Environmental Science Quiz on Phosphorus Cycle
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Questions and Answers

What is the primary environmental impact of removing forests for farmland?

  • Increases atmospheric CO2 (correct)
  • Lowers nitrogen levels in soil
  • Decreases biodiversity
  • Reduces water availability

    • Which phase is not part of the phosphorus cycle?

  • Mineralization
  • Nitrogen fixation (correct)
  • Assimilation
  • Sedimentation

    • How do phytoplankton populations notably affect aquatic environments?

  • Contribute to algal blooms (correct)
  • Lower the oxygen levels
  • Increase CO2 levels
  • Diminish water clarity

    • What role does phosphorus play in living organisms?

    <p>Major component of RNA and DNA (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which process describes the transformation of organic phosphorus into phosphate?

    <p>Mineralization (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the atmospheric CO2 level approximately during the period from 1600 to 1800?

    <p>200ppm (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What human activities can lead to increased atmospheric CO2 levels?

    <p>Using fossil fuels (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following best describes the process of weathering in the phosphorus cycle?

    <p>Breakdown of rocks by environmental elements (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the function of a source in a biogeochemical cycle?

    <p>It is where the matter leaves to go to another part of the cycle. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT a way water can move after precipitation?

    <p>Flow directly into underground reservoirs. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which statement accurately reflects the importance of carbon in biological systems?

    <p>It is the base for everything organic and essential for building blocks. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What process is considered part of the fast carbon cycle?

    <p>Exchange of CO2 between air and water. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does cutting trees impact the water cycle?

    <p>It decreases transpiration and increases runoff. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary outcome of the carbon cycle processes?

    <p>Recycling carbon through food webs as organisms are consumed. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What role does solar energy play in the water cycle?

    <p>It provides energy for evaporation and photosynthesis. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which statement about reservoir types is incorrect?

    <p>Reservoirs can only be living organisms. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What substance do specialized bacteria transform ammonium (NH4+) into during nitrification?

    <p>Nitrite (NO2-) (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which process involves the conversion of organic nitrogen tissues back into ammonium after organisms die?

    <p>Mineralization (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary way through which nitrogen is assimilated into the food web?

    <p>As nitrate (NO3-) (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the end product of denitrification carried out by specialized bacteria?

    <p>Atmospheric nitrogen (N2) (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What impact do humans have on the nitrogen cycle through changes in plant composition?

    <p>Increased competition from species with higher nitrogen needs (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How much space is required per mango tree planted by the farmers?

    <p>25 m2 (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the total water requirement per mango tree during the 6 hot months of the year?

    <p>3600 L (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How much annual income does each mature mango tree produce for the farmers?

    <p>$75 (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Flashcards

    Water Cycle Reservoir

    Any part (living or not) of the water cycle that holds water.

    Water Cycle Source

    A reservoir where water leaves to go to another part of the cycle.

    Water Cycle Sink

    A reservoir where water goes to from another part of the cycle.

    Photosynthesis

    Plants use carbon dioxide and water to make sugars, releasing oxygen.

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    Respiration

    Breaking down sugars to release energy (and producing carbon dioxide).

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    Evapotranspiration

    Combined evaporation from water surfaces and transpiration from plants.

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    Carbon Cycle

    A cycle of moving carbon between the atmosphere, living things, and the Earth.

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    Carbon Reservoir

    Part of the carbon cycle that stores carbon (living or non-living).

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    Fossil Fuel Impact

    Burning fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere much faster than natural processes, increasing atmospheric CO2 levels.

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    Deforestation Impact

    Removing forests reduces the ability of plants to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, accelerating the increase of CO2 in the air.

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    Phosphorus Importance

    Phosphorus is a key component of DNA, RNA, and energy molecules, crucial for plant growth and essential in aquatic ecosystems.

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    Phosphorus Limiting Nutrient

    Phosphorus is a limiting nutrient in aquatic environments, meaning its availability controls the growth of organisms.

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    Assimilation in Phosphorus Cycle

    Plants absorb phosphate from the soil and use it to build organic phosphorus compounds in their tissues.

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    Mineralization in Phosphorus Cycle

    Decomposers break down dead organisms and waste, releasing phosphate back into the soil or water.

