Nutrient Cycles Quiz Flashcards
Biogeochemical Cycles
Represent the movement of a particular form of matter through the living and nonliving parts of an ecosystem
Precipitation
Abiotic. Water falls to Earth as a liquid (usually rain, sleet, or snow)
Runoff
Abiotic. Liquid water that isn’t infiltrated runs along the surface and collects in puddles, lakes, oceans, or other bodies of water
Infiltration/Percolation
Abiotic. Some water seeps from the surface of the Earth to underground aquifers
Evaporation
Abiotic. Sun heats liquid water to vapor and it rises to the atmosphere
Transpiration
Biotic. Water rises back into the atmosphere as water vapor from plants.
Condensation
Abiotic. Water condenses to form clouds before precipitating again
What are the stages of the water cycle? (6)
Precipitation, Runoff, Infiltration/Percolation, Evaporation, Transpiration, Condensation
How do humans negatively impact the water cycle (3)?
Deforestation = less transpiration. Paving/Building = More runoff and less infiltration. Pollution.
Photosynthesis
Biotic. Plants capture Co2 from the atmosphere and use it to make sugar
Cellular Respiration
Biotic. Co2 released into atmosphere as waste from metabolism
Consumption
Biotic. One organism eats another for carbon
Combustion
Abiotic. Co2 released into atmosphere from burning
Decomposition (Carbon)
Biotic. Decomposers break down carbon from dead organisms, allowing it to be recycled in the soil
Fossilization
Abiotic. Converts carbon from once-living organisms into a fuel source through intense heat and compression, including natural gas, oil, and coal (fossil fuels)
What are the stages of the carbon cycle? (6)
Photosynthesis, Cellular Respiration, Consumption, Combustion, Decomposition, Fossilization
How do humans negatively impact the carbon cycle (1)?
Combustion is when wood or fossil fuels, which contain carbon, are burned, causing a major increase of Co2 in the atmosphere
Nitrogen Fixation
(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)
Decomposition (Nitrogen)
(Biotic) Decomposers like bacteria break dead matter down, returning nitrogen to the soil
Ammonification
(Biotic) Bacteria convert nitrogen from waste (urine and feces) into ammonia
Nitrification
(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)
Denitrification
(Biotic) Bacteria convert nitrogen in ammonia to N2 so it can go back into the atmosphere
What are the stages of the nitrogen cycle? (5)
Nitrogen fixation, decomposition, ammonification, nitrification, denitrification
How do humans negatively impact the nitrogen cycle (3)?
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.
Weathering
Abiotic. This is the physical and chemical breakdown of rocks. In this cycle, weathering causes phosphate ions to be released.
Surface Runoff and Fertilizer Runoff
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.
Decomposition (Phosphate)
Biotic. Decomposers recycle phosphates from dead organisms
Sedimentation
Abiotic. Dead marine organisms can get compacted by sediment. Over thousands of years, this can form sedimentary rocks.
Uplift
Abiotic. A geologic process that moves rocks from oceans onto the land
What are the stages of the phosphorous cycle? (5)
Weathering. Surface Runoff/Fertilizer Runoff. Decomposition. Sedimentation. Uplift.
How do humans negatively impact the phosphorous cycle (1)?
Eutrophication
Eutrophication
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.
