Biosphere Quiz: Matter and Energy Cycles Flashcards

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Questions and Answers

What is a nutrient?

A chemical substance that an organism produces internally for its survival
A chemical compound found in the atmosphere
A chemical substance that an organism must obtain from its environment to sustain life (correct)
Any substance that takes up space and has mass in an organism

What is the role of algae and plants in the food chain?

Decomposers in the food chain
Predators in the food chain
Highest level of the food chain
Lowest level of the food chain (correct)

What does the law of conservation of mass state?

Matter is not created or destroyed, it is conserved (correct)
Matter is constantly changing its form
Matter is only conserved in living organisms
Matter can be created and destroyed

What provides the nutrients needed for organisms to function?

Matter (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the inefficiency in the energy transfer at higher levels of the food web attributed to?

Fewer organisms found at higher levels (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of nutrients in organisms?

Provide the chemical substances needed for life (B) Signup and view all the answers

What does the law of conservation of mass state?

Matter is not created or destroyed, only transformed (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary role of algae and plants in the food chain?

Produce food through photosynthesis (B) Signup and view all the answers

What happens to matter and energy as they move through an ecosystem?

Some matter reacts to release energy for life functions, some is stored, and much is discarded (D) Signup and view all the answers

What provides the nutrients needed for organisms to function?

Water and nutrients such as carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus (B) Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Nutrient role

Nutrients are chemical substances organisms need from their environment for life.

Algae/Plant food chain role

Algae and plants are the base of most food chains, producing food.

Law of Conservation of Mass

Mass is neither created nor destroyed; it is transformed.

Food web inefficiency

Energy transfer is less efficient at higher levels of the food web.

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Matter in ecosystems

Matter moves through ecosystems, reacting for life functions.

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Ecosystem nutrient source

Water and key elements (C, N, P) are fundamental nutrients for organisms.

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Study Notes

Nutrients and Energy Transfer

A nutrient is a substance that provides nourishment essential for an organism's growth, maintenance, and survival.
Algae and plants play a primary role in the food chain as producers, converting sunlight into chemical energy through photosynthesis.
The law of conservation of mass states that matter cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed or converted from one substance to another.

Energy Transfer and Nutrient Cycling

Nutrients are essential for organisms to function, providing the necessary building blocks for growth, development, and maintenance.
The inefficiency in energy transfer at higher levels of the food web is attributed to the loss of energy as heat, a result of the second law of thermodynamics.
As matter and energy move through an ecosystem, they are transformed and transferred from one level to the next, with some energy being lost as heat.

Key Roles and Processes

Algae and plants are the primary producers of the food chain, providing the nutrients needed for organisms to function.
The law of conservation of mass ensures that matter is cycled and recycled within an ecosystem, with nutrients being reused and transformed.
Energy is transferred from one level to the next in the food web, with some energy being lost as heat, resulting in a decrease in available energy at higher levels.

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Description

Test your knowledge of the matter and energy cycles in the biosphere with this interactive quiz. Explore concepts such as the inefficiency of energy in cellular respiration, the law of conservation of mass, and the role of natural processes in cycling matter through the biosphere. Ideal for students and enthusiasts interested in ecology and environmental science.