Recycling and Matter Cycles in the Biosphere
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Questions and Answers

What is the process called when water is absorbed into the ground and becomes groundwater?

  • Evaporation
  • Infiltration (correct)
  • Condensation
  • Transpiration

How does groundwater primarily re-enter the atmosphere?

  • By water flowing into rivers
  • By precipitation falling on lakes
  • Through transpiration from plants (correct)
  • Through evaporation (correct)

What happens to water that penetrates deeply into the ground?

  • It becomes surface runoff.
  • It evaporates back to the atmosphere.
  • It becomes part of underground reservoirs. (correct)
  • It becomes clean drinking water.

What is the time estimate for one complete cycle of water to occur?

<p>4000 years (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What initiates the water cycle from the oceans and lakes?

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

Through which mechanism does water reach the atmosphere after it is taken up by plant roots?

<p>Transpiration (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following processes is not a part of the water cycle as depicted?

<p>Formation of aquifers (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What occurs after precipitation falls to the surface?

<p>It seeps into the ground or flows into bodies of water. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following components is NOT a major carbon reservoir in the biosphere?

<p>Oxygen (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In what form is carbon found in the atmosphere?

<p>Carbon dioxide gas (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which process is responsible for releasing CO2 into the atmosphere from geological sources?

<p>Geological activity (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What best describes how matter moves through the biosphere?

<p>Matter is recycled through biogeochemical cycles. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does carbon dioxide gas mainly enter the oceans?

<p>By dissolving from the atmosphere (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an important role of carbon in the biosphere?

<p>It is a major component of all organic compounds. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What role does energy play in the cycling of matter?

<p>Energy is lost as heat during the cycling process. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which process is classified as a geological process in the cycling of matter?

<p>Breaking down of rocks (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following processes can increase the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere?

<p>Burning of fossil fuels (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a biological process involved in the recycling of matter?

<p>Formation of clouds (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'nutrient cycles' refer to?

<p>The movement of chemical substances through organisms and the environment. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What happens to carbon dioxide during the process of respiration?

<p>It is released into the atmosphere. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a key characteristic of biogeochemical cycles?

<p>They involve the transformation of matter as it moves. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How do nutrient availability and primary productivity relate in ecosystems?

<p>Higher nutrient availability typically enhances primary productivity. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of processes include the flow of running water?

<p>Chemical and physical processes (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which element is primarily involved in the recycling processes discussed?

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

What process do certain bacteria use to convert nitrogen gas into ammonia?

<p>Nitrogen fixation (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which form of nitrogen is most prevalent in the Earth's atmosphere?

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

What role do decomposers play in the nitrogen cycle?

<p>Release ammonia, nitrates, and nitrites from organic materials (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of primary producers in the nitrogen cycle?

<p>Use nitrates and nitrites to make proteins and nucleic acids (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which process do certain bacteria use to convert nitrates to nitrogen gas?

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

How do humans contribute nitrogen to the biosphere?

<p>By manufacturing and using fertilizers (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Where does nitrogen fixation primarily occur in the ecosystem?

<p>In soil and on plant roots (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the verb 'accumulate' mean in the context of nitrogen in the environment?

<p>To collect or gather (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which process is responsible for converting atmospheric N2 gas into a form usable by plants?

<p>Nitrogen fixation (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What role do primary producers play in the nitrogen and phosphorus cycles?

<p>They take up nutrients for growth. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What happens to excess phosphorus from fertilizers in agricultural areas?

<p>It washes into rivers, streams, and oceans as runoff. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which form of nitrogen is primarily taken up by plants?

<p>Ammonia (NH3) (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a likely consequence of geological activity in the phosphorus cycle?

<p>It washes phosphates from rock into ocean waters. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How do consumers contribute to the nitrogen cycle?

<p>By excreting nitrogenous waste products. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What function do algae serve in the phosphorus cycle?

<p>They uptake phosphates for energy. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is one key difference between the nitrogen cycle and the phosphorus cycle?

<p>Nitrogen is found in the atmosphere; phosphorus is not. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What role does phosphorus play in living organisms?

<p>It is part of molecules like DNA and RNA. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What happens to phosphorus as rocks and sediments wear down?

<p>It releases inorganic phosphate into the environment. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a limiting nutrient in an ecosystem?

<p>A nutrient that restricts primary productivity when in short supply. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How do plants utilize phosphorus from the soil?

<p>They bind it into organic compounds after absorption. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why do farmers often use fertilizers containing phosphorus?

<p>To counteract nutrient limitations that affect plant growth. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Where is phosphorus predominantly found in the biosphere?

<p>In phosphate rock and soil minerals. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is primary productivity in the context of ecosystems?

<p>The rate at which primary producers create organic material. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is one way phosphorus moves through ecosystems?

