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Biochemical Cycles Flashcards

1
Q

What are Biochemical Cycles?

A
  • Include biological organisms & geological processes= includes processes that occur on many spatial scales from cellular to planetary
  • Arise from a fixed number of atoms of each type of element
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2
Q

Carbon is the major…

A

Constituent of the bodies of organisms

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3
Q

What is carbon the major constituent of the bodies of organisms?

A
  • BC carbon atoms help form the framework of all organic compounds
  • Almost 20% of weight of human body is carbon
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4
Q

What is the most significant carbon-containing compound?

A
  • CO2
  • It makes up .03% of the volume of the atmosphere
  • And it reacts spontaneously with water to form bicarbonate ions (HCO3-)
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5
Q

What are Biogeochemical cycles?

A
  • Emphasize that the cycles of chemical elements involve biological processes & organisms, & geological (abiotic) systems & processes
  • They cross the boundaries of ecosystems
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6
Q

What do Biogeochemical cycles include?

A
  • Include processes that occur on many spatial scales from cellular to planetary
  • They also include processes that occur on multiple time scales= biochemical reactions (secs) to the weathering of rocks (millennia)
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7
Q

What is the most significant carbon-containing compound in abiotic environments of organisms?

A

-Carbon dioxide= makes up .03% of the volume of the atmosphere= 750 billion metric tons

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8
Q

How does CO2 react with water?

A

-It reacts spontaneously w/ water to form bicarbonate ions= HCO3-

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9
Q

How is the carbon cycle like in terrestrial ecosystems?

A
  • Plants & other photosynthetic organisms take in CO2 from the atmosphere & use it in photosynthesis to synthesize the carbon-containing organic compounds
  • This is sometimes called carbon fixation
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10
Q

What does Fixation refer to?

A

-The metabolic reactions that make nongaseous compounds from gaseous ones

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11
Q

How do photosynthetic plants & animals obtain energy?

A

-They both break down some of the organic compounds available to them via aerobic cellular respiration

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12
Q

How is the carbon cycle in aquatic ecosystems?

A
  • It is similar to the process for terrestrial ecosystems

- BUT inorganic carbon is present in the water has CO2 & HCO3- ions

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13
Q

What does CO2 & HCO3- have in common?

A
  • They both are present in the water of aquatic ecosystems

- They both act as sources of carbon for photosynthesis by algae & aquatic plants

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14
Q

What kind of microbes provide an additional dimension to the global carbon cycle?

A

-Microbes that break down organic compounds by anaerobic cellular respiration

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15
Q

What are Methanogens?

A

-They are microbes that produce methane CH4

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16
Q

What is a major source for Methane?

A

-Wetland ecosystems bc methogens live in oxygen free sediments

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17
Q

What happens to Methane when it enters the atmosphere?

A
  • It is oxidized abiotically to CO2

- BUT the CH4 that remains isolated from oxygen can last for a lot of time

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18
Q

What are the 2 dimensions of the global carbon cycle?

A
  • Microbes that break down organic compounds

- And that some parts of the cycle may proceed faster than others

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19
Q

What effect would different parts of the global carbon cycle proceeding faster than other parts?

A

-There will be an imbalance of the cycle which can cause burned fossil fuels to rapidly return to the atmosphere= higher concentration of CO2 levels= global warming

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20
Q

What are the 2 green house gases?

A
  • Methane

- Carbon dioxide

21
Q

What is the distinctive feature of the Water cycle?

A

-It is that since water is a compound, it can be synthesized & broken down

22
Q

How is water synthesized in the water cycle?

A

-It is synthesized during aerobic cellular respiration

23
Q

How is water split in the water cycle?

A

-It is chemically split during photsynthesis

24
Q

What is the relationship between water synthesizing & splitting in the water cycle?

A

-The rates are equal= constant amount of water cycles throughout the biosphere

25
What a key part of the water cycle?
-The liquid from the earth's surface evaporates into the atmosphere
26
Why does evaporation occur faster when there's more solar radiation on the earth's surface?
-Bc the change of water states from liquid to gas requires a lot of thermal energy
27
How does evaporation occur?
- It occurs directly from the surfaces of bodies of water - BUT 90% of the water passes through plants, trees, grasses & then that water leaves from their leaves & other surfaces
28
what is Transpiration?
-The process of water evaporating through the plant's leaves or other surfaces before it reaches the atomosphere
29
How does evaporated water exist in the atmosphere?
-As a gas
30
What causes the formation of clouds?
- The condensation of gaseous water (water vapor) into droplets or crystals - If these droplets/ crystals are big enough they'll fall to the surface of the earth as precipitation (rain/snow)
31
What is Groundwater?
- The water underground the bodies of water (NOT surface water) - It is the most important reservoir of water on land= representing over 95% of freshwater in the U.S - It consists of 2 subparts
32
How does Groundwater occur?
-It occurs via Aquafiers
33
What are Aquafiers of Groundwater?
- They are permeable underground layer of rock, sand, & gravel that are often saturated with water - BUT water flows through here MUCH slower than surface water (few mm to a meter per day)
34
What are the 2 subparts of Groundwater?
- The upper layer= water table | - The lower layer= confined layers of groundwater
35
What is the Upper layer of groundwater?
- It constitutes the "water table" | - It is unconfined in a sense that it flows into streams & is partly accessible to roots of plants
36
What is the Lower layer of groundwater?
- It is confined layers of groundwaters | - These layers are out of reach to streams & plants but can be tapped by wells
37
How is groundwater recharged?
-It is recharged by water that percolates downward from above= precipitation
38
What is nitrogen a component of?
- All proteins & nucleic acids | - It is also the chemical element that is the SHORTEST in supply relative to the needs of organisms
39
Why is nitrogen the shortest supply since the atmosphere is so rich with is?
-It is bc nitrogen is in chemical form (N2) so plants & organisms have no way to use nitrogen in its chemical form
40
What is the source of nitrogen for animals?
-The major source are nitrogen-containing organic compounds synthesized by plants, algae, & other microbes
41
What is the source of nitrogen for plants & algae?
-The 2 most common sources= NH3 & NO3- (nitrate ions)
42
What how is Nitrogen balanced within plants & algae?
- Certain prokaryotic microbes can synthesize ammonia & nitrate from N2 in the atmosphere= makes atmospheric oxygen accessible for plants & algae - While other prokaryotes turn NH3 & NO3- into N2= making the nitrogen inaccessable
43
What is Nitrogen Fixation?
- The synthesis of nitrogen containing compounds from N2 | - SPECIFICALLY the synthesis of NH3 to N2
44
What is the steps of Nitrogen Fixation?
- The synthesis of NH3 from NH2 | - then other prokaryotic microbes oxidize part of it to form NO3-= nitrification
45
What is the nitrogen base complex?
-They are enzymes that allow certain prokaryotes to accomplish nitrogen fixation
46
What is Dentrification?
-The ability that other prokaryotes have to convert the nitrogen in NO3- into N2 or other nitrogenous gases like N2O)
47
What is the form of waste that Nitrogen can take?
- Most animals excreting nitrogen from proteins like NH3 - While humans & other mammals excrete nitrogen as Urea in their urine - Many microbes convert the urea to NH3
48
What is the Phosphorus cycle?
-Phosphorus only occurs in the liquid & solid states= DOES NOT enter the atmosphere

BIO 110 (45 decks)

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