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Flip to reveal answersState two ways plastic pollution can harm wildlife.
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All 25 Flashcards — Pollution
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Question
State two ways plastic pollution can harm wildlife.
Answer
Wildlife can be injured or entangled and can ingest plastic, reducing feeding and causing starvation.
💡 Hint
Injury/entanglement + ingestion
Question
Define pollution.
Answer
Pollution is the introduction of harmful substances or harmful energy into the environment.
💡 Hint
Harmful matter or energy
Question
State the two broad categories of pollution.
Answer
Pollution can be matter pollution (substances) or energy pollution (noise, light, heat).
💡 Hint
Matter vs energy
Question
State why some chemical pollutants are particularly harmful.
Answer
Some are persistent (do not break down easily), so they remain in ecosystems for long periods and continue to cause harm.
💡 Hint
Persistent
Question
Define microplastics.
Answer
Microplastics are plastic particles smaller than 5 mm in size.
💡 Hint
< 5 mm
Question
Explain how toxins can reach humans through food webs.
Answer
Toxins can bioaccumulate in organisms and biomagnify up food chains, increasing exposure for humans as top consumers.
💡 Hint
Bioaccumulation + biomagnification
Question
Explain what happens to many plastics over time in the environment.
Answer
Many plastics fragment into smaller pieces rather than fully biodegrading, increasing microplastic pollution.
💡 Hint
Fragment, not biodegrade
Question
Explain how chemical pollutants can enter food webs.
Answer
They can enter through air, water, or soil, be taken up by organisms, and then be transferred to predators through feeding.
💡 Hint
Enter via air/water/soil
Question
State the definition threshold for microplastics.
Answer
Microplastics are plastic particles smaller than 5 mm.
💡 Hint
< 5 mm
Question
Distinguish between matter pollution and energy pollution.
Answer
Matter pollution adds substances such as chemicals or plastics; energy pollution adds forms of energy such as noise, light, or heat.
💡 Hint
Substances vs energy
Question
State two reasons plastics can spread widely.
Answer
Plastics can be transported by rivers and ocean currents and can travel long distances before settling.
💡 Hint
Rivers + currents
Question
Explain one way pollution can weaken a food web.
Answer
Pollution can kill organisms or reduce their growth and reproduction, so less biomass and usable energy are transferred to higher trophic levels.
💡 Hint
Lower survival and transfer
Question
Define persistent pollutant.
Answer
A persistent pollutant is a substance that resists breakdown and remains in the environment for long periods.
💡 Hint
Resists breakdown
Question
State three routes by which humans can be exposed to pollutants.
Answer
Through food, drinking water, and air.
💡 Hint
Food, water, air
Question
Explain why non-biodegradable pollutants can be long-term problems.
Answer
They persist in ecosystems, continue causing harm, and can build up in organisms and food chains.
💡 Hint
Persistent and accumulative
Question
State one reason top predators and humans can be highly exposed to pollutants.
Answer
Biomagnification increases pollutant concentration at higher trophic levels.
💡 Hint
Biomagnification
Question
Give two examples of energy pollution.
Answer
Noise pollution and light pollution (heat can also act as energy pollution).
💡 Hint
Noise, light, heat
Question
Explain how some chemicals disrupt biological processes.
Answer
Some chemicals act as endocrine disruptors, interfering with hormones, development, and reproduction.
💡 Hint
Hormone disruption
Question
Explain how plastics can enter food webs at low trophic levels.
Answer
Small plastic fragments can be ingested by plankton and invertebrates, transferring to higher trophic levels when predators feed.
💡 Hint
Ingested by plankton
Question
Explain why top predators are often strongly affected by chemical pollution.
Answer
Pollutants can bioaccumulate in organisms and biomagnify up food chains, leading to highest concentrations in top predators.
💡 Hint
Biomagnification
Question
State one biological consequence of plastic ingestion for wildlife.
Answer
Ingested plastic can block digestion, reduce feeding, cause injury, and increase risk of starvation.
💡 Hint
Blocks digestion / starvation risk
Question
Explain why pollution can reduce survival and reproduction in populations.
Answer
Pollutants can cause toxicity, reduce growth, damage organs, and lower fertility, leading to population decline over time.
💡 Hint
Toxicity lowers fitness
Question
State one example of matter pollution that affects oceans.
Answer
Plastic pollution, including macroplastics and microplastics, entering marine ecosystems.
💡 Hint
Plastic
Question
State one difference between plastics and many organic wastes in ecosystems.
Answer
Plastics typically persist and fragment into microplastics rather than decomposing fully through biological processes.
💡 Hint
Persist and fragment
Question
State two common sources of chemical pollution.
Answer
Industry (factory discharge), agriculture (pesticides/fertilisers), fuel combustion, and poorly managed waste.
💡 Hint
Industry + agriculture
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