Nutrient Cycling

Question 1

Decomposition rate is influenced by

Answer 1

Temperature
Moisture
Chemical composition of matter

Question 2

______ generally increases nutrient loss from ecosystems

Answer 2

Disturbances

Question 3

Main nutrient cycles are

Answer 3

P
C
N

Question 4

The carbon cycle is closely tied to _____

Answer 4

Energy flow

-respiration
-photosynthesis
-sediment
-combustion

Question 5

Nitrogen fixation

Answer 5

Bacteria convert N2 gas into NH3, which is rapidly converted to ammonium NH4, or into NO3-

Question 6

Mineralization

Answer 6

Decomposers take organic compounds and change them into NH4+

Question 7

Nitrification

Answer 7

NH4+ to NO2-
-Nitrosomonas and Nitrosococcus

And then

NO2- to NO3-
-Nitrobacter and Nitrococcus

Question 8

Phosphorous cycle

Answer 8

-Geological uplifting
-weathering of phosphate from rocks
-runoff
-mycorrhiza
-phosphate in soil
-plants
-animals
-decomposers
-phosphate in soil
-leaching
-phosphate in solution
-detritus settling to bottom
-sedimentation=new ricks

Question 9

Decomposition

Answer 9

Breakdown of large organic molecules into simpler, smaller molecules, eventually inorganic molecules
-bacteria
-fungi
-detrivores

Question 10

When do rates of decomposition increase

Answer 10

With moisture and temperature

Question 11

When do rates of decomposition decrease

Answer 11

Decrease as toughness increases (lignite and cellulose because of an increase in N content

Question 12

What causes seasonal fluctuations of CO2

Answer 12

Photosynthesis in Northern hemisphere

-more CO2 in winter as there are less trees photosynthesizing

Question 13

_______ increases nutrient loss from ecosystems

Answer 13

Disturbance

Question 14

Result of Hubbard brook experiment

Answer 14

Deforested/ clear cut areas had extremely higher amounts of calcium, potassium and nitrates during rain seasons due to leeching and erosion than non clear cut areas

13x normal rate

-reduction in evapotranspiration (because of lack of leaves)->more precipitation to ground water and more leeching.
-no trees to absorb nutrients released by decomposition

Question 15

In the Hubbard brook experiment, watersheds were taken to represent…..

Answer 15

Ecosystems

Question 16

In the southern hemisphere, north-facing slopes are _____ than south-facing slopes

Answer 16

Warmer

Question 17

Because of the coriolis effect, winds from the equator to the poles are deflected towards the…..

Answer 17

East

Question 18

About 80% of the solar energy that strikes the surface of the ocean is absorbed within the first _____ meters

Answer 18

10

Question 19

What is the most extended biome in Canada

Answer 19

Boreal forest

Question 20

CAM and C4 photosynthesis are similar in that….

Answer 20

They increase water use efficiency

Question 21

In an aquatic plant, the boundary layer of water around a leaf _______ the rate of diffusion of CO2 from ______

Answer 21

Decreases

Water to the mesophyll

Question 22

What is the value of Q10 for O2 consumption of the relation between O2 consumption and temperature is linear and O2 consumption is three-fold for a temperature increase of 20°C

Answer 22

1.5