Biogeochemical Cycles: Gaseous vs Sedimentary Cycle
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Questions and Answers

What are the three major realms of the environment discussed in the text?

  • Lithosphere, Atmosphere, Hydrosphere (correct)
  • Lithosphere, Hydrosphere, Biosphere
  • Atmosphere, Hydrosphere, Biosphere
  • Litresphere, Atmosphere, Biosphere

    • What does the biosphere encompass?

  • Only bacteria and fungi
  • Only plants and animals
  • All the living components of the earth (correct)
  • Only marine organisms

    • What is the term used to describe interactions between living organisms and other environmental realms?

  • Environmental interactions
  • Ecological systems (correct)
  • Ecological dimensions
  • Biospheric relationships

    • What maintains the diversity of life-forms according to the text?

    <p>Balance in biodiversity</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Where can living organisms be found according to the text?

    <p>From poles to the equator, various habitats on earth</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are interactions of a particular group of organisms with abiotic factors within a particular habitat called?

    <p>Ecological systems</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main by-product of photosynthesis?

    <p>Oxygen</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which process returns carbohydrates decomposed by micro-organisms to the atmosphere?

    <p>Respiration</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What percentage of the atmospheric gases does nitrogen comprise?

    <p>79%</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which organisms are capable of directly utilizing nitrogen in its gaseous form?

    <p>Soil bacteria and blue green algae</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the process known as when some bacteria convert nitrates into free nitrogen?

    <p>Denitrification</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which mineral is mentioned as one of the principal geochemical components of the biosphere?

    <p>Calcium</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In what form do mineral salts initially occur?

    <p>Dissolved in soil water or lakes</p> Signup and view all the answers

    'Weathering' is mentioned in connection with which process of mineral nutrient acquisition for living organisms?

    <p>'Weathering' allows soluble salts to enter the water cycle</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the term used to describe the system consisting of both biotic and abiotic components?

    <p>Ecosystem</p> Signup and view all the answers

    'Sedimentation' plays a role in returning salts to which part of the Earth's surface?

    <p>'Sedimentation' returns salts to the earth's surface</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What German zoologist first used the term 'oekologie' in 1869, which later evolved to 'ecology'?

    <p>Ernst Haeckel</p> Signup and view all the answers

    'Excretion of nitrogenous wastes' results in the production of:

    <p>Nitrites</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT a major terrestrial biome mentioned in the text?

    <p>Mountain biome</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What process do green plants use to manufacture their own food?

    <p>Photosynthesis</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the totality of the physical and chemical factors that constitute the general environment known as?

    <p>Habitat</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT a type of aquatic ecosystem mentioned in the text?

    <p>Deserts</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What do we call the flesh-eating animals in an ecosystem?

    <p>Carnivores</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the Greek word for 'house' from which the term 'ecology' is derived?

    <p>Oikos</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the scientific study of interactions between organisms with their physical environment and each other?

    <p>Ecology</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following does NOT belong to a biotic factor in an ecosystem?

    <p>Abiotic substances</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What do you call animals that feed on dead organisms in an ecosystem?

    <p>Decomposers</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which type of ecosystem includes lakes, ponds, streams, marshes, and bogs?

    <p>Aquatic ecosystem</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the role of decomposers in an ecosystem?

    <p>They convert dead organisms into nutrients</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a food web?

    <p>An interconnected network of species</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does the detritus food-chain differ from the grazing food-chain?

    <p>It involves decomposition of organic waste and dead matter</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What initiates life processes in the biosphere through photosynthesis?

    <p>Conversion of carbon dioxide into organic compounds</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What maintains the balance of chemical elements in the atmosphere and hydrosphere?

    <p>'Biogeochemical cycles'</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What percentage of solar insolation reaches the earth's surface is fixed in photosynthesis?

    <p>0.1%</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In a food-chain, what do tertiary consumers feed on?

    <p>'Secondary consumers'</p> Signup and view all the answers

    'Biogeochemical cycles' refer to the cyclic movements of chemical elements between what?

    <p>'Organisms and environment'</p> Signup and view all the answers

    'Grazing food-chain' typically involves plants as producers and what as consumers at the last level?

    <p>'Carnivores'</p> Signup and view all the answers

    'Detritus food-chain' is based on the decomposition of what?

    <p>'Organic waste and dead matter'</p> Signup and view all the answers

    'Food web' represents an interconnecting network of species showing what relationship?

    <p>'Predator-prey'</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main source of food and energy for green plants during photosynthesis?

    <p>Sunlight</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What changes dead organisms into substances essential for soil fertility?

    <p>Decomposers</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main reservoir of nutrients in the gaseous biogeochemical cycle?

