Ecocolumn Plants and Nitrogen

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Questions and Answers

Which plants in your ecocolumn use nitrogen and therefore remove it from the soil?

Green bean plant

Pea plant

Both green bean and pea plant (correct)

None of the above

Which plants in your ecocolumn ADD nitrogen to the soil? How?

Green bean plant

Pea plant

Both green bean and pea plant (correct)

None of the above

Describe several roles detritivores play in your ecocolumn.

Detritivores help to break down and decompose matter in the soil into nutrients.

Describe 3 purposes for leaf litter.

Leaf litter provides food for detritivores, hides places for them, adds nutrients to the soil, and prevents water loss. Signup and view all the answers

Describe 3 roles that the elodea plays in the aquatic chamber.

Elodea adds dissolved oxygen, provides food for fish, and takes ammonia from fish waste. Signup and view all the answers

What bacteria came with the water on the wet elodea?

Nitrifying bacteria. Signup and view all the answers

Why doesn't the fish die from the ammonia?

The elodea has nitrifying bacteria that fix the ammonia. Signup and view all the answers

Why did nitrates increase after the fish was living in the water for a couple of weeks?

Nitrates increased when nitrifying bacteria converted ammonia to nitrites and then to nitrates. Signup and view all the answers

Why do we water our terrestrial chamber with the aquatic chamber?

To mimic precipitation and provide additional nitrogen to the plants. Signup and view all the answers

Why is dissolved oxygen important in the aquatic chamber? What is an acceptable level for life?

It is important for fish survival and should be higher than 2-3 mg or 1 ppm. Signup and view all the answers

Describe 2 ways dissolved oxygen is added to the aquatic chamber.

Fish and elodea. Signup and view all the answers

Explain WHY the dissolved oxygen levels went down in the columns with dead fish.

Bacteria that decompose the fish use the dissolved oxygen, causing the levels to decrease. Signup and view all the answers

Explain why pH in the water may increase with the healthy elodea and duckweed.

Healthy elodea dissolves CO2, which produces less acid and raises pH. Signup and view all the answers

Explain why pH in the water may decrease with a dead fish or dead elodea.

Decomposers release CO2, which produces more acid and lowers the pH. Signup and view all the answers

Why do we bury a dead fish in the terrestrial chamber?

To add nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus to the soil. Signup and view all the answers

Why do we have a filter chamber? What is the function of the sand and gravel?

The filter chamber cleans the water and aids in drainage. Signup and view all the answers

What role do plants play in the hydraulic cycle in your column?

Plants contribute by transpiration and allowing for seeping. Signup and view all the answers

Discuss the cycling of carbon between producers and consumers in your ecocolumn.

Producers provide oxygen and glucose, consumers eat glucose and release CO2. Signup and view all the answers

What are the limiting factors in your aquatic chamber? Identify as density dependent or density independent.

Limiting factors include limited space and sunlight (density dependent), irregular precipitation, and competition for resources (density independent). Signup and view all the answers

What organisms in your ecocolumn engage in gross primary production?

Plants such as elodea, pea plant, green bean plant, and radishes. Signup and view all the answers

How is energy lost after gross primary production?

Energy is lost through cellular respiration. Signup and view all the answers

What organisms receive net primary productivity?

Consumers, including fish and worms. Signup and view all the answers

How do these organisms receive energy?

By consuming plants in the ecosystem. Signup and view all the answers

Why is the temperature important to aquatic life?

If the temperature changes, organisms may either leave or die. Signup and view all the answers

Why is pH important to aquatic life?

Species have a preferred pH range for survival. Signup and view all the answers

What is turbidity?

Turbidity is dirty water with suspended particles. Signup and view all the answers

What is TDS (total dissolved solids)? What do you think is the biggest reason TDS increase in your eco-column?

