Environmental Indicators

Question 1

What are environmental indicators?

Answer 1

Factors of the environment identified and used as a way of assessing the overall condition of an environment.

Question 2

define range of tolerance

Answer 2

tolerance to chemical and physical conditions within which an organism will live, grow, and function normally

Question 3

define tolerance limit

Answer 3

The point where physical and chemical conditions become harmful to an organism

Question 4

define limiting factors

Answer 4

Any condition that approaches or exceeds an organisms limits of tolerance.

Question 5

What is an ecological niche

Answer 5

The description of an organisms structural and functional role in an ecosystem

Question 6

What is a generalist

Answer 6

A species that occupies a broad ecological niche and feeds on many kind of food

Question 7

What is a specialist

Answer 7

Organisms which have very specialised niches and feed on very few types of food

Question 8

How is air quality determined?

Answer 8

through the chemical composition of the atmosphere

Question 9

what is a physical indicator?

Answer 9

Physical (Physical feature)

Question 10

what is a chemical indicator

Answer 10

Chemical (Chemical factor)

Question 11

What is a biological indicator?

Answer 11

Biological (Effects on a plant or animal)

Question 12

what is a socio-economic indicator?

Answer 12

Socio-economic (effects on people)

Question 13

What is turbidity?

Answer 13

Measure of suspended fine particles in water

Question 14

What is light intensity

Answer 14

Measure of the amount of sunlight reaching a surface

Question 15

What is pH

Answer 15

The measure of acidity or alkalinity (basic) of water or soil

Question 16

What is dissolved oxygen (as an indicator)

Answer 16

a measure of how much oxygen is dissolved in the water - the amount of oxygen available to living aquatic organisms.

Question 17

What is biological oxygen demand?

Answer 17

amount of organic material (e.g waste) in the water

Question 18

What is salinity?

Answer 18

salt levels (measured in mg/L)

Question 19

How is salinity measured?

Answer 19

Measured by conductivity - measures the number of inorganic salt materials dissolved in a soil or water sample (Conductivity probe)

Question 20

What are two key nutrients as aquatic indicators?

Answer 20

phosphorus and nitrogen

Question 21

What is the role of phosphorus and nitrogen in aquatic systems?

Answer 21

Phosphorus: Needed for metabolism and growth
Nitrogen: Needed for the production of proteins

Question 22

Why are frogs good environmental indicators?

Answer 22

Frogs are amphibians which absorb pollutants and and other environmental stressors
They are usually the first to be affected by environmental changes

Question 23

Why are fish good environmental indicators?

Answer 23

The presence of native fish is used as a good indicator, as they are easy to identify and live for long periods.

This means the effects of the environment can be seen in them

Question 24

Why is algae a god environmental indicator?

Answer 24

Algae indicates nutrient levels in water

Question 25

Why are aquatic macroinvertebrates good environmental indicators

Answer 25

- sensitive to mild pollutants and water quality changes - exhibit easily predictable and detectable responses to changes in water quality

Question 26

Why are introduced species good environmental indicators?

Answer 26

Introduced species can affect food chains and habitat structure, and can indicate the health of an ecosystem through their populations

Question 27

Why are soil biota good environmental indicators?

Answer 27

These are the living things within the soil, plants, animals and microbes. They are sensitive to changes in the soil conditions

Question 28

What are pollutant-tolerant species?

Answer 28

species able to survive in polluted conditions (tolerant)

Question 29

What are pollutant-sensitive species?

Answer 29

Species that live only in unpolluted conditions (sensitive)

Question 30

What is a biomarker species?

Answer 30

Species which have a low threshold for a particular contaminant

Question 31

What are bioassays

Answer 31

Expose an indicator organism to a test material & measure the response

Question 32

What is primary salinity

Answer 32

Natural salinity

Question 33

What is secondary salinity

Answer 33

Salinity that has occurred or increased due to human activity

Question 34

What is the state of the environment model

Answer 34

a national overview of the Australian Environment that is published by the Australian government every 5 years

Question 35

How is the state of the environment model used?

Answer 35

it is used to develop: - indicators to measure environmental pressure - Indicators to measure the state, or condition, of the environment - indicators to measure societal responses taken in the light of pressures and state of the environment

Question 36

What are some examples of the state of the environment indicators?

Answer 36

- southern oscillation index to indicate climate change - UV radiation flux at the surface to indicate stratospheric ozone depletion - groundwater salinity to indicate the condition of groundwater

Question 37

What are some environmental indicators for air quality?

Answer 37

carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, lead

Question 38

How is the standard for physiological, ecological or environmental conditions determined?

Answer 38

- Historic levels of indicators - Desired levels - Potential levels and threshold levels