AP Environmental Science AP 环境科学
📌 Course at a glance
· 9 units · key topics drilled across the official outline
· Next exam: 2026-05-04 · 2026-05-04
📝 Full chapter-by-chapter lecture walkthroughs are being written. This page is the course outline — every unit and topic that will be covered, with key concepts you can already start to recognise. Use it as a study map; the chapter notes drop in over the coming weeks.
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Course outline
Unit 1 · The Living World: Ecosystems 生命世界：生态系统
Exam weight: 6-8%
1.1 — Introduction to Ecosystems 生态系统概论
· Ecosystem components · Biotic and abiotic factors · Ecological niche · Habitat
1.2 — Terrestrial Biomes 陆地生物群落
· Tropical rainforest · Grassland · Desert · Tundra · Temperate forest
1.3 — Aquatic Biomes 水生生物群落
· Freshwater ecosystems · Marine ecosystems · Wetlands · Coral reefs
1.4 — Energy Flow in Ecosystems 生态系统中的能量流动
· Food chains · Food webs · Trophic levels · Energy pyramids
1.5 — Biogeochemical Cycles 生物地球化学循环
· Carbon cycle · Nitrogen cycle · Phosphorus cycle · Water cycle
1.6 — Primary Productivity 初级生产力
· Gross primary productivity · Net primary productivity · Limiting factors · Productivity distribution
Unit 2 · The Living World: Biodiversity 生命世界：生物多样性
Exam weight: 6-8%
2.1 — Introduction to Biodiversity 生物多样性概论
· Species diversity · Genetic diversity · Ecosystem diversity · Biodiversity hotspots
2.2 — Ecosystem Services 生态系统服务
· Provisioning services · Regulating services · Cultural services · Supporting services
2.3 — Island Biogeography 岛屿生物地理学
· Species-area relationship · Island size · Distance from mainland · Ecological balance
2.4 — Ecological Succession 生态演替
· Primary succession · Secondary succession · Pioneer species · Climax community
2.5 — Species Interactions 物种间相互作用
· Predation · Competition · Mutualism · Parasitism · Commensalism
2.6 — Disruptions to Ecosystems 生态系统的干扰
· Invasive species · Natural disasters · Human disturbance · Ecosystem resilience
Unit 3 · Populations 种群
Exam weight: 10-15%
3.1 — Population Ecology 种群生态学
· Population density · Population distribution · Population size · Sampling methods
3.2 — Population Growth Models 种群增长模型
· Exponential growth · Logistic growth · Carrying capacity · Growth rate
3.3 — Carrying Capacity and Limiting Factors 环境容纳量与限制因素
· Density-dependent factors · Density-independent factors · Resource limitations · Population regulation
3.4 — K-selected and r-selected Species K策略与r策略物种
· K-selected species characteristics · r-selected species characteristics · Reproductive strategies · Survival strategies
3.5 — Survivorship Curves 存活曲线
· Type I curve · Type II curve · Type III curve · Age structure
3.6 — Human Population Dynamics 人类种群动态
· Human population growth trends · Demographic transition · Age structure diagrams · Population policies
3.7 — Demographic Transition 人口转变
· Four-stage model · Birth and death rates · Impact of industrialization · Urbanization
Unit 4 · Earth Systems and Resources 地球系统与资源
Exam weight: 10-15%
4.1 — Plate Tectonics 板块构造
· Plate boundaries · Earthquakes · Volcanoes · Continental drift
4.2 — Soil Formation and Composition 土壤形成与组成
· Soil horizons · Soil types · Soil erosion · Soil conservation
4.3 — The Atmosphere 大气层
· Atmospheric layers · Atmospheric composition · Wind systems · Climate patterns
4.4 — Weather and Climate 天气与气候
· Weather systems · Climate zones · El Nino · La Nina
4.5 — Earth's Water Resources 地球水资源
· Water cycle · Groundwater · Aquifers · Water resource distribution
4.6 — Mineral and Rock Resources 矿物与岩石资源
· Mineral extraction · Rock cycle · Nonrenewable resources · Mining impacts
Unit 5 · Land and Water Use 土地与水资源利用
Exam weight: 10-15%
5.1 — Forestry and Deforestation 林业与森林砍伐
· Sustainable forestry · Clear-cutting · Selective logging · Impacts of deforestation
5.2 — Rangelands and Overgrazing 牧场与过度放牧
· Grassland degradation · Desertification · Rangeland management · Land degradation
5.3 — Urban Land Use and Sprawl 城市土地利用与蔓延
· Urban sprawl · Smart growth · Green space protection · Urban planning
5.4 — Mining and Its Impacts 采矿及其影响
