Water Woes
Pollution that comes from many diffuse sources rather than a single identifiable location.
nonpoint source pollution
Of the "Three Rs," this one is the most environmentally friendly because it requires the least amount of energy.
Reduce
This value represents the amount of a substance required to kill exactly half of a test population.
LD50 (Lethal Dose 50%)
This phenomenon describes the increasing concentration of persistent toxins in tissues as they move up the food chain.
biomagnification
If an insecticide has an LD50 of 250 mg/kg for rats, this many rats out of a group of 1,000 would be expected to die at that dosage.
500
This is the specific ecological process characterized by life beginning on bare rock where no soil previously existed
Primary Succession
This process begins with excess nutrient runoff and ends with hypoxic conditions that suffocate fish
Eutrophication
This step of wastewater treatment uses chlorine, UV light, or ozone to kill remaining pathogens.
disinfection
Chemicals like PCBs that interfere with the hormonal systems of animals, such as feminizing male frogs, are known as these.
endocrine disruptors
These natural filters trap sediment and pollutants; their destruction often leads to increased flooding.
wetlands
Adding this substance to a lake already suffering from eutrophication would actually make the problem worse.
nitrates (or phosphates)
These specific types of organisms, such as lichens and mosses, are the very first to colonize a barren environment.
Pioneer Species
This occurs when warm water from power plants is released into a reservoir, decreasing the solubility of oxygen
thermal pollution
The sewage treatment stage where solids settle out of wastewater.
primary treatment
This parasitic disease is primarily transmitted by mosquitoes and is most prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa.
Malaria
Runoff from agricultural fields carrying fertilizers and pesticides is the most common example of this type of pollution.
nonpoint source pollution
To find the volume of rain hitting a landfill, you multiply the surface area by this value.
rainfall amount (or precipitation)
Identify a cultural ecosystem service that may be provided by a mature forest.
• Recreation
• Aesthetic enjoyment
• Spiritual use
• Ecotourism
• Education
This measure increases when organic pollution enters water and microorganisms consume oxygen.
biological oxygen demand (BOD)
In a sewage treatment plant, this specific stage uses aeration and bacteria to biologically break down organic waste.
Secondary Treatment
Unlike Zika or Malaria, this bacterial infection is spread through contaminated water or food in areas with poor sanitation
Cholera
These organic substances can travel long distances via air or water and do not easily break down in the environment.
Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)
A landfill has 1,800 m^3 of rain; if 20% is runoff, this is the amount of water that actually infiltrates the surface.
1,440 m^3(1,800 x 0.80)
In an experiment comparing two forests, this is the purpose of including an undisturbed forest (Forest C) to serve as a baseline for comparison.
a control group
Because they live in the same area for long periods, these bottom-dwelling insects are used as indicators of chronic pollution.
macroinvertebrates
This liquid is formed when rainwater trickles through a landfill, picking up dissolved pollutants.
leachate
Between Table Salt (LD50: 3,320) and Antifreeze (LD50: 460), this substance is considered more toxic.
Antifreeze (The lower the LD50, the higher the toxicity).
This persistent pesticide has been found in penguin eggs in Antarctica despite never being used there.
DDT
A leachate system is 90% effective at treating 1,440 m^3 of water; this is the final volume of leachate treated.
1,296 m^3 (1,440 x 0.90)
Between Forest A (clear-cut) and Forest B (golf course), this forest would likely see a higher increase in water temperature due to the total loss of shade.
Forest A