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    Nitrogen Importance

    Nitrogen is a major component of the atmosphere and essential for plant growth, making it crucial for agriculture.

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    Nitrogen Fixation

    The conversion of atmospheric nitrogen gas into usable forms for living organisms by bacteria or geological processes.

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    Nitrification

    The process where specialized bacteria convert ammonium (NH4+) into nitrite (NO2-) and then into nitrate (NO3-), a form readily usable by plants.

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    Assimilation

    The process where plants and other organisms take up nitrogen compounds (like nitrate) and incorporate them into their own organic molecules.

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    Mineralization

    The breakdown of organic nitrogen (from dead organisms or waste) back into ammonium (NH4+) by decomposers.

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    Denitrification

    The process where specialized bacteria in anoxic (oxygen-poor) conditions convert nitrate (NO3-) into nitrous oxide (N2O) and eventually back into atmospheric nitrogen (N2).

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    How does human activity affect the nitrogen cycle?

    Human activities like using fertilizers, burning fossil fuels, and deforestation disrupt the natural nitrogen cycle, leading to increased nitrogen levels in the environment, which can cause problems like eutrophication and acid rain.

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    What is leaching?

    The movement of dissolved nutrients, like nitrogen, from the upper layers of soil to deeper layers, often through water.

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    What is the main form of nitrogen used by plants?

    Nitrate (NO3-) is the most commonly used form of nitrogen by plants for growth and development.

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    Study Notes

    Biogeochemical Cycles

    • Key cycles discussed include water, carbon, phosphorus, and nitrogen
    • Reservoirs are any components of the cycle (living or not) containing the matter, acting as sources or sinks
    • Sources are reservoirs where matter leaves to go to another part of the cycle
    • Sinks are reservoirs where matter goes to, from another part of the cycle

    Water Cycle

    • Water is essential for life, making up half of the weight of organisms
    • Water transports molecules and waste within the body
    • Water exists in three states (solid, liquid, gas) in nature
    • Solar energy drives evaporation and transpiration
    • Precipitation falls from the atmosphere
    • Precipitation can be absorbed by plants (plant uptake)
    • Precipitation can infiltrate the soil (infiltration) to form groundwater
    • Water can flow on the surface as runoff, returning to bodies of water

    Carbon Cycle

    • Carbon is the base for all organic compounds and building blocks of the body
    • Carbon makes up 20% of the weight of all organisms
    • Carbon cycles through the food web when organisms are consumed or die
    • Atmospheric CO2 and dissolved CO2 are constantly exchanged
    • Photosynthesis converts CO2 into sugars
    • Respiration converts sugars back into CO2
    • Combustion of fossil fuels converts carbon into CO2
    • Carbon can be buried and fossilized over time (forming fossil fuels)
    • Carbon is taken up by plants and algae during photosynthesis

    Phosphorus Cycle

    • Key component of RNA, DNA, and energy molecules
    • Vital for agriculture
    • A limiting nutrient in aquatic environments
    • Phosphorus is mainly found in soil, rocks, and water
    • Weathering of rocks releases dissolved phosphates
    • Plants and algae use phosphate for growth
    • Herbivores and predators consume these organisms, acquiring phosphorus
    • Decomposers release phosphate back into the environment

    Nitrogen Cycle

    • 78% of the atmosphere is nitrogen gas
    • Nitrogen undergoes significant chemical changes throughout the cycle
    • Highly important for agriculture
    • Nitrogen fixation converts atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia
    • Nitrification converts ammonia into nitrite and then into nitrate, usable by plants
    • Assimilation involves plants and algae receiving nitrogen
    • Mineralization (or ammonification) returns nitrogen to the soil
    • Denitrification returns nitrogen to the atmosphere in the form of gas
    • Human activities influence the nitrogen cycle through factors like land use and fertilizer use

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    Related Documents

    Biogeochemical Cycles Explanation PDF

    Description

    Test your knowledge on the phosphorus cycle and its environmental implications. This quiz covers the impacts of deforestation, the role of phosphorus in ecosystems, and human activities affecting atmospheric CO2 levels. Perfect for students studying environmental science and ecology.

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