AP Environmental Science Flashcards: Human Impacts on Wetlands and Mangroves
Written by AP Content Team, Verified for 2026 AP Exams, Last updated: May 2026
Review key ideas with interactive flashcards. This set includes 10 cards to help you master important concepts.
List four ecological services provided by wetlands.
Wetlands provide water purification, flood protection, water filtration, and habitat for a variety of species.
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List four ecological services provided by wetlands.
Wetlands provide water purification, flood protection, water filtration, and habitat for a variety of species.
What is the connection between agriculture and threats to wetlands?
Agriculture can threaten wetlands through pollutants, as runoff containing fertilizers and pesticides can contaminate the water and harm the ecosystem.
Besides providing habitat, what is a key ecological service of wetlands related to water quality?
Wetlands improve water quality through water purification and filtration, removing pollutants and excess nutrients.
How does overfishing impact wetland and mangrove ecosystems?
Overfishing is a threat that depletes fish populations, which can disrupt the food web and the overall ecological balance of these habitats.
What are two primary sources of pollutants that harm wetlands and mangroves?
Two primary sources of pollutants are runoff from agriculture (e.g., pesticides, fertilizers) and industrial waste.
A coastal town that removed its mangrove forest for development experiences more severe storm surge damage. Which lost ecological service is most directly related to this outcome?
The loss of flood protection is the ecological service most directly related to increased storm surge damage.
If a large dam is built upstream from a mangrove forest, what category of threat does this pose to the ecosystem?
This poses a threat from dam construction, which can alter water flow and sediment delivery essential for the mangrove ecosystem's health.
What is meant by 'threats to wetlands and mangroves' in the context of human activity?
These are human activities that endanger the health and existence of wetland and mangrove ecosystems, such as development, dam construction, overfishing, and pollution.
A real estate company drains a swamp to build a new shopping center. Which threat to wetlands does this action represent?
This action represents the threat of commercial development, which destroys wetland habitats for economic purposes.
Identify four major human-caused threats to wetlands and mangroves.
Major threats include commercial development, dam construction, overfishing, and pollutants from agriculture and industrial waste.