· Surface mining · Subsurface mining · Environmental remediation · Mining pollution
5.5 — Fishing and Aquaculture 渔业与水产养殖
· Overfishing · Bycatch · Aquaculture · Sustainable fishing
5.6 — Sustainable Land Use Practices 可持续土地利用实践
· Crop rotation · Terracing · Conservation tillage · Integrated pest management
5.7 — Water Resource Management 水资源管理
· Irrigation methods · Dams and reservoirs · Desalination · Water conservation
Unit 6 · Energy Resources and Consumption 能源资源与消费
Exam weight: 10-15%
6.1 — Nonrenewable Energy Sources 不可再生能源
· Fossil fuels · Coal · Petroleum · Natural gas · Nuclear energy
6.2 — Renewable Energy Sources 可再生能源
· Solar energy · Wind energy · Hydroelectric power · Geothermal energy · Biomass energy
6.3 — Nuclear Energy 核能
· Nuclear fission · Nuclear waste · Nuclear power plant safety · Advantages and disadvantages of nuclear energy
6.4 — Energy Consumption and Conservation 能源消费与节约
· Energy efficiency · Energy consumption trends · Energy conservation measures · Carbon footprint
6.5 — Fossil Fuel Extraction and Use 化石燃料开采与使用
· Hydraulic fracturing · Oil extraction · Coal mining · Environmental impacts
6.6 — Hydrogen Fuel Cells and Emerging Technologies 氢燃料电池与新兴技术
· Hydrogen fuel cells · Battery storage · Smart grids · Clean energy technologies
Unit 7 · Atmospheric Pollution 大气污染
Exam weight: 10-15%
7.1 — Air Pollutants and Sources 空气污染物与来源
· Primary pollutants · Secondary pollutants · Particulate matter · Volatile organic compounds
7.2 — Smog and Photochemical Reactions 烟雾与光化学反应
· Photochemical smog · Industrial smog · Temperature inversion · Conditions for smog formation
7.3 — Indoor Air Pollution 室内空气污染
· Formaldehyde · Radon · Asbestos · Carbon monoxide · Sick building syndrome
7.4 — Acid Rain 酸雨
· Acid rain formation · Sulfur oxides · Nitrogen oxides · Ecological effects of acid rain
7.5 — Ozone Depletion 臭氧层消耗
· Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) · Ozone hole · Montreal Protocol · UV radiation hazards
7.6 — Air Quality Legislation 空气质量立法
· Clean Air Act · Emission standards · Cap and trade · Environmental regulations
Unit 8 · Aquatic and Terrestrial Pollution 水体与陆地污染
Exam weight: 10-15%
8.1 — Sources of Water Pollution 水污染来源
· Point source pollution · Nonpoint source pollution · Industrial wastewater · Agricultural runoff
8.2 — Types of Water Pollutants 水污染物类型
· Heavy metals · Organic pollutants · Thermal pollution · Pathogens
8.3 — Eutrophication 富营养化
· Eutrophication process · Algal blooms · Dead zones · Excess nitrogen and phosphorus
8.4 — Solid Waste and Waste Management 固体废物与废物管理
· Landfills · Incineration · Recycling · Waste reduction
8.5 — Hazardous Waste and Toxicology 危险废物与毒理学
· Hazardous waste treatment · Biomagnification · Bioaccumulation · Dose-response relationship
8.6 — Sewage Treatment 污水处理
· Primary treatment · Secondary treatment · Tertiary treatment · Septic systems
8.7 — Soil Pollution and Contamination 土壤污染与污染物
· Pesticide residues · Heavy metal contamination · Brownfields · Soil remediation
Unit 9 · Global Change 全球变化
Exam weight: 15-20%
9.1 — The Greenhouse Effect 温室效应
· Greenhouse gases · Natural greenhouse effect · Enhanced greenhouse effect · Radiative forcing
9.2 — Climate Change Causes and Evidence 气候变化的原因与证据
· Fossil fuel combustion · Ice core records · Temperature records · Sea level rise
9.3 — Effects of Climate Change 气候变化的影响
· Extreme weather events · Glacier melting · Ocean acidification · Ecosystem impacts
9.4 — Climate Change Mitigation 气候变化缓解
· Emission reduction strategies · Carbon capture · Paris Agreement · Carbon tax and cap-and-trade
9.5 — Invasive Species and Biodiversity Loss 入侵物种与生物多样性丧失
· Impacts of invasive species · Habitat loss · Extinction rate · Conservation measures
9.6 — Endangered Species and Conservation 濒危物种与保护
· Endangered Species Act · CITES · Habitat conservation · Species recovery programs
9.7 — Human Impacts on Biodiversity 人类对生物多样性的影响
· Overexploitation · Habitat fragmentation · Pollution impacts · Sustainable practices
9.8 — Global Environmental Agreements 全球环境协议
· Kyoto Protocol · Paris Agreement · Sustainable Development Goals · International environmental cooperation