Biospheres Or Smth

Question 1

What is phosphorus needed to make?

Answer 1

ATP and DNA.

Question 2

Where’s phosphorus found?

Answer 2

Bones, teeth, and shells of many animals

Question 3

Does phosphorus tend to cycle slowly or quickly?

Answer 3

Slowly in an ecosystem but can be a part of a shorter cycle

Question 4

What are the main reservoirs for phosphorus?

Answer 4

Soil and rocks
Rock weathering gradually adds phosphorus to the soil in the form of phosphate (PO4) which plants can absorb

Question 5

What’s absorbed phosphorus then transferred to consumers in?

Answer 5

Organic form (DNA, RNA)

Question 6

How is phosphorus returned back to the soil?

Answer 6

Animal excretion and the action of decomposers. Soil particles and humus (organic material in soil) binds phosphate so it is not leached out into the water table and the phosphate is reabsorbed by plants

Question 7

How does phosphorus return from ocean bottom?

Answer 7

Geological uplift

Question 8

What’s eutrophication

Answer 8

Part of the natural algal in lakes. Young deep lakes are not as productive as older lakes with deposits of minerals from runoff available as nutrients. These phosphates are cycled and the lake becomes increasingly eutrophic ( which means good food) providing nutrients for a wide range of algal growth

Question 9

What contributes to an acceleration of eutrophication

Answer 9

Organic wastes, fertilizer runoff, animal wastes and mining all contribute