L7 - Pollutants

Question 1

What is a pollutant?

Answer 1

a substance that contaminates. Especially waste product chemicals of industrial processes

Question 2

Give 2 examples of how a pollutant can have a direct effect on organisms

Answer 2

1) Sulphur - used to be deposited in the land from pollution, but now needs to be added
2) Zinc - found in mines and some industrial processes. In some areas it can reach lethal levels

Question 3

What is an indirect pollutant?

Answer 3

One that effects food resources or the natural enemies of an organism

Question 4

If a direct pollutant causes Selection Pressure what will this cause?

Answer 4

The local extinction of the non-tolerant genotype. Tolerant individuals will survive

Question 5

Define Ecotype

Answer 5

Ecotypes - a genetically determined local match between organism and their environment, within a species

Question 6

What is trophic accumulation?

Answer 6

the accumulation of chemicals up trophic levels as chemical is retained after consumption and then this organism is eaten.

Question 7

What effect does indirect pollution have on natural selection?

Answer 7

Dives NS eg: peppered moth

Question 8

What effect does pollutant stress have on plants?

Answer 8

Better food resources as they have a higher N content