2015 Fall Environmental Science Study Guide, p. 91
2015-2016 Environmental Science
p. 91 Study Guide
1. What is land subsidence?
Land subsidence is land that falls or drops due to water leaving below the surface (i.e.- a sink
hole).
a.
What causes one?
When too much water is removed from the water table below the surface, the land will fall
filling areas where water was previously.
b. Where in Virginia could land subsidence occur?
Land subsidence occurs in Southwest Virginia. It could happen here. Along the Blue Ridge
Mountains
2. What are sink holes and can they be found in Virginia?
See number 1. A sink hole is also called land subsidence.
http://water.usgs.gov/edu/sinkholes.html
3. What is an artesian wells?
Water bubbling to the surface without human interference is considered an artesian well.
4. What is an aquifer?
An aquifer is a body of water contained underground.
5. What is the unsaturated zone?
An unsaturated zone is an area of underground that is not full of water.
6. What is a storage pond?
A storage pond is an area of land designed to hold water near the run-off ultimately
refilling/recharging the water table. Man-made, help to control flooding, stores runoff
7. Why is the riparian zone good to have? (at least 3 reasons) an area of vegetation (plants) along a
water system prevents: 1-controls flooding, 2- controls erosion, 3 protects/provides habitat, 4 filter
pollution
Filter or clean, flood control/erosion/protects habitat
What types of animals and vegetation grow along a riparian zone?
Reptiles, snakes, water birds-ducks, cattails, water grasses, river birch.
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2015 Fall Environmental Science Study Guide, p. 91
8. What are point, and non-point source pollution?
Point source pollution is a visible source of contamination to the environment. Ex. Oil spill.
Non-point source pollution is a source of contamination that is not visible. You can’t see the
cause of the pollution.
9. What is eutrophication? How would you know if it were occurring?
Eutrophication is when there are too many nutrients in the water system which causes an algal
bloom. The scientific term for ’overstimulation of growth of aquatic plants and algae’ caused by an
increase in nutrients resulting in a reduction of oxygen.
10. What does effluent mean?
Fluid exiting a pipe (often polluted)
11. What is a recharge?
Recharge occurs when the water table is replenished by precipitation.
12. What is runoff, and is this a good or a bad thing? Why?
Runoff occurs when rain or water does not absorb or is unable to absorb into the surrounding
land, and flows into the water systems, streams, rivers, bay, oceans.
Generally, runoff is bad, as it does not recharge (re-fill) the local water table. Sometimes fresh water is
‘lost’ as it mixes with the oceans or brackish water.
Often run-off picks up pollution from impervious surfaces. It is not filtered as it would be if it went
through the soil.
It can be good, if the streams, and rivers are low—if the water table is full.
13. How are nitrates added to ponds or rivers?
Nitrates are found in fertilizers used in farming, and lawn enhancement. The chemical is
transported through runoff into the water system.
14. How are phosphates added to waterways?
Runoff from fertilizers
15. How is nitrogen added to the environment?
Fertilizer, sewage, human waste, lightning.
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16. List 2 ways that pesticides are bad for wildlife.
Synthetic chemicals appear in foodstuffs, and contaminate their habitat and water.
17. What is a good level of dissolved O2 for most aquatic organisms?
More than 5 ppm (parts per million).
18. What is a good (optimal) pH for most aquatic organisms?
6.5-8.5
19. What is sludge, and what can it be used for?
The residue remaining after water treatment. Sludge can be used for fertilizer. It is not smelly
when completely processed. ;)
20. What percentage of sewage is water?
99.9%
21. What happens in the preliminary treatment of waste water?
The preliminary treatment of waste water is screening out or separating debris like sticks, rags,
i.e. food particles, gravel, toys, etc. so the pumps, and other equipment is not damaged.
In the primary treatment?
The primary treatment of water is the 2nd step which separates the suspended solids and grease.
Wastewater is held in a tank for several hours allowing the particles to settle to the bottom, and the
grease to float to the top. Mr. Daniel’s class—oil is less dense than water—remember water is polar.
In the secondary treatment?
The secondary treatment of water (is the 3rd step) involves biological treatment process to
removed dissolved organic material from the clarified wastewater. *Sewage bacteria are cultivated, and
added to the wastewater. These bacteria react with the organic material. The balance is delicate, if it
becomes unbalanced it will smell.
