Course Materials

These slides  were originally created by Jordan Dishinger-Smedes and modified with permission.

Unit 1: The Living World - Ecosystems

• 1.1 Ecosystems

• 1.2 Terrestrial Biomes

• 1.3 Aquatic Biomes

• 1.4 Carbon Cycle

• 1.5 Nitrogen Cycle

• 1.6 Phosphorous Cycle

• 1.7 Hydrologic Cycle

• 1.8 Primary Productivity

• 1.9, 1.10 & 1.11 Trophic Levels, Energy Transfer & Food Chains/Webs

Unit 2: The Living World - Biodiversity

• 2.1 Intro 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

• 3.1 & 3.2 Specialists/Generalists & r-/K-selected species

• 3.3 & 3.4 Survivorship Curves & Carrying Capacity

• 3.5 Population Growth & Resource Availability

• 3.6 & 3.7 Age Structure Diagrams & TFR

• 3.8 Human Population Dynamics

• 3.9 Demographic Transition

Unit 4: Earth Systems & Resources

• 4.1 Plate Tectonics

• 4.2 Soil Formation & Erosion

• 4.3 Soil Composition & Properties

• 4.4 Earth's Atmosphere

• 4.5 Global Wind Patterns

• 4.6 Watersheds

• 4.7 Solar Radiation & Earth's Seasons

• 4.8 Earth's Geography & Climate

• 4.9 El Niño & La Niña 

Unit 5A: Land and Water Use

• 5.1 Tragedy of the Commons

• 5.2 Clearcutting

• 5.3 The Green Revolution

• 5.4 Impacts of Agricultural Practices

• 5.5 Irrigation Methods 

• 5.6 Pest Control Methods

• 5.7 Meat Production

• 5.8 Impacts of Overfishing

Unit 5B: Land and Water Use

• 5.9 Impacts of Mining

• 5.10 Urbanization

• 5.11 Ecological Footprint

• 5.12 Sustainability

• 5.13 Reducing Urban Runoff

• 5.14 Integrated Pest Management

• 5.15 Sustainable Agriculture

• 5.16 Aquaculture

• 5.17 Sustainable Forestry

Unit 6: Energy Resources and Consumption

• 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 Energy

• 6.7 Biomass and Biofuels

• 6.8 Solar Energy

• 6.9 Hydroelectricity

• 6.10  Geothermal Energy

• 6.11 Hydrogen Fuel Cells

• 6.12 Wind Energy

• 6.13 Energy Conservation

Unit 7: Atmospheric Pollution

• 7.1 Introduction to Atmospheric Pollution

• 7.2 Photochemical Smog

• 7.3 Thermal Inversion

• 7.4 Atmospheric CO2 and Particulate Matter

• 7.5 Indoor Air Pollutants

• 7.6 Reducing Air Pollutants

• 7.7 Acid Precipitation

• 7.8 Noise Pollution

Unit 8: Aquatic & Terrestrial Pollution

• 8.1 Sources of Pollution

• 8.2 Human Impacts on Ecosystems

• 8.3 Endocrine Disruptors

• 8.4 Human Impacts on Wetlands & Mangroves

• 8.5 Eutrophication

• 8.6 Thermal Pollution

• 8.7 Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)

• 8.8 Biomagnification

• 8.9 Solid Waste Disposal

• 8.10 Waste Reduction Methods

• 8.11 Sewage Treatment

• 8.12 & 8.13 LD50 & Dose-Response Curves

• 8.14 Pollution & Human Health

• 8.15 Pathogens & Infectious Diseases

Unit 9: Global Change

• 9.1 & 9.2 Stratospheric Ozone Depletion & Reduction of Ozone Depletion

• 9.3 The Greenhouse Effect

• 9.4 Increases in Greenhouse Gases

• 9.5 Global Change

• 9.6 Ocean Warming

• 9.7 Ocean Acidification

• 9.8 Invasive Species

• 9.9 Endangered Species

• 9.10 Human Threats to Biodiversity

The videos linked below are from Jordan Dischinger-Smedes, an experienced APES teacher and exam reader. Use these when you are absent, or just need to review a specific topic.  Each unit linked below will bring up a playlist containing videos for each topic.

Unit 1 - The Living World: Ecosystems

Unit 2 - The Living World: Biodiversity

Unit 3 - Populations

Unit 4 - Earth Systems and Resources

Unit 5 - Land and Water Use

Unit 6 - Energy Resources and Consumption

Unit 7 - Atmospheric Pollution

Unit 8 - Aquatic and Terrestrial Pollution

Unit 9 - Global Change

Here are some other reputable video resources if Mr. Smedes videos are not your favorite:

Bozeman Science - AP Environmental Science

College Board AP Environmental Science Video Playlist