Chapter 4.4 Flashcards
What types of substances cause water pollution?
Chemical and microbial substances.
Why is water vulnerable to pollution?
Because it is a solvent for many substances.
What types of water can be polluted?
Both seawater and freshwater.
What are the classifications of pollutants?
Anthropogenic or natural; point source or nonpoint; organic or inorganic.
What are common sources of freshwater pollution?
Agricultural runoff, sewage, industrial discharge, solid domestic waste.
What are common sources of marine pollution?
Rivers, pipelines, the atmosphere, human activity at sea.
What is noise pollution in aquatic systems?
Disruption from human-made sound like sonar, ships, and seismic surveys.
Which species are especially affected by sonic pollution?
Whales, dolphins, and porpoises that rely on echolocation.
What is plastic made from?
Synthetic organic polymers derived from petroleum.
What is the difference between biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste?
Biodegradable waste can be broken down by organisms; non-biodegradable cannot.
What are microplastics?
Tiny plastic particles that do not decompose and persist in the environment.
How do microplastics enter food chains?
They are ingested by filter feeders and biomagnify through the food web.
What are the five major ocean gyres?
North Atlantic, South Atlantic, North Pacific, South Pacific, Indian Ocean.
Where does most ocean plastic originate?
From land: urban waste, poor disposal, littering, construction.
What are microbeads?
Tiny non-degradable particles used in cosmetics and household products.
How do plastics affect marine life?
Cause entanglement, ingestion, starvation, injury, and suffocation.
What happens when animals ingest large amounts of plastic?
They feel full and starve to death.
What are human health impacts of plastic pollution?
Endocrine disruption, cancers, neurological and immune issues.
What is the aesthetic impact of plastic on oceans?
Reduces beauty and appeal of marine environments.
What are some solutions to plastic pollution?
Ban microbeads, reduce single-use plastics, recycle, clean-ups.
What is the Ocean Cleanup project?
A Dutch nonprofit removing plastic from oceans and rivers.
How is plastic collected in the Ocean Cleanup project?
Large nets collect plastic, which is removed by ships.
What abiotic factors are used to assess water quality?
DO, pH, turbidity, temperature, nitrates, phosphates, metals.
What is Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)?
Amount of oxygen required by microbes to decompose organic matter.
