Assessing pollution - SB9

Question 1

What is an indicator species?

Answer 1

an organisms we use to show pollution levels because of how the organisms interacts with it’s environment

Question 2

what are the requirements for an organism to be an indicator species?

Answer 2

only grow in high/low pollution areas

Question 3

Why is lichen an indicator species and what does it indicate for?

Answer 3

Lichen can tolerate air polluted by gases from fossil fuels containing sulfur - used as an indicator for sulfer dioxide pollution in air

Question 4

What pathogen is also an indicator of sulfur pollution beside lichen - why?

Answer 4

blackspot fungus - cannot survive well when there is lots of sulfur pollution

Question 5

what are commonsources of water pollution?

Answer 5

fertilisers and sewage

Question 6

what do substances in water pollution cause?

Answer 6

eutrophication - rapid growth of algae and plants

Question 7

What aquatic species of invertebrate is an indicator for high pollution?

Answer 7

sludgeworms / bloodworms

Question 8

What is the stonefly nymph / dragonfly nymph an indicator of?

Answer 8

clean water / no pollution

Question 9

what can water and air pollution be measured by besides indicator species? how do they differ from indicator species

Answer 9

sensors - give numerical data at the time of measurement whereas pollution indicator species do not give this level of detail

Question 10

why can indicator species be better than sensors?

Answer 10

useful as a simpe assesment of the long-term health of an ecosystem