Ecosystems + Carbon Cycling

Question 1

Population vs Community

Answer 1

organisms of the same species living in the same habitat

coexisting populations of different species

Question 2

fundamental properties of an ecosystem

Answer 2

energy flow + productivity
nutrient cycling
habitat structure

Question 3

Redfield Ratio

Answer 3

relative number of atoms in living phytoplankton
C:N:P = 106:16:1

Question 4

Liebig’s law of the minimum

Answer 4

only 1 nutrient limits growth at a time

the nutrient in least supply relative to what is needed

Question 5

If the water of an estuary contains 27 mol of N per
liter & 3 mol of P per liter, will the addition of P
increase phytoplankton production in the estuary?

Answer 5

Phytoplankton require N:P of 16:1 (Redfield Ratio)
N:P in the estuary is 27:3 (i.e. 9:1)
→ i.e. 9 units of N for every unit of P

Nitrogen is the limiting nutrient (there is enough phosphorus)

Question 6

2nd law of thermodynamics

Answer 6

entropy

energy moves from an organized, useful form to a disorganized, less useful form

energy cannot be recycled to its original state of usefulness

Question 7

short vs long term carbon cycles

Answer 7

biosphere + atmosphere interactions, carbon passes through food chain from producers to consumers to decomposers

formation and destruction of fossil fuels and sediments

Question 8

compariso of carbon residence times

Answer 8

atmosphere
terrestrial plants
ocean water
sedimentary rock (.2 Gt year)