Intro to Limnology & Biogeochemical cycles L.1

Question 1

What is limnology?

Answer 1

The study of inland waters

Question 2

What is freshwater?

Answer 2

Water with a salinity < 3mg/l

Question 3

Lentic water is…

Answer 3

Standing water
(Lake)
(Wetland ecosystems- shallow water or saturated soils)

Question 4

Lotic water is…

Answer 4

Running water

Stream & River ecosystems

Question 5

Abiotic means…

Answer 5

Non-living

Physical & chemical environment

Question 6

Biotic means…

Answer 6

Living, aka biota or biological.

Micro organisms, birds, mammals

Question 7

What is organic matter

Answer 7

Remains of dead plants and animals in various stages of decomposition.
A key freshwater food source.

Question 8

OM is used by….

Answer 8

Primary producers - plants and algae producing food through photosynthesis.

Question 9

What are functional feeding groups?

Answer 9

Association between food source and feeding habitats observed in macroinvertebrates.

Question 10

What determines the distribution of inland freshwater ecosystems?

Answer 10

Distribution is determined by levels of precipitation and the morphology of the landscape.

Question 11

What is the Biogeochemical Cycle?

Answer 11

The cyclic path nutrients go through in an ecosystem to flow between the non living, living and back to non living.

Question 12

What are the two basic types of biogeochemical cycling?

Answer 12

1. Gaseous

2. Sedimentary

Question 13

In gaseous cycles what are the primary sources of nutrients?

Answer 13

The atmosphere and oceans are the primary sources of nutrients.
Eg. nitrogen, oxygen, carbon

Question 14

What are the primary sources in sedimentary cycles.

Answer 14

The primary sources are rocks, soils and minerals.

Eg. Phosphorus

Question 15

What is the sedimentary cycle driven by?

Answer 15

Driven by the flow of energy in the ecosystem

Question 16

The sedimentary cycle is tied to the….

Answer 16

Water cycle - allowing movement of elements and minerals in the ecosystem

Question 17

What interconnects all ecosystems and biogeochemical cycles?

Answer 17

Hydrological cycle.

Rapid turnover of water in rivers/lakes is driven by this cycle.

Question 18

Nitrogen is ONLY available to plants in what two forms?

Answer 18

1. Ammonium NH4+

2. Nitrate NO3-

Question 19

What are the three steps in Biological Nitrogen Fixation within Nitrogen Cycling?

Answer 19

1. Ammonification
2. Nitrification
3. Dénitrification

Question 20

When does phosphorus occur?

Answer 20

It occurs in tiny amounts in the atmosphere through weathering, leaching, erosion and mining.

Question 21

Where is phosphorus limiting and why?

Answer 21

Limiting in freshwater - naturally low levels.

No gaseous phase in the phosphorus cycle.