22. What are two ways water can be disinfected before it is released into a stream?
Water can be disinfected by adding chlorine, or being passed under a ultra-violet light. In
Loudoun County, the water is disinfected by adding chlorine.
2015 Fall Environmental Science Study Guide, p. 91
23. When was the Clean Water Act passed? What were 3 basic provisions of it?
The Clean Water Act was passed in 1972. Three basic provisions of the law are: no one has the
right to pollute the navigable water of the United States, dischargers are required to have a permit (like
sewage treatment plants), and the permits set limits on the amount and type of the pollutants that are
permitted to be discharged.
24. List the basic characteristics of birds
a. The only animal with feathers
b. in general, skeletons of birds are very lightweight because their bones are hollow
c. they have fewer bones than most other vertebrates
25. What are biggest and smallest birds?
The ostrich is the largest bird which can grow almost 8 feet tall, and weigh more than 300
pounds. The hummingbird can be only 2 inches long and weigh less than 1 ounce.
26. Give 2 reasons why bird skeletons are generally light weight.
Hollow bones (criss-cross struts), and fewer bones.
27. What kind of animal is the bird’s skull most closely resemble?
A bird’s skull most closely resembles a reptile.
28. What is binocular vision?
Binocular vision is 3 dimensional which is important in judging distance and is necessary in
hunting fast-moving prey.
What kind of birds have it?
Birds of Prey: their eyes are located toward the front of the head, such as in owls & eagles.
29. What is monocular vision? Monocular vision allows eyes to see far to the side to detect predators.
Their eyes are located toward the sides of their heads.
What kinds of birds have it?
Song birds have monocular vision.
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30. What are the 3 parts of the bird’s digestive system? What is the function of each?
The crop, gizzard, and stomach are the three main parts of a bird’s digestive system.
a) Crop-an enlargement of the esophagus is a storage chamber for food before passing to the
stomach; hard foods like seeds, and nuts are softened with mucus. It is extended wide not
straight.
b) Stomach—2 kinds: glandular (which has digestive enzymes** to break down proteins and
partially dissolve bones (owl pellet, fur, bones) that have been swallowed. These enzymes
speed up chemical reactions (in this case they are proteins).
c) Gizzard-a muscular stomach that contains small stones & grit which grind up and crush food;
these are found in birds of prey like hawk, and owl; the gizzard traps indigestible matter
such as bones and pellets by regurgitation**
31. Know the main types of feathers used in flight.
The main types of feathers used in flight are the primaries and the secondaries.
32. List the 4 types of flight, what are they used for, and which uses the most energy and the least.
1) flapping, 2)hovering, 3) soaring and 4) gliding
Flapping---short distances but also for migration; requires large amount of energy, but is very fast
Hovering: used to remain stationary over one spot; requires* more energy than flapping; only a few
species can hover**, like the hummingbird
Gliding: the simplest form of flight, it requires the least energy
Soaring: used by birds with large wingspans like vultures, eagles, and albatross (fly across the ocean),
uses thermals rising from cliffs or land to maintain or increase (gain) altitude w/o flapping. Hot air-up
cooler air-down.
33. Name 4 birds that can’t fly. Why can’t they fly?
Penguin, ostrich, emu, kiwi & rheas (potentially the flamingo, cassawarie). They have wings, but
the wings are too weak or small to make them airborne.
34. What caused the water to be polluted in the movies, Love Canal?
Chemicals from a local plant, Occidental Chemical. 20,000 tons of chemicals dumped in a canal.
35. Why couldn’t the people just leave?
The chemical seeped into the ground, and ground water of their yards, and land. They bought
houses there—and were not going to be compensated. They couldn’t afford to leave.
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36. Understand the different storm water elements (soakage trenches, rain barrels, cisterns, rain
gardens, etc.) and where they would be found (underground, ground level, or on the roof). Which ones
could be used for drinking water? Only cisterns can be used for drinking water.
Please be aware there is a test in Environmental Science, Dr. Peter’s class, Monday, 11/30
The following should be studied to prepare:
to study for the test, review the questions above, and the information below:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Leaf ID, pg 86
Bird Anatomy Notes (pg 101-105)
Bird ID-pictures
Waste water treatment
Waste H20 Treatment Notes (P. 97-100)
Storm H20 Elements--There is a link for this documentation on Mrs. Tracy’s webpage.