Nutrient Cycles Quiz

Question 1

Biogeochemical Cycles

Answer 1

Represent the movement of a particular form of matter through the living and nonliving parts of an ecosystem

Question 2

Precipitation

Answer 2

Abiotic. Water falls to Earth as a liquid (usually rain, sleet, or snow)

Question 3

Runoff

Answer 3

Abiotic. Liquid water that isn’t infiltrated runs along the surface and collects in puddles, lakes, oceans, or other bodies of water

Question 4

Infiltration/Percolation

Answer 4

Abiotic. Some water seeps from the surface of the Earth to underground aquifers

Question 5

Evaporation

Answer 5

Abiotic. Sun heats liquid water to vapor and it rises to the atmosphere

Question 6

Transpiration

Answer 6

Biotic. Water rises back into the atmosphere as water vapor from plants.

Question 7

Condensation

Answer 7

Abiotic. Water condenses to form clouds before precipitating again

Question 8

What are the stages of the water cycle? (6)

Answer 8

Precipitation, Runoff, Infiltration/Percolation, Evaporation, Transpiration, Condensation

Question 9

How do humans negatively impact the water cycle (3)?

Answer 9

Deforestation = less transpiration. Paving/Building = More runoff and less infiltration. Pollution.

Question 10

Photosynthesis

Answer 10

Biotic. Plants capture Co2 from the atmosphere and use it to make sugar

Question 11

Cellular Respiration

Answer 11

Biotic. Co2 released into atmosphere as waste from metabolism

Question 12

Consumption

Answer 12

Biotic. One organism eats another for carbon

Question 13

Combustion

Answer 13

Abiotic. Co2 released into atmosphere from burning

Question 14

Decomposition (Carbon)

Answer 14

Biotic. Decomposers break down carbon from dead organisms, allowing it to be recycled in the soil

Question 15

Fossilization

Answer 15

Abiotic. Converts carbon from once-living organisms into a fuel source through intense heat and compression, including natural gas, oil, and coal (fossil fuels)

Question 16

What are the stages of the carbon cycle? (6)

Answer 16

Photosynthesis, Cellular Respiration, Consumption, Combustion, Decomposition, Fossilization

Question 17

How do humans negatively impact the carbon cycle (1)?

Answer 17

Combustion is when wood or fossil fuels, which contain carbon, are burned, causing a major increase of Co2 in the atmosphere

Question 18

Nitrogen Fixation

Answer 18

(Biotic if done by bacteria) Bacteria (or lightning) in the soil or water convert nitrogen (from the air or water) into forms that plants can use (typically ammonia)

Question 19

Decomposition (Nitrogen)

Answer 19

(Biotic) Decomposers like bacteria break dead matter down, returning nitrogen to the soil

Question 20

Ammonification

Answer 20

(Biotic) Bacteria convert nitrogen from waste (urine and feces) into ammonia

Question 21

Nitrification

Answer 21

(Biotic) Bacteria convert nitrogen in ammonia into nitrates and nitrites to be absorbed by plant in their roots. (This is how nitrogen enters the food chain and eventually us)

Question 22

Denitrification

Answer 22

(Biotic) Bacteria convert nitrogen in ammonia to N2 so it can go back into the atmosphere

Question 23

What are the stages of the nitrogen cycle? (5)

Answer 23

Nitrogen fixation, decomposition, ammonification, nitrification, denitrification

Question 24

How do humans negatively impact the nitrogen cycle (3)?

Answer 24

Fertilizers: The use of fertilizers adds way too much nitrogen to the soil, creating an imbalance. Combustion: not as major of an impact on the nitrogen cycle as the carbon cycle, but burning fossil fuels does release excess nitrogen into the atmosphere. Eutrophication: Occurs when a body of water receives too many nutrients. Results algal overgrowth and oxygen depletion. Then, all the fish die and the ecosystem is destroyed.

Question 25

Weathering

Answer 25

Abiotic. This is the physical and chemical breakdown of rocks. In this cycle, weathering causes phosphate ions to be released.

Question 26

Surface Runoff and Fertilizer Runoff

Answer 26

Abiotic. Phosphate ions can dissolve in water. They are transported in surface runoff to waterways. Fertilizers spread on crops contain phosphates that can also wash into waterways.

Question 27

Decomposition (Phosphate)

Answer 27

Biotic. Decomposers recycle phosphates from dead organisms

Question 28

Sedimentation

Answer 28

Abiotic. Dead marine organisms can get compacted by sediment. Over thousands of years, this can form sedimentary rocks.

Question 29

Uplift

Answer 29

Abiotic. A geologic process that moves rocks from oceans onto the land

Question 30

What are the stages of the phosphorous cycle? (5)

Answer 30

Weathering. Surface Runoff/Fertilizer Runoff. Decomposition. Sedimentation. Uplift.

Question 31

How do humans negatively impact the phosphorous cycle (1)?

Answer 31

Eutrophication

Question 32

Eutrophication

Answer 32

Nitrogen and phosphates fertilizer is spread on fields to help crops grow. Rain causes runoff to streams, rivers, and lakes. Runoff increases the lake in nitrogen and phosphate levels. Causes an overgrowth of algae, which is called an algal bloom. Large amounts of algae die and are decomposed by bacteria - that use up much of the oxygen in the process. Causing plants and fish to die and destroy the ecosystem.