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Z BIO104 - GENERAL ECOLOGY > Water Resource and Pollution > Flashcards

Water Resource and Pollution Flashcards

1
Q

Importance of Water

A
  • Found in every living organism
  • Dissolves and transports many molecules (nitrates, phosphates, minerals)
  • Quickly moves between three phases, transferring it (and heat) between the surface, atmosphere, and around the planet
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2
Q

Distribution of Water

A
  • Ocean (97%)
  • Freshwater (3%)
  • Ice Caps and Glaciers (70%)
  • Ground water (Aquifers) (29%)
  • Easily Accessible Freshwater (1%)
  • Lakes (52%)
  • Soil Moisture (38%)
  • Water Vapor (8%)
  • Rivers (1%)
  • Living Organisms (1%)
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3
Q

Movement processes of water

A

Hydrologic Cycle

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4
Q

Liquid water is heated and converted to water vapor

A

Evaporation

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5
Q

Water vapor cools and liquifies

A

Condensation

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6
Q

Water droplets combine and fall from clouds

A

Precipitation

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7
Q

Seeps through spaces in soil

A

Infiltration

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8
Q

Flows downhill to a stream, then a lake or ocean

A

Runoff

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9
Q

Evaporation from leaves

A

Transpiration

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10
Q

It is an underground formations of rock and sand that hold water

A

Aquifers

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11
Q

What is called to the uppermost boundary of aquifers?

A

Water table

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12
Q

An ______ ______ is recharged from the ground surface directly above it

A

Unconfined Aquifer

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13
Q

A _____ ______ has an impermeable layer of clay or rock that limits recharging to a smaller area

A

Confined Aquifer

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14
Q

It is the entire area of land where water runoff or infiltration feeds a specific river

A

Watershed

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15
Q

Withdrawal and consumption of water for agriculture, drinking, etc

A

Water Use

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16
Q

Two kinds of Using Water

A
  • Withdrawal
  • Consumption
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17
Q

Amount of water diverted or removed from its source. A portion may be returned afterwards

A

Withdrawal

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18
Q

Example of Withdrawal

A

Power plant coolant water

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19
Q

Water withdrawn and permanently removed from a source

A

Consumption

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20
Q

Example of Consumption

A

Irrigation

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21
Q

The three largest demands for water withdrawal

A
  • Power generation
  • Irrigation
  • Domestics
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22
Q

Demands for water withdrawal:
It is use as a coolant water and for generating steam

A

Power generation (38%)

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23
Q

Demands for water withdrawal:
It is use for watering crops

A

Irrigation (39%)

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24
Q

Demands for water withdrawal:
It is use as a household water

A

Domestic

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25
Q

It is the largest consumer of water worldwide, as most of it is either taken in by plants or evaporated into the atmosphere

A

Irrigation

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26
Q

It occurs when the demand for water is greater than the supply

A

Water stress

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27
Q

Water stress leads to

A

depletion of freshwater resources

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28
Q

Regions with water stress tend to be:

A
  • Naturally arid
  • Heavily populated
  • Growing water-intensive crops and animals
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29
Q

Environmental impacts of overconsumption of freshwater supplies

A
  • Decrease in river flow
  • Lowering of lake and reservoir levels
  • Subsidence, or the gradual sinking of land
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30
Q

Freshwater depletion causes the movement of saltwater into freshwater aquifers

A

Saltwater Intrusion

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31
Q

Due to saltwater intrusion, _____ is contaminated with saltwater

A

Well

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32
Q

Lowering of water table around a well

A

Cone of Depression

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33
Q

Alternative water sources and reducing water consumption

A

Water Conservation

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34
Q

It is the removal of salt from ocean water

A

Desalination

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35
Q

Two possible methods of Desalination

A
  • Distillation
  • Reverse osmosis
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36
Q

It is a methods where it boils the water and collects the steam

A

Distillation

37
Q

It is a methods where pressurized water passes through a filter

A

Reverse osmosis

38
Q

It is the salt waste produced by desalination

A

Brine

39
Q

What is the energy costs for desalination?

A

Very high

40
Q
  • it is where the efforts of water conservation focus on
  • it is the biggest source of water consumption
A

Agriculture

41
Q

It is installed for tree crops which needs high water

A

Drip irrigation system

42
Q

It slows runoff and increase infiltration

A

Contour plowing and terracing

43
Q

It prevent leaks and block evaporation

A

Lining irrigation canals

44
Q

____ ____ _____ centers around high-efficiency devices

A

Home water conservation

45
Q

Low-flow showerheads and faucets use ________ to reduce water consumption

A

aerators

46
Q

Dual-flush toilets use ____ _____ for urine and _____ for solid waste

A
  • less water
  • more water
47
Q

________ ________ and _______ ________ run longer, but use much _____ _____ per cycle

A
  • efficient dishwashers and washing machines
  • less water
48
Q

It uses drought-tolerant plants in the homes and yards in arid climates

A

Xeriscaping

49
Q

It recirculate used water from the sink or shower into the toilet or for yard irrigation

