter)
Learning Objectives for class:
 Compare and contrast how carbon, phosphorus, nitrogen, sulfur, and water cycle through the environment
 Explain the importance of water and the hydrologic cycle to ecosystems, human health, and economic pursuits
 List the levels of ecological organization
 Compare and contrast the major types of species interactions (competition, predation, symbiosis)
 Characterize feeding relationships and energy flow, using them to construct trophic levels
 Understand and apply the 10% Rule and how the laws of thermodynamics apply to energy flow in an ecosystem
 Distinguish characteristics of a keystone species and name several examples and why they are considered keystone species
(sea otter, elephant)
 Characterize the process of succession and the debate over the nature of communities
 Perceive and predict the potential impacts of invasive species in communities
 Explain the goals and methods of ecological restoration
 Describe and illustrate the biomes of the world
 Compare bioaccumulation and biomagnification and give examples of each
 Describe major types of marine ecosystems
 Outline historical and current human uses of marine resources
 Distinguish photosynthesis, cellular respiration, and chemosynthesis, and summarize their importance to living things
 Describe the nature of environmental systems
 Define ecosystems and evaluate how living and nonliving entities interact in ecosystem-level ecology
AP TOPIC: EARTH SYSTEMS (10-15%)
From the Collegeboard:
A. Earth Science Concepts (Geologic time scale; plate tectonics, earthquakes, volcanism; seasons; solar intensity and
latitude)
B. The Atmosphere (Composition; structure; weather and climate; atmospheric circulation and the Coriolis Effect;
atmosphere–ocean interactions; ENSO)
C. Global Water Resources and Use (Freshwater/saltwater; ocean circulation; agricultural, industrial, and domestic use;
surface and groundwater issues; global problems; conservation)
D. Soil and Soil Dynamics (Rock cycle; formation; composition; physical and chemical properties; main soil types; erosion
and other soil problems; soil conservation)
Learning Objectives for class:
 Describe the nature of environmental systems
 Explain how plate tectonics and the rock cycle shape the landscape around us and the earth beneath our feet
 Identify the layers of the Earth
 Compare and Contrast the major types of volcanoes
 Explain the causes and effects of earthquakes (epicenter, S waves & P waves and how they differ)
 Explain why the Earth experiences seasons
 Explain the importance of soils to agriculture, and describe the impacts of agriculture on soil
 Delineate the fundamentals of soil science, including soil formation and soil properties
 State the causes and predict the consequences of soil erosion and soil degradation
 Recite the history and explain the principals of soil conservation
 Explain the importance of water and the hydrologic cycle to ecosystems, human health, and economic pursuits
 Identify physical, geographical, chemical, and biological aspects of the marine environment (upwelling, downwelling, ENSO
events, gyres & thermoclines)
 Describe the composition, structure, and function of Earth's atmosphere
o Explain how latitudinal differences, the Coriolis Effect, and Hadley Cells cause air to cycle
o Compare warm and cold fronts
o Explain thermal inversions
o identify major molecular components of air
o be able to give the percentages of the major components
 Delineate the distribution of freshwater on Earth and describe major types of freshwater ecosystems
 Discuss how we use water and alter freshwater systems
 Assess problems of water supply & explain the issues surrounding the Aral Sea & Water Privatization
 Propose solutions to address water supply issues (desalinization, xeriscaping)
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Explain the structure of aquifers and how groundwater is maintained
AP TOPIC: LAND AND WATER USE (10-15%)
From the Collegeboard:
A. Agriculture
1. Feeding a growing population (Human nutritional requirements; types of agriculture; Green Revolution; genetic
engineering and crop production; deforestation; irrigation; sustainable agriculture)
2. Controlling pests (Types of pesticides; costs and benefits of pesticide use; integrated pest management; relevant laws)
B. Forestry (Tree plantations; old growth forests; forest fires; forest management; national forests)
C. Rangelands (Overgrazing; deforestation; desertification; rangeland management; federal rangelands)
D. Other Land Use
1. Urban land development (Planned development; suburban sprawl; urbanization)
2. Transportation infrastructure (Federal highway system; canals and channels; roadless areas; ecosystem impacts)
3. Public and federal lands (Management; wilderness areas; national parks; wildlife refuges; forests; wetlands)
4. Land conservation options (Preservation; remediation; mitigation; restoration)
5. Sustainable land-use strategies
E. Mining (Mineral formation; extraction; global reserves; relevant laws and treaties)
F. Fishing (Fishing techniques; overfishing; aquaculture; relevant laws and treaties)
G. Global Economics (Globalization; World Bank; Tragedy of the Commons; relevant laws and treaties)
Learning Objectives for class:
 Describe the scale of urbanization
 Assess urban and suburban sprawl
 Outline major historical developments in agriculture
 Explain the challenge of feeding a growing human population
 Identify the goals, methods, and environmental impacts of the "green revolution"
 Categorize the strategies of pest management
 Discuss the importance of pollination
 Assess feedlot agriculture for livestock and poultry
 Weigh approaches in aquaculture
 Evaluate sustainable agriculture
 Describe the science behind genetically modified food
 Evaluate the debate over genetically modified food
 Ascertain approaches for preserving crop diversity
 Explain the "green revolution"
 Identify the principles, goals, and approaches of resource management
 Summarize the ecological roles and economic contributions of forests
 Outline the history and scale of forest loss
 Explain the fundamentals of forest management and describe the major methods of harvesting timber
 Analyze the scale and impacts of agricultural land use
 Identify major federal land management agencies and the lands they manage
 Recognize types of parks and reserves, and evaluate issues involved in their design.
