12/6 quiz Flashcards

1
Q

what are the different ways nitrogen can move through a system?

A

nitrification or denitrification

assimilation

fixation

decomposition

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2
Q

what part of the nitrogen cycle is done by anaerobic bacteria?

A

denitrification

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3
Q

what part of the nitrogen cycle is done by aerobic bacteria?

A

decomposition and nitrification

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4
Q

what organism does nitrogen fixation?

A

bacteria

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5
Q

how can nutrients be regenerated in an ecosystem?

A

decomposition

weathering

biological accumulation

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6
Q

how can nutrients be lost from a system?

A

disturbance

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7
Q

what is weathering?

A

the break down of inorganic matter

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8
Q

what is decomposition?

A

the break down of organic matter

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9
Q

what is biological accumulation?

A

the stuff we eat and store as biomass

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10
Q

how can species affect nutrient cycling?

A

increase n-fixation and potentially facilitate colonization of invasive species

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11
Q

what is decomposition essential for?

A

nutrient regeneration

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12
Q

what are the four ways decomposition can take place?

A

leaching of soluble material into water

consumption by large detritivores

breakdown of wood and leaves by fungi

bacterial consumption of practically anything

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13
Q

why does costa rica have poorer soils than north carolina?

A

decomposition occurs faster in CR so soil is more exposed to rain and therefore run off

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14
Q

what influences the rate of decomposition?

A

temperature (biological processes happen faster at higher temps)

nutrient content

tissue quality

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15
Q

how does regeneration differ between land and water?

A

land: takes place close to roots, decomposition is mostly aerobic

water: photic zone is far removed from sediments, decomposition is mostly anaerobic

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16
Q

what is the photic zone?

A

where light is present in an aquatic system

17
Q

what results from anaerobic decomposition in aquatic systems?

A

lots of nutrients are stuck in sediments at the bottom of the system and can’t be recycled

18
Q

what are ways scientists have collected data about nutrients?

A

collecting tree litter and matter in streams

19
Q

what is the Hubbard Brook experiment?

A

experimental set up of one deforested and one forested basin controlled by Harvard

20
Q

what are the main findings of the Hubbard Brook experiment?

A

greater nutrient output is run off from the deforested basin

forest slows and moderates stream flow

21
Q

what is an example of a disturbance that caused a lot of soil nutrient loss?

A

the dust bowl

22
Q

what factors contributed to the dust bowl?

A

plowing, wind, and drought

a lot of nutrients lost to the ocean

23
Q

during the hubbard brook experimental forest case study, why didn’t the trees recover after emissions declined

A

it takes longer for acidity of soil to recover

particulate declined, which was a major source of calcium

24
Q

what are particulates?

A

tiny particles suspended in the air/water

25
what does a decline in particulate matter mean?
calcium ions reduced acidity in soil and water, but is a nutrient for trees calcium was leached away due to tree deaths, so acid rain was stealing nutrients from soil
26
true or false: acid rain caused tree death
false, it did not directly cause tree deaths
27
what does primary production control?
the flow of energy through an ecosystem
28
what does decomposition control?
the regeneration of nutrients in an ecosystem