LAB #5: ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

Question 1

Why does a landfill run vertical pipes?

Answer 1

the pipes channel methane and other gasses from the interior of the landfill to the atmosphere.

Question 1

What is the critical function of decomposers in the soil?

Answer 1

To recycle chemicals in the environment (w/o them, everything that has ever died would still be here today)

Question 2

Methane in the landfill is created by?

Answer 2

the action of soil bacteria digesting the materials in the landfill, a buildup of this would result in an explosion.

Question 3

What are the negative aspects of landfills?

Answer 3

there’s noise and dust from trucks, disease-carrying animals (rats & flies), & strong odors

Question 4

UNCG community generates an average of how much garbage per week?

Answer 4

25 tons

Question 5

What makes life on earth possible?

Answer 5

the abundant water supply, since 75% of the planet is water.

Question 6

What’s special about water?

Answer 6

It is required for many of the biochemical reactions in our cells that take place.

Question 7

Most of our cellular material is what?

Answer 7

Water

Question 8

Water Cycle:

Answer 8

Water evaporates from large bodies water
resulting in water vapor
precipitation (rain/ice)
groundwater runoff back into bodies water
process repeats

Question 9

How do pollutant enter the water cycle?

Answer 9

Several sources: the burning of fossil fuels in factories, electrical power plants, and automobile engines.

Question 10

What’s acid precipitation?

Answer 10

Made up of sulur and nitrogen oxides contaminate in rain water in clouds. It washes away essential plant growth minerals, damaging plants & interfering with fish.

Question 11

What’s a LC50 bioassay?

Answer 11

“Lethal Concentration 50” Its the concentration of a pollutant that is necessary to kill 50% of a population of an indicator organism in a specific amount of time. (usually btw 1- 4 hrs)

Question 12

What’s an indicator species?

Answer 12

just about any organism that lives in the environment that the researcher is studying. (Daphnia is usually used as it, in America)

Question 13

What is sustainability?

Answer 13

its meaning that humans should use natural resources more wisely to meet their needs so that future generations will have an adequate supply of same resources

Question 14

Where are the Independent Variables located?

Answer 14

On the X-axis

Question 15

Where are the dependent variables located?

Answer 15

On the y-axis

Question 16

What happens after a landfill reaches capacity?

Answer 16

Vegetation is planted in the top layer of the dirt. The space above the landfill can them be used for recreational fields, office parks, industrial buildings, or other purposes.