Total dissolved solids measure dissolved minerals, and the biggest reason for increase is outside factors like salts and nitrates. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Nitrogen Utilization and Contribution

Green bean plants, classified as legumes, utilize nitrogen from the soil.
Legumes, including green beans and pea plants, also add nitrogen to the soil through nitrogen fixation, converting atmospheric nitrogen into usable ammonia.

Role of Detritivores

Detritivores decompose organic matter in the soil, turning it into nutrients available for plants.

Functions of Leaf Litter

Leaf litter serves as food for detritivores and offers them hiding places.
Decomposing leaves enrich the soil with nutrients.
A layer of leaves helps retain moisture in the soil by covering the surface and trapping evaporated water.

Function of Elodea in Aquatic Chamber

Elodea produces dissolved oxygen through photosynthesis, vital for fish survival.
Serves as a food source for fish in the chamber.
Elodea absorbs ammonia from fish waste, preventing toxicity in the water.

Nitrifying Bacteria

Nitrifying bacteria are introduced with water from wet elodea, aiding in nitrogen conversion processes.

Ammonia and Fish Survival

Ammonia from fish urine is kept at safe levels due to the presence of elodea and nitrifying bacteria, which convert ammonia into less harmful substances.

Nitrate Increase

Nitrates rise in the water as healthy nitrifying bacteria convert ammonia to nitrite and then to nitrates.

Irrigation of Terrestrial Chamber

Aquatic chamber water is used to irrigate the terrestrial chamber simulating precipitation and providing nitrogen from fish and elodea waste.

Importance of Dissolved Oxygen

Dissolved oxygen is crucial for aquatic life; should be above 2-3 mg/L or 1 ppm for fish survival.

Sources of Dissolved Oxygen

Dissolved oxygen is contributed by fish and aquatic plants like elodea.

Impact of Decomposing Organisms on Oxygen Levels

Increased biological oxygen demand (BOD) from decomposing fish lowers dissolved oxygen levels in the water.

pH Variation in Relationship to Elodea and Duckweed

Healthy elodea raises pH by dissolving CO2, thus forming less acidic conditions.

pH Decrease due to Decomposition

pH drops with dead organisms as decomposers release CO2, increasing acidity in the water.

Nutrient Addition from Dead Fish

Burying a dead fish in the terrestrial chamber enriches the soil with nitrogen and phosphorus.

Role of Filter Chamber

The filter chamber purifies water and facilitates drainage.
Sand and gravel effectively remove pollutants, emulating natural filtration in rivers or lakes.

Plant Functions in Water Cycle

Plants contribute to the hydrologic cycle through transpiration and facilitating water infiltration into the soil.

Carbon Cycling in Ecosystem

Producers generate oxygen and glucose. Consumers utilize glucose, releasing CO2 through respiration, creating a cycle of energy flow.

Limiting Factors in Aquatic Chamber

Limiting factors include limited resources for fish and mineral competition (density-dependent) and external conditions like irregular precipitation (density-independent).

Gross Primary Production Organisms

Plants such as elodea, pea plants, green beans, and radishes participate in gross primary production (GPP).

Energy Loss Post-GPP

Energy is lost after GPP primarily through cellular respiration processes.

Net Primary Productivity Receivers

Consumers like fish and worms receive net primary productivity (NPP) via consumption of plants.

Importance of Temperature in Aquatic Systems

Temperature fluctuations can cause aquatic organisms to migrate or perish.

pH Significance for Aquatic Species

Aquatic species thrive within specific pH ranges, with deviations potentially lethal.

Understanding Turbidity

Turbidity refers to murky water caused by suspended particles, impacting clarity and aquatic life.

Total Dissolved Solids (TDS)

TDS quantifies all combined dissolved substances, with increasing levels often resulting from contaminants like salts, nitrates, and phosphates in the ecosystem.

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Description

This quiz focuses on the role of plants in an ecocolumn concerning nitrogen usage and addition to the soil. You'll explore which plants remove nitrogen and which plants contribute it back through nitrogen fixation. Ideal for understanding plant interactions and soil health.