APES UNIT 8 EXAM REVIEW
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Algal Bloom - ANSWER-An immediate increase in the amount of algae and other
producers that results from a large input of a limiting nutrient.
Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) - ANSWER-Amount of oxygen required by aquatic
bacteria to decompose given load of organic waste; a measure of water pollution.
Biomagnification - ANSWER-The increase in chemical concentration in animal tissues
as the chemical moves up the food chain. the higher the trophic level, the higher the
concentration
example of biomagnification - ANSWER-eggshell thinning and developmental
deformities in top carnivores of the higher trophic levels
effects of biomagnification on humans - ANSWER-include issues with the reproductive,
nervous and circulatory systems
substances that bioaccumulate and have significant environmental impacts - ANSWER-
DDT, mercury, and PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls)
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) - ANSWER-A group of industrial compounds used to
manufacture plastics and insulate electrical transformers, and responsible for many
environmental problems.
Nonpoint Source - ANSWER-A widely spread source of pollution that is difficult to link to
a specific point of origin; are diffused, such as pesticide spraying or urban runoff
Oligotrophic waterways - ANSWER-A condition of a lake or other body of water
characterized by low nutrients, low productivity, stable algae populations and high
dissolved oxygen levels in the water column.
anthropogenic causes of eutrophication - ANSWER-agricultural runoff and wastewater
release
Oxygen Sag Curve - ANSWER-The curve obtained when the concentration of dissolved
oxygen in a river into which sewage or some other pollutant has been discharged is
plotted against the distance downstream from the sewage outlet
, impacts of industry on drinking water supply - ANSWER-heavy metals used for industry,
especially mining and burning of fossil fuels, can reach the groundwater, impacting the
drinking water supply
impact of litter on aquatic ecosystems - ANSWER-litter is unsightly and can create
intestinal blockage and choking hazards for wildlife and introduce toxic substances to
the food chain
impact of increased sediment in waterways - ANSWER-can reduce light infiltration,
which can affect primary producers and visual predators; sediment can also settle,
disrupting habitats
Pathogen - ANSWER-A bacterium, virus, or other microorganism that can cause
disease; they adapt to take advantage of opportunities to infect and spread through
human populations
does the appearance of sanitary conditions prohibit pathogens? - ANSWER-no; specific
pathogens can occur in many pathogens regardless of the appearance of sanitary
conditions
impact of climate change on disease - ANSWER-as equatorial-type climate zones
spread north and south, pathogens, infectious diseases, and any associated vectors are
spreading into theses areas where the disease has not previously been known to occur
Vectors - ANSWER-An organism that transmits disease by conveying pathogens from
one host to another; such as a mosquito
infectious disease - ANSWER-A disease that is caused by a pathogen and that can be
spread from one individual to another.
why poverty-stricken, low-income areas or more susceptible or vulnerable to infectious
disease - ANSWER-they often lack sanitary waste disposal and have contaminated
drinking water supplies
Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) - ANSWER-synthetic, carbon-based chemical
compounds that persist in the environment and retain biological activity for a long time.
Now banned, DDT, PCBs (liquid insulators in electric transformers), and dioxins (a
byproduct of herbicide production)
Why are Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) and environmental concern - ANSWER-
they do not easily break down and can be toxic to organisms because they are soluble
in fat, which allows them to accumulate in organisms' fatty tissues; they can travel over
long distances via wind and water before being redeposited
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Algal Bloom - ANSWER-An immediate increase in the amount of algae and other
producers that results from a large input of a limiting nutrient.
Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) - ANSWER-Amount of oxygen required by aquatic
bacteria to decompose given load of organic waste; a measure of water pollution.
Biomagnification - ANSWER-The increase in chemical concentration in animal tissues
as the chemical moves up the food chain. the higher the trophic level, the higher the
concentration
example of biomagnification - ANSWER-eggshell thinning and developmental
deformities in top carnivores of the higher trophic levels
effects of biomagnification on humans - ANSWER-include issues with the reproductive,
nervous and circulatory systems
substances that bioaccumulate and have significant environmental impacts - ANSWER-
DDT, mercury, and PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls)
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) - ANSWER-A group of industrial compounds used to
manufacture plastics and insulate electrical transformers, and responsible for many
environmental problems.
Nonpoint Source - ANSWER-A widely spread source of pollution that is difficult to link to
a specific point of origin; are diffused, such as pesticide spraying or urban runoff
Oligotrophic waterways - ANSWER-A condition of a lake or other body of water
characterized by low nutrients, low productivity, stable algae populations and high
dissolved oxygen levels in the water column.
anthropogenic causes of eutrophication - ANSWER-agricultural runoff and wastewater
release
Oxygen Sag Curve - ANSWER-The curve obtained when the concentration of dissolved
oxygen in a river into which sewage or some other pollutant has been discharged is
plotted against the distance downstream from the sewage outlet
, impacts of industry on drinking water supply - ANSWER-heavy metals used for industry,
especially mining and burning of fossil fuels, can reach the groundwater, impacting the
drinking water supply
impact of litter on aquatic ecosystems - ANSWER-litter is unsightly and can create
intestinal blockage and choking hazards for wildlife and introduce toxic substances to
the food chain
impact of increased sediment in waterways - ANSWER-can reduce light infiltration,
which can affect primary producers and visual predators; sediment can also settle,
disrupting habitats
Pathogen - ANSWER-A bacterium, virus, or other microorganism that can cause
disease; they adapt to take advantage of opportunities to infect and spread through
human populations
does the appearance of sanitary conditions prohibit pathogens? - ANSWER-no; specific
pathogens can occur in many pathogens regardless of the appearance of sanitary
conditions
impact of climate change on disease - ANSWER-as equatorial-type climate zones
spread north and south, pathogens, infectious diseases, and any associated vectors are
spreading into theses areas where the disease has not previously been known to occur
Vectors - ANSWER-An organism that transmits disease by conveying pathogens from
one host to another; such as a mosquito
infectious disease - ANSWER-A disease that is caused by a pathogen and that can be
spread from one individual to another.
why poverty-stricken, low-income areas or more susceptible or vulnerable to infectious
disease - ANSWER-they often lack sanitary waste disposal and have contaminated
drinking water supplies
Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) - ANSWER-synthetic, carbon-based chemical
compounds that persist in the environment and retain biological activity for a long time.
Now banned, DDT, PCBs (liquid insulators in electric transformers), and dioxins (a
byproduct of herbicide production)
Why are Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) and environmental concern - ANSWER-
they do not easily break down and can be toxic to organisms because they are soluble
in fat, which allows them to accumulate in organisms' fatty tissues; they can travel over
long distances via wind and water before being redeposited
