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Marine Bio > Marine Pollution > Flashcards

Marine Pollution Flashcards

1
Q

Main categories of marine pollution

A
  • Toxic substances
  • Solid waste inc. plastic debris
  • Sewage and eutrophication
  • Warm water sources
  • Noise
  • Light
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2
Q

Acute pollution discharge

A

catastrophic but a relativley quick event, short term

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3
Q

Chronic pollution discharge

A

continuous input of toxic substance or other anthropogenic factor (causes degredation of the environment) long term

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4
Q

Acute effect of oil spills

A

e.g. Oiling

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5
Q

Chronic effect of oil spills

A

e.g Changes
in community structure

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6
Q

Point pollution sources

A

Point source – discrete entry point
* E.g. oil spills, sewage outflow, factory
wastewater pipe

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7
Q

Diffuse pollution sources

A

Diffuse – variety of geographic points
* E.g. rainfall run-off, CO2, plastic pollution

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8
Q

*Biomagnification

A

An increase in the
biological concentration of a chemical with increasing trophic position

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9
Q

Bioaccumulation

A

Corresponds to the
process by which the intake of a chemical, via dietary or environmental
exposure routes, exceeds elimination

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10
Q

Toxic substances (Heavy metals) - Sources

A

Sources:
*Mining e.g. Mercury (Hg) and gold mines
* Manufacturing e.g. Hg from pulp mills (prior to regulation) and Cadmium (Cd) from battery factories
* Coal-burning powerplants (Hg as aerosols)
* Sewage e.g. Cd
* Agriculture e.g. insecticides and fungicides

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11
Q

Toxic substances (Heavy metals) - Effects

A
  • Methyl-mercury bioaccumulates in food chain and causes Minimata disease in humans
  • Denature proteins e.g. Zinc (Zn) and Cu
  • Bind to blood pigments e.g Cu
  • Renal function e.g. Cd in sea turtles and dugongs consumed by humans
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12
Q

Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) - Sources

A
  • Agricultural run-off e.g. pesticides and herbicides
  • Anti-fouling paint e.g. Tributyltin (TBT)
  • Industrial additives e.g. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
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13
Q

Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) - Effects

A
  • Slow degradation
  • Biomagnification and bioaccumulation
  • Eggshell thinning e.g. DTT
  • Carcinomas
  • Reproductive failure
  • Impacts on immune, endocrine (hormones) and nervous system function
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14
Q

Oil and Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) - Sources

A
  • Small amount of natural release (seeps)
  • Human activity e.g.
  • Leaks from marine terminals, harbours, offshore drilling, tankers and barges
  • Washout from land via drains & rivers
  • Intentional washing of tanks
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15
Q

Oil and Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) - Effects

A
  • Oil fouling – ingestion, suffocation and hypothermia
  • Cascading effects e.g. Coastal vegetation die-off -> increased turbidity
  • PHAs (lipophilic) – Cancers, tissue abnormalities and
    reduced reproductive rates
  • Chemical dispersants (Surfactants) also toxic
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16
Q

Carbon dioxide (CO2) - Sources

A

Rising CO2 emissions due to burning of fossil fuels

17
Q

Carbon dioxide (CO2) - Effects

A
  • Reduction in seawater pH - Acidification
  • Reduced availability of calcium carbonate for
    exoskeletons of marine organisms
  • e.g. Corals, molluscs, echinoderms, crustacea,
    foraminifera
  • Increases in sea-surface temperature
  • Reduction in sea ice
  • Coral bleaching
18
Q

Debris (inc. plastic) - Sources

A
  • ~80% is plastic
  • Huge variety of sources e.g. waste
    mismanagement, sewage outflows and fishing
  • Larger items (macroplastics >5mm) are broken
    down to microplastics (<5mm)
  • Microplastics are also purpose-made e.g.
    microbeads and industrial abrasives
  • Easily transported and accumulates in gyres and
    coastal regions
19
Q

Debris (inc. plastic) - Effects

A
  • Ingestion
  • Chemical contaminants e.g. PCBs and plasticizers
  • Entanglement
  • Smothering
20
Q

Nitrogen - Sources

A
  • Sewage and fertilizers (rivers and run-off)
  • Atmospheric nitrogen emissions from
    burning of fossil fuels
21
Q

Nitrogen - Effects

A
  • Eutrophication
  • Phytoplankton blooms
  • Detritus sinks
  • Microbial respiration: hypoxia and
  • Anoxia -> fish die offs and dead zones
  • Harmful Algal Blooms (‘red tides’)
  • Paralytic shellfish poisoning
22
Q

Warm water sources (thermal pollution) - Sources

A
  • Power stations
  • Use water in heat dissipation
  • Warm water pumped directly into the
    sea (up to +15°C)
23
Q

Warm water sources (thermal pollution) - Effects

A
  • Can kill local species
  • Primary producers replaced
  • Primary production reduced
  • Changes in zooplankton and fish communities
  • Increased numbers of alien species e.g
    Pacific oysters in Sweden
24
Q

Noise - Sources

A
  • Vessel traffic
  • Oil and gas exploration e.g. seismic surveys
  • Construction e.g. pile driving offshore structures
  • Sonar e.g. military vessels
25
Q

Noise - Effects

A
  • Hearing damage
  • Stress
  • Behavioural changes
  • Disturbance
  • Masking
26
Q

Light - Sources

A
  • Coastal development
  • Offshore industries e.g. oil and gas, marine
    renewables
  • Shipping
27
Q

Light - Effects

A
  • Disruption to movement patterns
  • Greater exposure to other threats e.g. predation
  • Reduces reproductive success

Marine Bio (13 decks)

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