Ecology of Nutrients and Productivity
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Questions and Answers

What is meant by the term 'limiting nutrient'?

  • A nutrient that organisms need only in very small amounts.
  • A nutrient that limits the growth potential due to its scarcity relative to other resources. (correct)
  • A nutrient that does not affect the growth of organisms in any way.
  • A nutrient that is required in greater quantities than others for growth.

    • Which nutrient is primarily limiting for ocean plankton growth?

  • Silica
  • Hydrogen
  • Oxygen
  • Nitrogen (correct)

    • How does adding carbon without additional nitrogen or phosphorus affect plankton growth?

  • Plankton growth remains unchanged. (correct)
  • Plankton grow for a limited time and then stop.
  • Plankton grow significantly faster.
  • Plankton die off due to excess carbon.

    • What factors can limit primary productivity in various environments?

    <p>Nutrients and other environmental factors.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What element is essential for building DNA, proteins, and fats?

    <p>A combination of multiple elements.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the role of ammonium (NH4+) and phosphate (PO4-3) in ecological studies of phytoplankton?

    <p>They identify the limiting nutrient for phytoplankton growth.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What environmental issue does excess fertilizer from farms contribute to?

    <p>Formation of dead zones in marine environments.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What can be concluded about nutrient limitation in marine biomes?

    <p>Nutrient limitation varies by location and species.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a defining characteristic of estuaries that contributes to their productivity?

    <p>Mixing of different nutrient sources</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following best describes an ecosystem?

    <p>A biological community and its interactions with the abiotic environment</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which zone is characterized by organisms or detritus falling to the bottom?

    <p>Marine Benthic Zone</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which primary characteristic differentiates aquatic biomes?

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

    What is the vertical zonation in standing freshwater biomes characterized by?

    <p>Light availability and temperature</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is one of the main benefits provided by wetlands?

    <p>Water quality regulation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the definition of gross primary production?

    <p>The total rate of photosynthesis in an ecosystem</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which factor primarily limits the distribution of organisms in intertidal zones?

    <p>Duration of drying</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which statement accurately describes the distinction between biomes and ecosystems?

    <p>Ecosystems are broad categories, while biomes correspond to particular geographic areas.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a limiting nutrient in an ecosystem?

    <p>A nutrient that slows down growth due to scarcity</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is one source of new energy captured in marine systems?

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

    Which zone of a lake is most productive in terms of photosynthesis?

    <p>Photic zone</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following factors is primarily responsible for depth-related zones in aquatic environments?

    <p>Light availability</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why are coral reefs considered vital ecosystems?

    <p>They are home to a vast diversity of species.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of these statements is true regarding energy flow in an ecosystem?

    <p>Energy flow decreases as it moves up trophic levels</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which zone in a marine biome is typically where photosynthesis predominates?

    <p>Photic zone</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary difference between a biome and an ecosystem?

    <p>Biomes can include multiple ecosystems.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In the context of ecosystem stocks and flows, what unit is most appropriate for measuring stock?

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

    What happens to the stock size in an ecosystem when inflow equals outflow?

    <p>The stock size remains constant.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does turnover time represent in terms of an ecosystem stock?

    <p>The time to replace the entire stock.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the turnover time for oxygen based on the provided information?

    <p>3300 years</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How much carbon dioxide (C02) is held in the atmosphere as per the example?

    <p>3.0 × 10^15 kg</p> Signup and view all the answers

    If photosynthesis were to stop today, how quickly could the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere double?

    <p>12 years</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a common misconception regarding stocks in ecosystems?

    <p>Stocks represent only inflows, not outflows.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which quantity will empty faster without rain?

    <p>100,000 L at 5,000 L/Day</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the significance of decomposers in an ecosystem?

    <p>They recycle nutrients back to primary producers.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does NPP stand for in the context of ecosystems?

    <p>Net Primary Production</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What limits primary productivity on land?

    <p>Intensity of sunlight</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the fate of all energy in an ecosystem?

    <p>Lost as heat</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How is gross primary production (GPP) defined?

    <p>Total light energy converted by photosynthesis</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which factor is the best predictor of primary productivity on land?

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

    What best describes a limiting nutrient in an ecosystem?

    <p>A nutrient that restricts organism growth</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Ecosystem Ecology

    • Ecosystem ecology is the study of energy transformation and the movement of chemical elements between biotic and abiotic components within an ecosystem.
    • Ecosystems vary in size, with boundaries defined by the specific question being asked (e.g., a tide pool or the Amazon rainforest).
    • A biological community and its interactions with the abiotic environment make up an ecosystem.
    • Examples of emergent properties within ecosystems are energy flow and nutrient cycling.
    • Biomes are broad categories of ecosystems, occurring on a large scale and containing multiple ecosystems.
    • Biomes vary less than terrestrial biomes.

    Ecosystem Components: Stocks vs Flows

    • Stock (pool, reservoir): a measured amount of a resource at a specific point in time. Units include kg, J, etc.
    • Flow: a measure of inputs into/outputs from a stock, measured in units of kg/hour, J/year, etc.
    • Stocks change due to inflows and outflows.
    • Stocks change only if inflow ≠ outflow.
    • Turnover time = (Stock size) / (inflow/outflow rate).
    • Turnover time is the duration to replace the whole stock.

    Aquatic Biomes

    • Aquatic biomes show less latitudinal variation than terrestrial biomes.
    • Characterization factors include:
      • Salinity (freshwater vs. saltwater)
      • Depth (determines access to light & temperature)
      • Water flow (flowing or not)
    • Freshwater biomes are categorized as:
      • Standing water (lakes)
      • Running water (streams)
    • Lakes have vertical zoning: littoral, limnetic, photic, benthic, aphotic zones.
    • Turnover time is a key metric of how quickly nutrients are exchanged within aquatic ecosystems.

    Marine Biomes

    • Distance from land and depth are the best predictors of global distribution in marine biomes.
    • Key marine biomes include:
      • Intertidal zone
      • Coral Reefs
      • Ocean Pelagic Zone
      • Marine Benthic Zone
    • Energy and nutrients flow from abiotic stocks to biotic stocks, and within biotic stocks via consumption, uptake, and decomposition.

    Primary Production

    • GPP (Gross Primary Production) is the light energy converted to chemical energy via photosynthesis.
    • NPP (Net Primary Production) is the GPP minus the respiration by primary producers, representing biomass available to consumers.
    • Factors that limit NPP on land include intensity of sunlight, water, and nutrients.
    • Factors that limit NPP in water include nutrients (N, P, iron, sometimes silica).
    • Distance from land is a good predictor of NPP in aquatic environments. There is generally no latitudinal effect.
    • The littoral zone in water bodies is a high-productivity zone.

    Energy Flow and Production

    • Primary producers obtain energy from the sun or abiotic chemicals to create new material from carbon and nutrients.
    • Consumers get energy by consuming other organisms.
    • Decomposers recycle nutrients.
    • Production efficiency is the efficiency with which an organism converts assimilated energy into secondary production.
    • Trophic efficiency is the portion of production transferred from one trophic level to the next. This value is typically below 10%.

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    Ecosystem Ecology Lecture Notes PDF

    Description

    Explore the concepts of limiting nutrients, their impact on plankton growth, and the role of various elements in ecological systems. This quiz covers essential knowledge on nutrient limitations in diverse environments, particularly marine biomes and estuaries. Test your understanding of how these nutrients affect primary productivity and ecosystem health.

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