    <p>Atmosphere and ocean</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which type of cycle has the soil and sedimentary rocks as its main reservoir?

    <p>Sedimentary cycle</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What initiates the conversion of carbon dioxide in the carbon cycle?

    <p>Photosynthesis</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT a basic constituent of all organic compounds in living organisms?

    <p>Oxygen</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What happens to the carbohydrates not utilized by the plant during photosynthesis?

    <p>They are stored in the plant tissue</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Where does more carbon dioxide get generated during the process described in the text?

    <p>Leaves</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is released through leaves or roots during photosynthesis?

    <p>$\text{CO}_2$</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What happens to plant tissues that are not eaten by herbivorous animals?

    <p>They become part of the soil</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which process results in the production of glucose from carbon dioxide?

    <p>Photosynthesis</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What happens to carbohydrates that are utilised directly by the plant itself?

    <p>They are converted to other organic compounds</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is one of the basic elements of all living organisms, forming over half a million carbon compounds in them?

    <p>Carbon</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the biosphere contain over half a million of?

    <p>Carbon compounds</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is ecological balance?

    <p>A state of dynamic equilibrium within a community of organisms in a habitat</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How is ecological balance maintained in an ecosystem?

    <p>Through natural succession and stability in the diversity of living organisms</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What causes a disturbance in ecological balance?

    <p>Introduction of new species</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How do carnivorous animals contribute to ecological balance?

    <p>By controlling the population of herbivores</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main reason for ecological imbalances according to the text?

    <p>Human interference</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why might human pressure on the earth's resources lead to ecological imbalances?

    <p>Because it puts a heavy toll on the environment</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does ecological balance ensure?

    <p>A stable balance in the numbers of each species in an ecosystem</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does disturbance in native forests affect species distribution?

    <p>It leads to secondary successions like invasion by grasses or bamboos</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What can disturb ecological balance?

    <p>Human activities, natural hazards, and introduction of new species</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why are herbivores important for ecological balance?

    <p>To provide food for carnivores and help maintain population stability</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How do human activities negatively impact ecosystems?

    <p>By putting a heavy toll on the earth's resources and causing imbalance</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the role of competition in maintaining ecological balance?

    <p>Competition results in a stable balance by determining which species thrive based on environmental conditions</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What term is used to describe the interactions of a particular group of organisms with abiotic factors within a particular habitat resulting in clearly defined energy flows and material cycles?

    <p>Ecological systems</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which realm of the environment includes all living components of the earth?

    <p>Biosphere</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Where are living organisms found according to the text?

    <p>From the poles to the equator, and bottom of the sea to several km in the air</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main role of decomposers in an ecosystem?

    <p>Decomposing dead organisms into essential substances for soil fertility</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the biosphere's role in maintaining a kind of balance between biotic and abiotic components?

    <p>Maintaining a healthy interaction between living and non-living components</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the term 'microECOLOGY' likely refer to in the text?

    <p>Microorganisms interacting with their environment</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main focus of ecology as discussed in the text?

    <p>Exploring the interactions between organisms and their physical environment</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How are biomes primarily defined according to the text?

    <p>Determined by the geographical area they cover</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which elements are considered biotic factors in an ecosystem?

    <p>Producers, consumers, decomposers</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What defines a biome in terms of its boundaries within a landscape?

    <p>The interactions between abiotic and biotic factors</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why are freshwater ecosystems mentioned separately from marine ecosystems?

    <p>Reflecting distinctions in habitat types and species adaptations</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary role of decomposers in an ecosystem?

    <p>To maintain soil fertility and recycle nutrients</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What distinguishes top carnivores from other carnivores in an ecosystem?

    <p>They consume both herbivores and carnivores</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In the carbon cycle, what happens to the carbohydrates that are not utilized by the plant itself?

    <p>They become part of the plant tissue.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which process in the carbon cycle results in the production of glucose from carbon dioxide?

    <p>Photosynthesis</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main reservoir of nutrients in the sedimentary biogeochemical cycle?

    <p>Soil and sedimentary rocks</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which type of desert belongs to the hot and dry desert biome?

    <p>Hot and dry desert</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a key characteristic of boreal forests according to the text?

    <p>Moderately warm summers and long cold dry winters</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the role of decomposers in an ecosystem?

    <p>To break down organic matter into simpler substances</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a common species found in tropical grasslands or savannah biomes?

    <p>Giraffes</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which biome has an even distribution of rainfall between 750-1,500mm with distinct winter seasons?

    <p>Temperate forest biome</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which region is associated with tropical grasslands or savannah biomes?

    <p>Kalahari</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a common characteristic of desert biomes?

    <p>Absence of trees and large shrubs</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In which type of forest biome do evergreen conifers like pine and spruce dominate?

