Lecture Five - Nutrient Cycling

Question 1

Your friend says that plants use photosynthesis to make energy, while animals use cellular respiration to make energy. Which of the following best describes your reaction to this?
A) I agree
B) I do not agree
C) You’re half right

Answer 1

C) You’re half right

Question 2

Consider our main players in nutrient cycling: primary producers, consumers, and decomposers. Which of them use carbon to make up ATP, nucleic and amino acids, and lipids? Select all that apply:
A) primary producers
B) consumers
C) decomposers

Answer 2

ALL OF THE ABOVE

Question 3

Carbon will ‘leave’ primary producers and enter different parts of the ecosystem. Which of the following options describes how carbon is transferred from primary producers to the rest of the ecosystem? Select all that apply:
A) it goes into the atmosphere as CO2
B) it is transferred to consumers that eat the primary producers
C) it is taken up by decomposers when plants produce waste (including when they die)

Answer 3

B) & C)

Question 4

True or False?
Nitrogen gas (N2) is taken up from the atmosphere by primary producers

Answer 4

False

Question 5

Match the terms below to their definition:
_______ Non-living components of ecosystems
_______ Live organisms in ecosystems (including producers, consumers, & decomposers)

1. Abiotic reservoir
2. Biotic components

Answer 5

1 - Non-living components of ecosystems
2 - Live organisms in ecosystems

Question 6

Which of the following are abiotic reservoirs for nutrients? Select all that apply:
A) soil
B) consumers
C) decomposers
D) atmosphere (air)
E) oceans
F) producers

Answer 6

A), D), & E)

Question 7

Which of the following organisms return carbon to the atmosphere as CO2 through cellular respiration? Select all that apply?
A) producers
B) consumers
C) decomposers

Answer 7

ALL OF THE ABOVE

Question 8

Plants make glucose and other compounds through photosynthesis. These compounds are made up of carbon. Where does the carbon come from?
A) the atmosphere
B) water
C) the soil

Answer 8

A) the atmosphere

Question 9

Other than humans, what kind of organisms are responsible for converting nitrogen gas to compounds that can be used by plants?
A) bacteria
B) fungi
C) animals

Answer 9

A) bacteria