Ch. 21 quiz Flashcards
Units for ecological efficiencies
J
why are ecological efficiencies higher in aquatic?
terrestrial are big plants w/ lots of cellulose and lignin (not digestable)- much harder to consume energy in terrestrial than aquatic ecosystems
movement of water from oceans to continents is driven by
the sun’s energy
how might the ocean reduce the effects of fossil fuel combustion on CO2 concentrations in the atmosphere?
by absorbing atmospheric CO2
what makes up carbon storage in the biosphere?
humans
where is most carbon found?
the ocean
why is methane gas commonly produced in swamps?
it is created through anaerobic decomposition that occurs in swamps
given that the bottom of the ocean is anaerobic, what process in the nitrogen cycle is likely to be occurring in this location?
denitrification
how might nitrogen-fixing bacteria living in symbiosis with a plant affect the types of environments in which a plant could live?
it would allow the plant to live in areas w/o much nitrogen
why is the weathering of bedrock responsible for such a small fraction of nutrients available to plants?
bedrock weathers slowly
why do tropical and temperate soils have different rates of nutrient regeneration?
decomposition increases as temperature increases, and increases as precipitation increases
why agricultural soils in boreal Canada retain their nutrients for many more years than agricultural soils in tropical South America?
they are in a colder environment
how might climate change cause the release of CO2 from boreal forest soils?
increased temperature causing increased decomposition
what causes eutrophication?
excess phosphorous and nitrogen
nitrogen fixation equation
N2 –> NH3/NH4
