Human Impacts on Wetlands and Mangroves

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts related to human impacts on wetlands and mangroves, aimed at helping students prepare for their exam.

Wetlands

Areas where water covers the soil, either part or all of the time.

Ecological services

Benefits provided by ecosystems such as water purification, flood protection, and habitat.

Threats to wetlands

Human activities such as commercial development, dam construction, overfishing, and pollution.

Commercial development

Construction of buildings and infrastructure that can damage wetland environments.

Overfishing

Catching fish faster than they can reproduce, disrupting aquatic ecosystems.

Water purification

The process where wetlands filter pollutants from water before it enters larger bodies.

Flood protection

Wetlands act as natural buffers, absorbing excess water during heavy rains.

Ecosystem services of mangroves

Benefits such as timber, fishing, carbon storage, and coastal protection.

Carbon storage

Mangroves store carbon dioxide more effectively than tropical upland forests.

Hypoxic waterways

Bodies of water low in dissolved oxygen, causing potential die-offs of aquatic life.

Eutrophication

The enrichment of water by nutrients leading to excessive growth of algae.

Nutrient runoff

The excess nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) that reach waterways from agriculture.

Dissolved oxygen (DO)

The amount of oxygen available in water crucial for aquatic life.

Point source pollution

A single, identifiable source of pollution, e.g., a discharge pipe.

Nonpoint source pollution

Diffuse sources of pollution not easy to identify, such as runoff.

Riparian buffer

Vegetated areas near water bodies that help filter pollutants and prevent erosion.

Aquatic ecosystems

Water-based environments such as lakes, rivers, and wetlands.

Biological nutrient removal

Process using bacteria to break down organic nutrients in wastewater.

Sedimentation

The process by which sediments settle out of water, often affecting clarity and habitats.

Eutrophic waters

Waters rich in nutrients leading to high algae growth and low oxygen levels.

Oligotrophic waters

Waters with low nutrient levels and high oxygen stability.

Thermal pollution

The degradation of water quality due to the release of heated water into ecosystems.

Permeable pavement

A type of pavement that allows water to infiltrate, reducing runoff.

Cover crops

Plants grown to prevent soil erosion and absorb excess nutrients.

Septic tanks

Underground chambers that treat sewage through bacteria action.

Groundwater recharge

The process where water infiltrates into aquifers or groundwater supplies.

Coastal protection

Mangroves protect coastlines by absorbing storm surges and reducing erosion.

Pollutants

Substances that cause harm to the environment.

Primary treatment

The initial phase of sewage treatment focusing on physical removal of waste.

Secondary treatment

Biological sewage treatment where bacteria break down organic matter.

Tertiary treatment

Advanced treatment of wastewater to remove remaining pollutants and nutrients.

Discharge

Release of treated water back into the environment.

Pollution

Any harmful substance or condition in the environment.

Nutrient cycling

The movement and exchange of organic and inorganic matter back into the production of living matter.

Catchment area

The area from which rainfall flows into a river, wetland, or other water body.

Plankton

Small organisms drifting or floating in water bodies, crucial for the aquatic food chain.

Aquifer

An underground layer of water-bearing rock.

Ecosystem stability

The ability of an ecosystem to maintain its structure and function over time.

Microbial degradation

The breakdown of organic substances by microorganisms.

Riparian zones

Interfaces between land and a river or stream.

Sewage treatment plant

Facility designed to remove contaminants from wastewater.

Organic matter

Material from living organisms, significant in nutrient cycles.

Nutrient balance

The equilibrium between nutrient inputs and outputs in an ecosystem.

Water quality

The characteristics of water that determine its suitability for a specific use.

Benthic zone

The ecological region at the lowest level of a water body.

Invasive species

Non-native species that spread outside their natural habitat, causing environmental harm.

Salinity

The concentration of salts in water.

Wetland restoration

The process of returning a damaged wetland to its natural state.

Estuarine ecosystems

Regions where freshwater from rivers meets the ocean.

Nutrient overload

Excessive input of nutrients into an ecosystem leading to harmful algal blooms.