    <p>Boreal forest biome</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main by-product of photosynthesis?

    <p>Oxygen</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the principal source of free nitrogen in the nitrogen cycle?

    <p>Soil micro-organisms and plant roots</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What do some bacteria convert nitrates into, in the nitrogen cycle?

    <p>Free nitrogen</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is returned to the atmosphere through respiration in the carbon cycle?

    <p>Carbon dioxide</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which process involves green plants assimilating fixed nitrogen?

    <p>Photosynthesis</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What do dead plants and animals get converted into by the action of certain bacteria in the soil?

    <p>Nitrites</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is involved in the oxidation of carbohydrates with the release of energy, carbon dioxide, and water?

    <p>Respiration</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which mineral is mentioned as a critical nutrient for plant and animal life?

    <p>Calcium</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What do some marine animals in oceans have the capability to do with nitrogen?

    <p>Fix it</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What happens to carbohydrates decomposed by micro-organisms according to the text?

    <p>They are oxidised into carbon dioxide and returned to the atmosphere</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a highly complex process involving oxygen according to the text?

    <p>The cycling of oxygen in various chemical forms and combinations</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are the initial sources of mineral elements required by living organisms?

    <p>Inorganic sources like soil water or lakes</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What process returns minerals to the soil and water after the death of living organisms?

    <p>Decomposition</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In the context of ecological balance, what does 'succession' refer to?

    <p>The gradual change in species composition over time</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the role of carnivorous animals in maintaining ecological balance according to the text?

    <p>To prevent herbivore overpopulation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why might human interference lead to disturbances in ecological balance?

    <p>By introducing new species</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main role of decomposers in an ecosystem?

    <p>Breaking down dead matter and organic wastes</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which term best describes the relationship between herbivores and carnivorous animals in an ecosystem?

    <p>Predation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which type of ecosystem includes lakes, ponds, streams, marshes, and bogs?

    <p>Aquatic biome</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In an ecosystem, what helps maintain a stable balance in the numbers of each species?

    <p>Competition and cooperation between species</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What initiates the life processes in the biosphere through photosynthesis?

    <p>Sunlight</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary reason for secondary successions occurring in ecosystems?

    <p>Human activities</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What makes up the main reservoir of nutrients in the gaseous biogeochemical cycle?

    <p>Air</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How do herbivorous animals contribute to ecological balance in grasslands?

    <p>By being food for carnivorous animals</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which process returns carbohydrates decomposed by micro-organisms to the atmosphere?

    <p>Respiration</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why might disturbances caused by clearing native forests lead to changes in species distribution?

    <p>Because of competition with introduced species</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What element is converted into organic compounds during photosynthesis?

    <p>Carbon dioxide</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is one effect of ecological imbalances according to the text?

    <p>Occurrence of floods and landslides</p> Signup and view all the answers

    'Detritus food-chain' is primarily based on the decomposition of what?

    <p>Dead matter and organic wastes</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How can the diversity of life in a particular area be utilized as an indicator?

    <p>To assess habitat factor influence</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the term used to describe the interactions of a particular group of organisms with abiotic factors within a particular habitat?

    <p>Ecological systems</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Where can living organisms be found according to the text?

    <p>From the poles to the sea</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which biome has an even distribution of rainfall between 750-1,500mm with distinct winter seasons?

    <p>Tropical grasslands or savannah biome</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does 'succession' primarily refer to in the context of ecological balance?

    <p>Gradual change in species composition</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary role of decomposers in an ecosystem?

    <p>Breaking down dead organic matter</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which realm of the environment includes all living components of the earth?

    <p>Biosphere</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the term used to describe the totality of the physical and chemical factors that constitute the general environment?

    <p>Habitat</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What German zoologist coined the term 'oekologie' in 1869, which later evolved to 'ecology'?

    <p>Ernst Haeckel</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary role of decomposers in an ecosystem?

    <p>Break down dead organisms</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are the biotic factors in an ecosystem?

    <p>Producers, consumers, decomposers</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which type of ecosystem can be further classified into 'biomes'?

    <p>Terrestrial ecosystem</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main difference between primary consumers and carnivores in an ecosystem?

    <p>Carnivores feed on flesh-eating animals, while primary consumers feed on dead organisms.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the definition of a biome within an ecosystem?

    <p>Total assemblage of plant and animal species interacting under specific conditions</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which components make up the abiotic factors in an ecosystem?

    <p>'Rainfall, temperature, sunlight'</p> Signup and view all the answers

    'Detritus food-chain' is primarily based on the decomposition of what?

    <p>'Dead organisms'</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary focus of ecology as discussed in the text?

    <p>The interactions of organisms with their physical environment</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the role of weathering in mineral nutrient acquisition for living organisms?

