APES Unit 8 Review - Aquatic and Terrestrial Pollution

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What is a Persistent Organic Pollutant (POP)?

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A Persistent Organic Pollutant (POP) is a toxic chemical that adversely affects human health and the environment. They persist in the environment for long periods and can accumulate in the food chain.

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What is bioaccumulation?

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Bioaccumulation is the process by which organisms accumulate toxic substances, such as pollutants, in their bodies over time, often leading to higher concentrations in organisms at higher trophic levels.

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What is the significance of trophic levels in an ecosystem?

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Trophic levels represent the hierarchical levels in an ecosystem, where organisms are categorized based on their feeding relationships, from producers to various levels of consumers.

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What are the effects of excess nutrients in aquatic ecosystems?

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Excess nutrients can lead to eutrophication, which causes algal blooms, decreased oxygen levels, and harm to aquatic life.

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What is Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD)?

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Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) is a measure of the amount of oxygen that microorganisms will consume while decomposing organic matter in water, indicating the level of pollution.

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What is Dissolved Oxygen (DO)?

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Dissolved Oxygen (DO) is the amount of oxygen that is present in water, essential for the survival of aquatic organisms.

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What is a point-source pollutant?

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A point-source pollutant is a single, identifiable source of pollution, such as a discharge pipe from a sewage treatment plant.

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What is a non-point source of pollution?

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A non-point source of pollution is diffuse pollution that does not originate from a single source, such as runoff from agricultural fields.

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What is the role of decomposers in an ecosystem?

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Decomposers break down dead organic matter, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem and maintaining soil health.

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What is eutrophication?

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Eutrophication is the process by which water bodies become overly enriched with nutrients, leading to excessive growth of algae and depletion of oxygen.