AP Environmental Science Unit 8 Vocabulary

acid deposition

acid materials that falls from the atmosphere to the earth in either wet (rain, sleet, fog) or dry (gases, particles) forms.

algal bloom

a rapid increase in the density of algae in an aquatic system.

bioaccumulation

the accumulation over time of a substance and especially a contaminant (such as a pesticide or heavy metal) in a living organism.

biochemical oxygen demand (BOD)

the amount of oxygen consumed by bacteria and other microorganisms while they decompose organic matter under aerobic conditions.

biomagnification

the rise or increase in the contaminated substances caused by the intoxicating environment.

Boom

floating physical barriers to oil, made of plastic, metal, or other materials, that slow the spread of oil and keep it contained.

Brownfield

a property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant.

Bubonic Plague

a bacterial infection caused by Yersinia bacteria.

Cholera

an acute diarrheal infection by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae.

Composting

the process of recycling organic materials into an amendment that can be used to enrich soil and plants.

Coral bleaching

when water is too warm, corals will expel the algae (zooxanthellae) living in their tissues causing the corals to completely turn white.

Dead Zone

areas of water bodies where aquatic life cannot survive because of low oxygen levels.

Decomposition

the process by which organic matter breaks down into simpler substances through the action of decomposers like bacteria and fungi.

Dispersant

Chemical agents used to break up oil into smaller droplets in the water column.

Dose Response Curve

an illustration of the relationship between the dosage or concentration of a substance and its effect on an organism, population, or ecosystem.

E-Waste

electronic products that are unwanted, not working, and at the end of their 'Useful life'.

Endocrine disruptors

natural or man-made chemicals that may mimic or interfere with the body's hormones.

Eutrophication

the excessive nutrient enrichment of water, leading to algal bloom and ecological imbalance.

Fecal Coliform bacteria

a group of bacteria that are passed through the fecal excrement of humans, livestock, and wildlife.

Great Pacific Garbage Patch

a large area in the North Pacific Ocean where marine life debris, primarily plastic, accumulates due to ocean currents, forming a 'Soup' of trash.

Hypoxia

water with very low dissolved oxygen levels.

Incineration

a waste treatment process that involves the combustion of substances contained in waste materials.

Indicator Species

a species or a group of species that reflect the biotic or abiotic state of an environment.