Environmental Science Broward College EVR 1001 Questions and answers 100% VERIFIED

What does biodegradable mean? - Substance or object capable of being decomposed by bacteria or other living organisms. What is soil? - A complex mixture of eroded rock, mineral nutrients, decaying organic matter, water, air, and billions of living organisms What are soil horizons? - Horizontal zones that make up a mature soil. Each soil has a distinct texture and composition that varies with different types of soils. What are the soil horizons? - 1. O horizon: (Surface litter layer) freshly fallen leaves, twigs, animal waste, fungi, & other animals. 2. A horizon: (Topsoil) porous mix of organic matter called humus & some inorganic mineral particles. Darker and looser than deeper layers. 3. B horizon: (Subsoil) Contains inorganic minerals, iron, aluminum, & clay from above horizons. 4. C horizon: (Weathered Parent material) partially broken down inorganic minerals lying on unweathered bedrock/parent material. **Most of the soil's organic matter is in the O and A horizon. What are the soil textures? - 1. Sand = medium sized particles 2. Silt = fine particles 3. Clay = very fine particles 4. Gravel = coarse particles What is soil erosion? - movement of soil components (especially the litter & topsoil) from one place to another. What is soil conservation? - Various methods used to reduce soil erosion, most of which involve keeping the soil covered with vegetation. What are the two main agents of soil erosion? - Flowing Water & Wind What is the Law of conservation of matter? - Matter can neither be created or destroyed. It can change various elements and compounds from one physical or chemical form to another but in no change can we create or destroy any of the atoms involved. What is physical change? - Change in the size and shape with no change in chemical composition. What is chemical change? - Chemical composition of elements are altered but the same elements exist What does biodiversity mean? - The variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat or ecosystem