Aquatic and Terrestrial Pollution
APES Unit 8 Flashcards
Review water pollution, waste, eutrophication and toxicology with free AP Environmental Science flashcards.
Test your recall
How to studyChoose All flashcards to start studying.
What is covered in APES Unit 8?
Aquatic and Terrestrial Pollution connects pollutant sources with transport, exposure and effects on ecosystems. Compare waste and wastewater controls, follow contaminants through food webs and interpret toxicity data. Choose a topic to practise its ten flashcards.
- 8.1 Sources of Pollution (10 cards)
- 8.2 Human Impacts on Ecosystems (10 cards)
- 8.3 Endocrine Disruptors (10 cards)
- 8.4 Human Impacts on Wetlands and Mangroves (10 cards)
- 8.5 Eutrophication (10 cards)
- 8.6 Thermal Pollution (10 cards)
- 8.7 Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) (10 cards)
- 8.8 Bioaccumulation and Biomagnification (10 cards)
- 8.9 Solid Waste Disposal (10 cards)
- 8.10 Waste Reduction Methods (10 cards)
- 8.11 Sewage Treatment (10 cards)
- 8.12 Lethal Dose 50% (LD₅₀) (10 cards)
- 8.13 Dose Response Curve (10 cards)
- 8.14 Pollution and Human Health (10 cards)
- 8.15 Pathogens and Infectious Diseases (10 cards)
Unit 8 carries a published 7–10% weighting in the multiple-choice section. Combine recall practice with graph interpretation, data analysis and explanations of environmental solutions.
How to study aquatic and terrestrial pollution
- Trace the pollutant.Identify its source, movement through water or soil, exposure pathway and ecological effect. Separate nutrient enrichment from toxic contamination.
- Compare the processes.Distinguish bioaccumulation from biomagnification, primary from secondary sewage treatment, and acute from chronic effects.
- Read the evidence.Check graph axes, units and test conditions. Mark uncertain cards as Needs practice, revisit them and use the Unit 8 quiz to practise application.
Eutrophication check: nutrient enrichment can increase algal growth; decomposition of organic matter consumes dissolved oxygen. Not every bloom produces toxins.
Food-web check: bioaccumulation occurs within an organism, while biomagnification compares concentrations across trophic levels. These terms describe different patterns.
Toxicity check: a lower LD₅₀ indicates greater acute lethality under comparable test conditions. It does not measure every chronic effect or define a safe exposure by itself.
APES Unit 8 flashcard FAQs
What do APES Unit 8 flashcards cover?
These 150 flashcards cover all 15 Aquatic and Terrestrial Pollution topics, including pollution sources, ecosystem impacts, endocrine disruptors, wetlands, eutrophication, thermal pollution, POPs, contaminant buildup, waste, sewage treatment, toxicology and infectious diseases.
How much of the AP Environmental Science exam is Unit 8?
College Board assigns Unit 8: Aquatic and Terrestrial Pollution a 7–10% weighting in the multiple-choice section. Include all nine course units in your exam revision.
How are bioaccumulation and biomagnification different?
Bioaccumulation is contaminant buildup within an organism over time when uptake exceeds elimination. Biomagnification is an increase in concentration at higher trophic levels. Some persistent contaminants show both processes, but not every pollutant does.
Why can eutrophication reduce dissolved oxygen?
Excess nutrients can increase algal growth. When algae and other organic matter die, decomposers use dissolved oxygen while breaking them down. Low oxygen can stress aquatic animals, especially when mixing does not replenish oxygen quickly enough.
Does my Unit 8 flashcard progress save?
Favorites and self-assessment results save in this browser when local storage is available. Unit 8 progress is separate from other decks and does not sync across devices. Reset progress clears this deck’s results.