Biogeochemical Cycles - Human Impact Quiz

Question 1

What are the 3 essential biogeochemical cycles?

Answer 1

The water cycle. carbon cycle, and nitrogen cycle

Question 2

Evaporation

Answer 2

Liquid water returns to the atmosphere (vaporizes)

Question 3

Transpiration

Answer 3

Evaporation of water from plants

Question 4

What is the sun’s role in the water cycle?

Answer 4

It heats up the atmosphere to allow for evaporation and transpiration

Question 5

What happens to water vapor as the atmosphere cools?

Answer 5

The water vapor in the air condenses to form clouds in the process of condensation

Question 6

Condensation

Answer 6

When water transforms from vapor to liquid

Question 7

Precipitation

Answer 7

When water droplets that form clouds become large enough, the water droplets fall to the earth in the form of ran, sleet, snow, etc.

Question 8

Groundwater

Answer 8

Water that continues to seep into the soil rather than be absorbed by plants.

Question 9

Percolation

Answer 9

The process by which the water seeps into the soil to become groundwater.

Question 10

Runoff

Answer 10

Surface water found on land that is carried back to an ocean or lake

Question 11

What is CO2 that is in the air used by and for?

Answer 11

It is used by photosynthesizing plants, algae, and bacteria as a raw material to build organic molecules like glucose.

Question 12

Respiration

Answer 12

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.

Question 13

Erosion

Answer 13

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.

Question 14

Combustion

Answer 14

When carbon returns to the atmosphere through combustion or burning of fossil fuels. This releases CO2 which is a greenhouse gas.

Question 15

Where do fossil fuels come from?

Answer 15

Dead organisms

Question 16

Why are bacteria important in the nitrogen cycle?

Answer 16

Because they can use atmospheric nitrogen and fix it into compounds usable by other living things.

Question 17

What do organisms need nitrogen for?

Answer 17

To build proteins and nucleic acids.

Question 18

Nitrogen Fixation

Answer 18

Bacteria combine nitrogen from the atmosphere with hydrogen to make ammonia (NH3) in the soil.

Question 19

Ammonification

Answer 19

Production of ammonia by bacteria during the decay of organic matter.

Question 20

Nitrification

Answer 20

Production of nitrates and nitrites from ammonia (NO3). Bacteria are responsible for nitrification. Plants can use nitrates and nitrites to make proteins

Question 21

Assimiliation

Answer 21

Absorption of nitrogen into organic compounds by plants (absorbed through roots)

Question 22

Dentrification

Answer 22

Conversion of nitrate to nitrogen gas, which is released back into the atmosphere

Question 23

What is phosphorus necessary for?

Answer 23

For building DNA and RNA molecules

Question 24

What can phosphorus be found in?

Answer 24

Rocks and minerals in the soil. Phosphorus is released into soil or water after the rocks have been worn down.

Question 25

What happens when plants absorb phosphate from the soil?

Answer 25

It can be passed along from the plants/producers to the other trophic levels.