A

Graywater systems

50
Q

It is an established rules and regulations for what can be discharged into surface waters

A

Clean Water Act

51
Q

From the industrial revolution until the passage of the Clean Water Act in ______, surface waters were used as ________ _____ _____

A
  • 1970
  • industrial dump sites
52
Q

The _____ lists all ______ _____ that do not meet one or more of the standards

A
  • EPA
  • impaired waters
53
Q

Causes of impaired waters

A
  • Coliform Bacteria
  • Heavy Metals
  • Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)
  • Oxygen-depleting pollution
  • Nutrient Pollution
54
Q

Disease-causing bacteria from untreated human sewage and manure

A

Coliform Bacteria

55
Q
  • neurotoxins
  • released by mining and the use of synthetic fertilizers
A

Heavy Metals

56
Q
  • synthetic chemicals that do not degrade and are prone to biomagnification and bioaccumulation
  • Forever chemicals
A

Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)

57
Q

Biodegradable matter consumed by decomposers, who deplete oxygen levels in the water

A

Oxygen-depleting Pollution

58
Q

Nitrogen and phosphorous-rich
compounds that promote algae overgrowth

A

Nutrient Pollution

59
Q

______ _____ water pollution comes from single, identifiable source

A

Point source

60
Q

Point sources

A
  • Factories
  • Water treatment plants
61
Q

______ ____ water pollution comes runoff or infiltration from a wide area

A

Nonpoint source

62
Q

Nonpoint source

A
  • Agricultural fields (manure, fertilizer, pesticides)
  • City stormwater drains
  • Home septic systems
63
Q

It is an increase in algae growth as
fertilizer enters surface waters

A

Cultural eutrophication

64
Q

It promotes algae overgrowth

A

Elevated nitrates and phosphates

65
Q

It block sunlight, killing submerged plants

A

Algae

66
Q

As the algae die, ________ use up the ______ ______ in the water

A
  • decomposers
  • dissolved oxygen
67
Q

Oligotrophic

A
  • low nutrients
  • low turbidity
  • high sunlight
68
Q

Mesotrophic

A
  • Increasing nutrients, turbidity, and algae
  • Decreasing sunlight
69
Q

Eutrophic

A
  • High nutrients
  • High turbidity
  • Hypoxia, reduced dissolved oxygen
70
Q

Hypereutrophic

A
  • High nutrients
  • High turbidity
  • Anoxia, absence of dissolved oxygen
71
Q

It is a rule that exists for Lake Michigan Fish

A

3C’s rule

72
Q

3C’s rule

A
  • Choose
  • Clean
  • Cook
73
Q

3C’s rule:
Choose

A

fish that are primary consumers and not bottom feeders

74
Q

3C’s rule:
Clean

A

fish for eating by removing as much fat as possible

75
Q

3C’s rule:
Cook

A

fish on a grill or grate

76
Q

Drinking Water Regulations

A
  • Safe Drinking Water Act (EPA)
  • Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDA)
77
Q

It sets limits and testing requirements for contaminants in municipal tap water

A

Safe Drinking Water Act (EPA)

78
Q

Generally fewer testing and contaminant requirements than tap water

A

Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDA)

79
Q

Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDA):
Water must be classified

A
  • Artesian: Confined aquifer
  • Mineral/Spring: Unconfined aquifer
  • Purified: Tapwater
80
Q

The act that required tankers to have a double hull design by 2015 and increased the legal liability of oil companies for spills

A

Oil Pollution Act of 1990

81
Q

Impacts of oil spills

A
  • Mammals
  • Birds
  • Fish and Plankton
  • Benthos
  • Coastal Ecosystems
82
Q

Impacts of oil spills in Mammals

A

It penetrates their fur, causing hypothermia in cold waters

83
Q

Impacts of oil spills in Birds

A

It penetrates their feathers, preventing flight and causing hypothermia

84
Q

Impacts of oil spills in Fish and Plankton

A

Oil is directly toxic to
them

85
Q

Impacts of oil spills in Coastal Ecosystems

A

Oil washes up on shore, polluting beaches and wetlands

86
Q

Impacts of oil spills to Benthos

A

If dispersants are used, oil sinks to the bottom of the sea and suffocates benthic communities

87
Q

Plastics are not biodegradable but will break down into smaller pieces as they are exposed to sunlight, forming tiny ________

A

microplastics

88
Q

Microplastics _____________ in fish and shellfish, then _________ through the food chain

A
  • bioaccumulate
  • biomagnify

Z BIO104 - GENERAL ECOLOGY (8 decks)

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