APES Unit 9

What is biomagnification?

The process by which the concentration of toxic substances increases in organisms higher up the food chain.

What are the primary pollutants?

Pollutants that are emitted directly from a source, such as carbon monoxide or sulfur dioxide.

Define point source pollution.

Pollution that originates from a single identifiable source, such as a discharge pipe.

What is non-point source pollution?

Pollution that comes from multiple, diffuse sources, often carried off by rainwater runoff.

What is the ozone layer?

A region of Earth's stratosphere that absorbs most of the Sun's harmful ultraviolet radiation.

Define acid rain.

Precipitation that contains higher than normal amounts of sulfuric or nitric acids, often due to air pollution.

What are renewable resources?

Natural resources that can be replenished naturally over time, such as solar energy, wind energy, and biomass.

Explain the carbon cycle.

The series of processes by which carbon compounds are interconverted in the environment, including photosynthesis and respiration.

What is habitat fragmentation?

The process of dividing large natural habitats into smaller, isolated patches, impacting biodiversity.

Define invasive species.

Non-native species that, when introduced to a new environment, can cause harm to local ecosystems, economies, or human health.

What is an ecological footprint?

A measure of how much area of biologically productive land and water an individual or population requires to produce the resources it consumes and assimilate the waste it generates.

What is the role of decomposers in an ecosystem?

Organisms that break down dead or decaying organic material, returning nutrients to the soil and enabling