    <p>Breaking down rocks to release essential minerals</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the term used to describe the interconnected network of species within an ecosystem as mentioned in the text?

    <p>Food web</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In the context of biogeochemical cycles, what do the initials 'bio' and 'geo' stand for?

    <p>Biology and geology</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the role of weathering in the carbon cycle?

    <p>Returning salts to the Earth's surface</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which biome is characterized by hot and dry conditions according to the text?

    <p>Desert biome</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary source of free nitrogen in the nitrogen cycle?

    <p>Atmosphere</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What initiates life processes through photosynthesis, the primary source of food and energy for green plants?

    <p>Solar insolation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main function of detritivores in an ecosystem?

    <p>Decomposing dead organisms into substances essential for soil fertility</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of food-chain involves autotrophs energy capture followed by decomposition of organic waste and dead matter?

    <p>Detritus food-chain</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What distinguishes a hot desert from a semi-arid desert biome?

    <p>Amount of rainfall</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which consumers are at the last level in a grazing food-chain?

    <p>Carnivores</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which term describes the interactions of organisms with abiotic factors resulting in energy flows and material cycles?

    <p>Ecosystem</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the process where chemical elements are absorbed by organisms and returned to air, water, and soil through decomposition known as?

    <p>Biogeochemical cycle</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In the carbon cycle, what happens to the carbohydrates that are not utilized by the plant itself?

    <p>They are decomposed by microorganisms</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What phenomenon occurs when more than one type of prey is consumed by each of the carnivores in a given ecosystem?

    <p>Interlocking food-chains</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which biome is characterized by hot and dry climates with rainfall less than 50mm?

    <p>Hot desert</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which kind of energy loss occurs through respiration, excretion, or decomposition at each level of a food-chain?

    <p>Thermal energy loss</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What initiates the life process in biosphere by converting carbon dioxide through photosynthesis?

    <p>Producers</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What maintains the balance of chemical elements in the atmosphere and hydrosphere over long periods according to the text?

    <p>Biogeochemical cycles</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How is nitrogen converted into organic compounds in the nitrogen cycle?

    <p>Through assimilation by plants directly from the atmosphere</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is initiated by green plants through converting carbon dioxide into organic compounds and oxygen?

    <p>Photosynthesis</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In which ecosystem do freshwater ecosystems differ from marine ecosystems?

    <p>In their source of fixed nitrogen</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which aspect characterizes the detritus food-chain based on its energy capture initiation?

    <p>Decomposition or breaking down of dead matter</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which biome is characterized by multi-layered canopy with tall and large trees?

    <p>Tropical forest</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What distinguishes semi-arid deserts from coastal deserts?

    <p>Amount of rainfall received</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main by-product of photosynthesis?

    <p>Oxygen</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What percentage of the atmosphere is composed of nitrogen?

    <p>79%</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which organisms can directly utilize nitrogen in its gaseous form?

    <p>Soil bacteria and blue green algae</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In the nitrogen cycle, what process involves converting nitrites into nitrates?

    <p>Nitrification</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Where do mineral elements required by living organisms initially come from?

    <p>Inorganic sources like soil water</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is responsible for converting dead plants and animals into nitrites in the nitrogen cycle?

    <p>Decomposer bacteria in the soil</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What percentage of fixed nitrogen is of biological origin?

    <p>90%</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary source of free nitrogen in the nitrogen cycle?

    <p>Atmosphere</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the role of oxygen in the oxidation of carbohydrates?

    <p>It assists in breaking down carbohydrates to release energy.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main role of certain species of soil bacteria and blue green algae in the nitrogen cycle?

    <p>To directly fix atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What happens to dead plants and animals before they are converted into nitrites by bacteria in the soil?

    <p>They are broken down by decomposers.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What can disturb ecological balance according to the text?

    <p>All of the above</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the role of decomposers in an ecosystem according to the text?

    <p>Breaking down dead organic matter</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which process involves green plants assimilating fixed nitrogen according to the text?

    <p>Nitrogen fixation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main source of food and energy for green plants during photosynthesis as per the text?

    <p>Sunlight</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What causes a disturbance in ecological balance?

    <p>Human interference</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What do you call animals that feed on dead organisms in an ecosystem based on the text?

    <p>Scavengers</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What term is used in the text to describe interactions between living organisms and other environmental realms?

    <p>Ecotones</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which region is associated with tropical grasslands or savannah biomes according to the text?

    <p>The Serengeti Plains</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What percentage of solar insolation reaches the earth's surface is fixed in photosynthesis according to the text?

    <p>10%</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which mineral is mentioned as one of the principal geochemical components of the biosphere as per the text?

    <p>Iron</p> Signup and view all the answers

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