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Questions and Answers
What are biogeochemical cycles?
Overall chemical cycles through both the biological and geological world.
Which of the following is a component of biogeochemical cycles?
Which cycle is also known as the hydrologic cycle?
The sun supplies energy during the water cycle.
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What is evaporation?
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What does the carbon-oxygen cycle describe?
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What is respiration in the carbon-oxygen cycle?
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What is nitrogen fixation?
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The process of converting ammonia into nitrate is called __________.
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The phosphorus cycle has only one form of phosphorus, which is phosphate.
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What initiates the phosphorus cycle?
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Study Notes
Biogeochemical Cycles
- Biogeochemical cycles refer to the chemical cycles through both the biological and geological world.
- Each chemical has a unique cycle, but all share commonalities.
Reservoirs and Exchange Pools
- Reservoirs: Areas where chemicals are held in large quantities for long periods (e.g., oceans, lakes).
- Exchange Pools: Areas where chemicals are held for shorter periods (e.g., clouds, lungs).
Key Biogeochemical Cycles
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Water Cycle (Hydrologic Cycle): The movement of water through various states (vapor, liquid, soil) throughout the environment.
- Evaporation: Liquid water changes to gaseous vapor.
- Transpiration: Biological process where water vapor is released from plants.
- Condensation: Water vapor changes back to liquid, forming dew, fog, or clouds.
- Precipitation: Water falls back to Earth in forms like rain, snow, or hail.
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Carbon-Oxygen Cycle: The movement of carbon between the biosphere, atmosphere, oceans, and geosphere.
- Respiration: Organisms combine oxygen and carbohydrates to produce carbon dioxide, water, and energy (O2 + Carbohydrates = CO2 + H2O + energy).
- Photosynthesis: Plants use carbon dioxide and water to produce oxygen.
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Nitrogen Cycle: The conversion of nitrogen gas into nitrogen compounds through the atmosphere, soil, and organisms.
- Nitrogen Fixation (Atmosphere): Lightning converts nitrogen gas into nitrates.
- Nitrogen Fixation (Soil): Rhizobium bacteria in legumes convert atmospheric nitrogen (N2) into ammonia that plants can use.
- Nitrification: Bacteria convert ammonia into nitrate.
- Assimilation: Plants and animals incorporate nitrate and ammonia into their tissues.
- Ammonification: Bacteria convert ammonia from dead organisms and waste into ammonium.
- Denitrification: Bacteria convert nitrate back into nitrogen gas, returning it to the atmosphere.
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Phosphorus Cycle: The transformation and movement of phosphorus in soil, water, and living organisms.
- Weathering: Phosphorus is released from rocks through weathering.
- Absorption by Plants: Plants absorb phosphate salts from the soil.
- Absorption by Animals: Animals obtain phosphorus from plants or by consuming other animals.
- Return to Ecosystem: When organisms die, decomposers release phosphorus back into the soil and water.
- Sedimentation: Phosphorus can accumulate in sediments and rocks, eventually being released through weathering, completing the cycle.
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Description
Explore the intricate biogeochemical cycles that connect biological and geological processes. This quiz covers reservoirs, exchange pools, and key cycles such as the water and carbon-oxygen cycles. Test your understanding of how these cycles influence our environment.
