8.1-8.5 APES

Point Source Pollution

Originates from a single, identifiable source such as a pipe, factory, or sewage treatment plant.

Nonpoint Source Pollution

Comes from multiple, diffuse sources and is harder to trace back to one specific origin.

Tolerance Ranges in Aquatic Organisms

Aquatic organisms have specific limits for environmental factors such as temperature, dissolved oxygen, and pollutants.

Coral Bleaching

Occurs when corals expel symbiotic algae due to high temperatures, causing stress.

Oil Spills

Create a toxic environment for marine life and lead to long-term damage to ecosystems.

Sedimentation

Excessive sediment clouds water, reduces sunlight penetration, and disrupts aquatic ecosystems.

Heavy Metals

Toxic substances from sources like mining and industrial discharge, harmful to aquatic life.

Mercury

A neurotoxin that accumulates in fish, converting into methylmercury, affecting human health.

Endocrine Disruptors

Chemicals that interfere with hormonal systems in organisms, leading to ecological and health consequences.

Eutrophication

Occurs when excess nutrients from agricultural runoff cause algal blooms, leading to oxygen depletion.

Dead Zones

Areas in aquatic environments with low oxygen levels due to algal blooms, resulting in fish die-offs.

Wetlands

Areas where water covers the soil part or all of the year, providing vital ecological services.

Biodiversity Hotspot

Wetlands provide habitat for many species, including endangered and migratory species.

Carbon Sequestration

The process by which wetlands store large amounts of carbon in peat and sediments.

Pollution from Agriculture

Nutrient runoff from fertilizers leading to eutrophication and harming aquatic life.

Algal Blooms

Rapid growth of algae due to excess nutrients, causing decreased dissolved oxygen in water.

Hypoxia

Low oxygen levels in water, resulting from decomposing algae, leading to aquatic life suffocation.