Biogeochemical Cycles Vocab

Question 1

Nutrients

Answer 1

are elements and compounds that organisms require for survival.

Question 2

Elements and compounds (nitrogen, carbon, phosphorus) needed in large amounts are called ______.

Answer 2

macronutrients

Question 3

Nutrients needed in smaller amounts (zinc, copper, iron) are _______.

Answer 3

micronutrients

Question 4

Dead zones are found mostly in coastal areas with the greatest ______.

Answer 4

human ecological footprints

Question 5

Nutrients move through ecosystems in nutrient cycles, also known as ______

Answer 5

biogeochemical cycles

Question 6

source

Answer 6

When a reservoir releases more materials than it accepts

Question 6

Nutrients move from one _____, or ____, to another for varying amounts of time, called______

Answer 6

reservoir, pool, the residence time.

You, a cow, grass, sedimentary rocks, and the atmosphere are all reservoirs for carbon.

Question 7

sink

Answer 7

When a reservoir accepts more materials than it releases

Question 8

_____ is the rate at which materials move between reservoirs.

Answer 8

Flux

Question 9

The ____ describes the routes that carbon takes through the environment.

Answer 9

carbon cycle