Lecture 23: Biogeochemical Cycling

Question 1

What are the two conditions that life requires to be met?

Answer 1

The flow of energy and the continual recycling of elements

Question 2

What processes do Primary Producers (Autotrophs) use produce organic matter?

Answer 2

Photosynthesis or Chemosynthesis

Question 3

What is Primary Production?

Answer 3

When primary producers (autotrophs) produce organic matter via photosynthesis or chemosynthesis from CO2

Question 4

What is the word equation for Photosynthesis?

Answer 4

Carbon Dioxide + water + energy ➡️ carbohydrate + oxygen

Question 5

What is the chemical formula for photosynthesis?

Answer 5

6CO2 + 6H2O + Energy → C6H12O6 (glucose)+ 6O2

Question 6

Where does Chemosynthesis get its energy from?

Answer 6

Chemical components rather than light like in photosynthesis

Question 7

What is the word chemical formula for Chemosynthesis?

Answer 7

Hydrogen Sulfide + oxygen ➡️ sulfate + protons + energy

Question 8

What is the chemical formula for Chemosynthesis?

Answer 8

H2S + 2O2 ➡️ SO4 2- + 2H+ + energy

Question 9

What do Heterotrophs do with organic matter?

Answer 9

They use organic matter as a fuel for respiration

Question 10

What does Respiration release?

Answer 10

Energy as heat

Question 11

What is the chemical formula for respiration?

Answer 11

C6H12O6 (glucose) + 6O2 ➡️ 6CO2 + 6H2O + energy

Question 12

What are the two types of Respiration?

Answer 12

Aerobic and Anaerobic

Question 13

How do heterotrophs build body mass?

Answer 13

By eating other organism

Question 14

What is Secondary production?

Answer 14

Building body mass by eating other organisms

Question 15

What are the main reactants and products in Aerobic and Anaerobic respiration?

Answer 15

The main reactant is glucose and the main product is energy

Question 16

What are Macronutrients?

Answer 16

Elements required by all living things in large amounts

Question 17

What are Micronutrients?

Answer 17

Elements required in small amounts by all in life, or in moderate amounts by some forms of life

Question 18

What are Toxins?

Answer 18

Elements that are detrimental to living organisms

Question 19

What are the Macronutrients?

Answer 19

C, H, O, N, P, S

Question 20

What is a Limiting Factor?

Answer 20

An element that prevents the growth of an organism’s, population or even species

Question 21

What is Liebig’s law or the Law of Minimum?

Answer 21

The idea that growth is limited by the scarcest element

Question 22

What does a Biogeochemical cycle describe?

Answer 22

The movement of a chemical element or compound through the biosphere and the rest of the earth system

Question 23

What is the largest carbon sink in the carbon cycle?

Answer 23

Marine sediments and sedimentary rocks

Question 24

What is the biggest reservoir for the nitrogen cycle?

Answer 24

The atmosphere

Question 25

Where is the most phosphorous in the phosphorus cycle?

Answer 25

Earth’s crust

Question 26

In what form is most phosphorus in the crust found as?

Answer 26

Apatite that is really hard to dissolve

Question 27

What are biomes?

Answer 27

Regions with similar environmental characteristics

Question 28

What are the most important biomes?

Answer 28

The Taiga and the Boreal Forest

Question 29

What are the 3 types of water systems?

Answer 29

Freshwater, Brachic water or Sea water

Question 30

What is the Photic zone?

Answer 30

Any zone where light hits and where photosynthesis occurs

Question 31

What are Plankton?

Answer 31

Small organisms that live in the photic zone

Question 32

What does Benthic meaning?

Answer 32

Organisms that like to attach to things at any level of water