Final-Biogeochemistry

Question 1

Marine microbes: What is a microbe? What are the different
metabolic strategies of microbes (e.g., autotrophy, heterotrophy, photoautotrophy, chemoautotrophy)? What are the selective advantages
of being small?

Answer 1

Microbe Single celled organisms too small to be seen by the naked eye

Autotroph Produces organic compounds from simple substances

Heterotroph Can’t fix carbon so uses organic carbon for growth

Chemotroph Obtains energy by the oxidation of electron donors

Phototroph Uses energy from light to carry out metabolic processes

Types of Microbes prokaryotes, eukaryotes, viruses, bacteria

Question 2

Biogeochemical cycles: What is a biogeochemical cycle?

Answer 2

Biogeochemical Cycle A pathway by which a chemical substance moves through both biotic and abiotic parts of Earth

Question 3

How has the Haber-Bosch process contributed to both increased human population and eutrophication?

Answer 3

It increased farming yields due to fertilizer but the fertilizer seeped into the oceans due to runoff and put more nutrients into the water

Question 4

What are the major aspects of the water cycle? The nitrogen cycle?

Answer 4

Important aspects of water cycle Evaporation, transpiration, condensation, precipitation, and runoff

Important aspects of nitrogen cycle Nitrogen fixation, nitrogen assimilation, ammonification, nitrification, and denitrification

Question 5

What

is the Haber-Bosch process and what does it produce?

Answer 5

Haber-Bosch Process producing ammonia from nitrogen and hydrogen