 Related the Theory of Island Biogeography to the design of protected lands
 Describe the scale of urbanization
 Assess urban and suburban sprawl
 Outline city and regional planning and land use strategies
 Evaluate transportation options
 Discuss the history of transportation in the US and its environmental impacts
 Describe the roles of urban parks
 Analyze environmental impacts and advantages of urban centers
 Describe and evaluate the tenants of SMART growth
 Review the current state of ocean fisheries and reasons for their decline
 Explain various types of modern fishing methods and explain how each impacts the environment
 Evaluate marine protected areas and reserves as innovative solutions
 Assess human impacts on marine environments
 Explain and give examples of the Tragedy of the Commons
AP TOPIC: POLLUTION (25-30%)
From the Collegeboard:
A. Pollution Types
1. Air pollution (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)
2. Noise pollution (Sources; effects; control measures)
3. Water pollution (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)
4. Solid waste (Types; disposal; reduction)
B. Impacts on the Environment and Human Health
1. Hazards to human health (Environmental risk analysis; acute and chronic effects; dose-response relationships;
air pollutants; smoking and other risks)
2. Hazardous chemicals in the environment Types of hazardous waste; treatment/disposal of hazardous waste;
cleanup of contaminated sites; biomagnification; relevant laws)
C. Economic Impacts (Cost-benefit analysis; externalities; marginal costs; sustainability)
Learning Objectives for class:
 Assess problems of water quality and propose solutions to address water pollution
 Explain the problems of cultural eutrophication and dead zones
 Compare eutrophic and oligotrophic bodies of water
 Identify point and non-point source pollution
 Explain how wastewater is treated
 Outline the scope of outdoor air pollution and assess potential solutions
 Give examples of natural causes of air pollution
 Explain atmospheric ozone depletion and identify steps take to address it
 Define acidic deposition and illustrate its consequences
 Explain how types of smog form
 Characterize the scope of indoor air pollution and assess potential solutions
 Identify major molecular components of air pollution
 Summarize and compare the types of waste we generate
 List and describe the major approaches to waste management
 Delineate the scale of the waste dilemma
 Describe conventional waste disposal methods: landfills and incineration
 Evaluate approaches for reducing waste: source reduction, reuse, composting, and recycling
 Discuss industrial solid waste management and principles of industrial ecology
 Assess issues in managing hazardous waste
 Identify the major types of environmental health hazards and explain the goals of environmental health
 Describe the types, abundance, distribution, and movement of toxicants in the environmental
 Discuss the study of hazards and their effects, including: case histories, epidemiology, animal testing, and dose-response
analysis
AP TOPIC: GLOBAL CHANGE (10-15%)
From the Collegeboard:
A. Stratospheric Ozone (Formation of stratospheric ozone; ultraviolet radiation; causes of ozone depletion; effects of ozone
depletion; strategies for reducing ozone depletion; relevant laws and treaties)
B. Global Warming (Greenhouse gases and the greenhouse effect; impacts and consequences of global warming; reducing
climate change; relevant laws and treaties)
C. Loss of Biodiversity
1. Habitat loss; overuse; pollution; introduced species; endangered and extinct species
2. Maintenance through conservation
3. Relevant laws and treaties
Learning Objectives for class:
 Describe the Earth's climate system and explain the many factors influencing global climate
 Characterize human influences on the atmosphere and global climate
 Summarize modern methods of climate research
 Outline current and future trends and impacts of global climate change
 Suggest ways we may respond to climate change
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Define the term biodiversity
Describe the ways that evolution influences biodiversity
Explain the Theory of Island Bioggeography
Characterize the scope of biodiversity on Earth (species, genetic, and ecosystem)
Evaluate the primary causes of biodiversity loss
Describe the major benefits of biodiversity (be sure to know specific examples of each)
Describe the field of conservation biology
Explain the process of natural selection
Cite evidence for natural selection