Biogeochemical Cycles - Human Impact Quiz Flashcards
What are the 3 essential biogeochemical cycles?
The water cycle. carbon cycle, and nitrogen cycle
Evaporation
Liquid water returns to the atmosphere (vaporizes)
Transpiration
Evaporation of water from plants
What is the sun’s role in the water cycle?
It heats up the atmosphere to allow for evaporation and transpiration
What happens to water vapor as the atmosphere cools?
The water vapor in the air condenses to form clouds in the process of condensation
Condensation
When water transforms from vapor to liquid
Precipitation
When water droplets that form clouds become large enough, the water droplets fall to the earth in the form of ran, sleet, snow, etc.
Groundwater
Water that continues to seep into the soil rather than be absorbed by plants.
Percolation
The process by which the water seeps into the soil to become groundwater.
Runoff
Surface water found on land that is carried back to an ocean or lake
What is CO2 that is in the air used by and for?
It is used by photosynthesizing plants, algae, and bacteria as a raw material to build organic molecules like glucose.
Respiration
All living organisms undergo cellular respiration. They use oxygen to break down food; CO2 is a byproduct of the reaction (exhaled). It also provides organisms with ATP or energy.
Erosion
Marine organisms use carbon to make shells, (calcium carbonate), when they die the calcium carbonate is broken down, CO2 forms and is returned to the atmosphere.
Combustion
When carbon returns to the atmosphere through combustion or burning of fossil fuels. This releases CO2 which is a greenhouse gas.
Where do fossil fuels come from?
Dead organisms
Why are bacteria important in the nitrogen cycle?
Because they can use atmospheric nitrogen and fix it into compounds usable by other living things.
What do organisms need nitrogen for?
To build proteins and nucleic acids.
Nitrogen Fixation
Bacteria combine nitrogen from the atmosphere with hydrogen to make ammonia (NH3) in the soil.
Ammonification
Production of ammonia by bacteria during the decay of organic matter.
Nitrification
Production of nitrates and nitrites from ammonia (NO3). Bacteria are responsible for nitrification. Plants can use nitrates and nitrites to make proteins
Assimiliation
Absorption of nitrogen into organic compounds by plants (absorbed through roots)
Dentrification
Conversion of nitrate to nitrogen gas, which is released back into the atmosphere
What is phosphorus necessary for?
For building DNA and RNA molecules
What can phosphorus be found in?
Rocks and minerals in the soil. Phosphorus is released into soil or water after the rocks have been worn down.
What happens when plants absorb phosphate from the soil?
It can be passed along from the plants/producers to the other trophic levels.
