APES

Question 1

Ways carbon returns to the atmosphere

Answer 1

Respiration, decay (decomposers), burning (fossil fuels)

Question 2

How does carbon flow through biotic world

Answer 2

Taken up by producers via photosynthesis. Passed onto consumers through consumption.

Question 3

How does carbon flow through abiotic world

Answer 3

Calcium carbonate can precipitate out of water as sediments. Carbon can also be buried and become fossil fuels overtime.

Question 4

Human impacts of carbon cycle

Answer 4

Burning fossil fuels, deforestation

Question 5

Fixation (Nitrogen)

Answer 5

Biotic processes convert N2 to ammonium, and abiotic processes convert N2 to nitrate.

Question 6

Nitrification (Nitrogen)

Answer 6

The conversion of ammonia to nitrite to nitrate. Done by bacteria

Question 7

Assimilation (Nitrogen)

Answer 7

The process by which producers incorporate elements into their tissues

Question 8

Mineralization/Ammonification

Answer 8

Decomposers in soil and water break down biological nitrogen compounds into ammonium

Question 9

Denitrification

Answer 9

Conducted by anaerobic bacteria. Nitrate to nitrous oxide to nitrogen gas, released into atmosphere

Question 10

Human impacts on Nitrogen Cycle

Answer 10

Nitrogen is a limiting nutrient, adding nitrogen to soil fertilizers. Added nitrogen ends up in ecosystems through rainfall, which can lead to disruptions. Some plant species can only survive in low nitrogen conditions.

Question 11

Why is phosphorus important?

Answer 11

Major component of DNA as well as used for ATP.

Question 12

Assimilation and mineralization (phosphorus)

Answer 12

Producers take up inorganic phosphate and assimilate them into tissues as organic phosphate. Waste is then decomposed by bacteria and fungi turning it back to inorganic.

Question 13

Sedimentation, geologic uplift, and weathering

Answer 13

Over time, ocean layers are lifted up and phosphate rocks in the formed mountains are slowly weathered and released through rainfall. Not much phosphorus leaches into water bodies.

Question 14

Human impacts on Phosphorus Cycle

Answer 14

Fertilizers lead to excess phosphorus in water bodies, causing increase in growth of producers. Increased algae causes algal bloom, and decomposition consumes large amounts of oxygen, causing water to become hypoxic.

Question 15

Transpiration

Answer 15

The release of water from leaves during photosynthesis

Question 16

Three routes water takes on land

Answer 16

1) evaporation or transpiration back to atmosphere
2) absorbed by soil and percolated to groundwater
3) runoff across land surface to streams and rivers

Question 17

Human impacts on water cycle

Answer 17

Climate change = increased evaporation. Deforestation = increased runoff