APES vocab

Indicator species

A species whose presence, absence, or abundance reflects a specific environmental condition.

POPs (Persistent Organic Pollutants)

Chemical compounds that persist in the environment and can bioaccumulate through the food web.

Watersheds

Land areas that channel rainfall and snowmelt to creeks, streams, and rivers.

Atrazine

A widely used herbicide that can have harmful effects on wildlife and water resources.

Environmental Estrogens

Chemical compounds that can mimic estrogen and disrupt endocrine systems.

PPM or B

Parts per million (PPM), a unit for measuring concentrations of substances.

Small doses vs large

Refers to the differential effects and toxicity of chemicals at varying concentrations.

Unintended consequences

Unforeseen outcomes resulting from an action, especially in environmental contexts.

Chemical Soup

A term describing a mixture of various chemicals in the environment, often of unknown effects.

Bioavailable

Referring to the fraction of a substance that is available for absorption in biological systems.

Bioremediation

The use of living organisms to remove or neutralize contaminants from soil and water.

Hermaphrodite

An organism that has both male and female reproductive organs.

Anthropogenic

Environmental changes and effects that result from human activity.

Methylmercury

A toxic compound formed when mercury is transformed by biological processes.