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Questions and Answers
What is the primary source of Nitrous Oxide (N2O) released into the environment?
What is the primary source of Nitrous Oxide (N2O) released into the environment?
What happens to excess Nitrogen in an ecosystem when the N:P ratio is greater than 16:1?
What happens to excess Nitrogen in an ecosystem when the N:P ratio is greater than 16:1?
What is the primary reason for the increase in Nitrogen loading in ecosystems since the 1940s?
What is the primary reason for the increase in Nitrogen loading in ecosystems since the 1940s?
What is the effect of Nitric Oxide on the environment?
What is the effect of Nitric Oxide on the environment?
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What is the primary impact of Phosphorus in water bodies?
What is the primary impact of Phosphorus in water bodies?
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What is the primary source of Sulphur Dioxide (SO2) in the atmosphere?
What is the primary source of Sulphur Dioxide (SO2) in the atmosphere?
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What is the primary reason for the increase in available Nitrogen in ecosystems?
What is the primary reason for the increase in available Nitrogen in ecosystems?
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What is the primary impact of Nitrogen saturation on ecosystems?
What is the primary impact of Nitrogen saturation on ecosystems?
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What is the primary fate of Nitrogen in aquatic ecosystems?
What is the primary fate of Nitrogen in aquatic ecosystems?
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What is the primary impact of Nitrous Oxide on the environment?
What is the primary impact of Nitrous Oxide on the environment?
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Study Notes
Segments of the Environment
- The environment consists of four segments: Atmosphere, Lithosphere, Hydrosphere, and Biosphere
- Atmosphere: small reservoir, efficient transporter
- Lithosphere: Earth's Crust, rocks, minerals; huge reservoir, less transport
- Hydrosphere: oceans and water; huge reservoir and transporter
- Biosphere: small reservoir, moderate transporter; huge impact on the environment
Structure of the Ecosystem
- Ecological Pyramids: show the relationship between different levels of organisms in an ecosystem
Functions of Ecosystems
- Productivity: Food Production
- Energy Flow: Food Chain and Food Web
- Nutrient Recycling: Biogeochemical Cycles (Water, Carbon, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Sulfur)
Biogeochemical Cycles
- Water Cycle: Evaporation, cloud formation, precipitation, and runoff
- Carbon Cycle: Reservoirs include air, rocks, and oceans; human impacts include burning of fossil fuels and deforestation
- Nitrogen Cycle: Reservoirs include air, rocks, and living organisms; human impacts include burning of fossil fuels, industrial nitrogen fixation, and livestock waste
- Phosphorus Cycle: Reservoirs include rocks, living organisms, and soil; human impacts include mining phosphate rock, fertilizer use, and detergent use
- Sulfur Cycle: Reservoirs include air, rocks, and living organisms; human impacts include industrial activities, combustion, and refining
Importance of Rainforests
- Rainforests absorb 2 billion tonnes of CO2/yr, about 20-30% of fossil C emissions
- Rainforests play a crucial role in the water cycle, redistributing energy to higher latitudes
- Destruction of rainforests can lead to drought, desertification, and loss of CO2 sink
Human Impacts on the Environment
- Climate change: feedback mechanisms, ocean acidification, and increased atmospheric greenhouse gases
- Human activities affecting the carbon cycle: burning of fossil fuels, deforestation, and poor agricultural practices
- Human impacts on the nitrogen cycle: burning of fossil fuels, industrial nitrogen fixation, livestock waste, and fertilizer use
- Human impacts on the phosphorus cycle: mining phosphate rock, fertilizer use, and detergent use
- Human impacts on the sulfur cycle: industrial activities, combustion, and refining
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Description
This quiz covers the four segments of the environment: Atmosphere, Lithosphere, Hydrosphere, and Biosphere, and explores the structure of ecosystems, including ecological pyramids.
