Ch13

Question 1

biogeochemical cycles

Answer 1

cycles that involve the essential molecules that circulate through the entire biosphere (microbes aid in this circulation)

Question 2

biogenic elements
What are the big 4?

Answer 2

molecules that organisms need for survival
carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen

Question 3

How are biogenic elements cycled?

Answer 3

The transfer of electrons (change in oxidation) results in the cycling of elements (typically the change in the oxidation of the element results in different physical characteristics)

Like CO2 to C6H12O6 from bumbocla photosynthesis

Question 4

reservoirs
state the four major ones?

Answer 4

physical locations where biogeochemical cycles of events occur

biosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere

Question 5

flux
sink

Answer 5

the movement of elements between reservoirs
reservoirs that receive flux from a source

Question 6

What denotes a steady-state reservoir?

Answer 6

When the sources and sinks of elements are equivalent

Question 7

Briefly describe the history of the flux of elements

Answer 7

Oxygen production by phototrophs 3 bya caused the flux of elements to shift to its current oxidation state 600M yrs later

Question 8

microcosm
mesocosm
What is the importance of these two?

Answer 8

small sized contained experimental system used to study ecosystem processes under control conditions (like a bottle)

medium sized contained outdoor experimentation

They both can be used to study biogeochemical cycles

Question 9

greenhouse gas

Answer 9

aid in thermal absorption, prevents heat loss

Question 10

What denotes a net gain/loss of organic matter?

Answer 10

If the production of organic material = community respiration

Question 11

positive net community productivity
Is the reservoir in a steady state?

Answer 11

organic matter produced by photosynthesis > organic carbon converted to CO2

no.

Question 12

neg