<p>It is absorbed by primary producers from soil or water. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Water Cycle

The continuous movement of water between the oceans, atmosphere, and land.

Groundwater

Water absorbed into the ground.

Evaporation

Water turning into a gas (water vapor).

Condensation

Water vapor turning back into liquid water, forming clouds.

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Precipitation

Water falling from the atmosphere as rain, snow, sleet, or hail.

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Transpiration

Water released to the atmosphere by plants through their leaves.

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Surface Runoff

Water flowing over the land surface into streams, rivers, and lakes.

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Underground Reservoirs

Deep underground areas where water is stored.

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Biogeochemical Cycles

Closed loops where elements like oxygen, carbon, and hydrogen move between organisms and ecosystems.

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Recycling of Matter

Matter is constantly reused by living things and ecosystems.

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Biological Processes

Activities of living organisms, including eating, breathing, and waste production.

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Geological Processes

Processes related to Earth, like volcanoes, rock formation, and movement of matter.

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Chemical & Physical Processes

Actions like cloud formation, precipitation, water flow, and lightning.

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Nutrient Availability

Amount of nutrients affects the productivity of an ecosystem

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Primary Productivity

Rate at which producers create energy from sunlight.

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Matter Transformation

Matter changes form in biogeochemical cycles; never created or destroyed.

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Nutrient Cycles

The pathways nutrients take through living organisms and the environment.

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Carbon Cycle

The cycle of carbon through the biosphere, involving different reservoirs.

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Carbon Reservoirs

Places where carbon is stored in the biosphere.

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Carbon Dioxide (CO2)

A crucial component of the atmosphere, important for the carbon cycle.

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Organic Compounds

Compounds containing carbon, essential for life's functions.

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Biological activity

Activities of living organisms that influence the carbon cycle

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Geological activity

Processes in the Earth's crust that affect carbon cycle

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Nitrogen Fixation

The process where certain bacteria convert nitrogen gas (N2) into ammonia (NH3), making nitrogen usable by plants.

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Nitrates and Nitrites

Compounds formed from ammonia by soil bacteria, providing nitrogen for plants to create proteins and DNA.

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Denitrification

Process where some bacteria convert nitrates back into nitrogen gas, releasing it into the atmosphere.

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What does 'accumulate' mean in this context?

In the nitrogen cycle, 'accumulate' means nitrogen is gathered or collected in places like soil and oceans.

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How do humans affect the nitrogen cycle?

Human activities like fertilizer production add extra nitrogen to ecosystems, potentially causing imbalances in the nitrogen cycle.

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What is the largest reservoir of nitrogen?

The atmosphere is the largest storehouse of nitrogen, mostly in the form of nitrogen gas (N2).

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What happens to excess nitrogen?

Excess nitrogen, often from fertilizer runoff, ends up in rivers, streams, and the ocean, potentially causing harm.

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How is nitrogen fixed naturally?

Lightning can convert nitrogen gas into usable forms, similar to the role of bacteria in nitrogen fixation.

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Phosphorus in the Atmosphere

Phosphorus, unlike other nutrients, is not found in significant quantities in the atmosphere. It remains on land and in the ocean.

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Phosphorus in the Biosphere

Phosphorus is essential for life, present in DNA and RNA, but it's not abundant in the biosphere unlike other nutrients.

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Phosphate Sources

Phosphorus exists as inorganic phosphate in rocks, soil, and the ocean. Rocks and sediments release phosphate through weathering.

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Phosphate Cycle

Phosphate cycling through the ecosystem involves absorption by plants, transfer through food webs, and eventual release into the ocean.

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Nutrient Limitation

If even one essential nutrient, like phosphorus, is scarce, it can limit the growth and productivity of an ecosystem.

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Limiting Nutrient

A nutrient whose limited supply determines the productivity of an ecosystem.

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Fertilizers and Nutrient Limitation

Farmers use fertilizers to supplement the soil with nutrients like phosphorus, nitrogen, and potassium to boost plant growth.

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Micronutrients

Essential nutrients needed in small quantities for plant growth, often not added to fertilizers.

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Nitrogen Cycle

The continuous movement of nitrogen through the Earth's atmosphere, biosphere, and geosphere. It involves the following steps: nitrogen fixation, assimilation, ammonification, nitrification, and denitrification.

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Phosphorus Mining

The extraction of phosphate rock from the Earth's crust to produce phosphorus-based fertilizers. These fertilizers are essential for agricultural production.

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Phosphorus Runoff

Excess phosphorus from fertilizers and other sources can wash into rivers, lakes, and oceans, leading to eutrophication and harmful algal blooms.

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Geological Phosphorus Cycling

Over long periods, geological processes, like weathering and sedimentation, slowly cycle phosphorus from rocks to the ocean and back again.

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Phosphorus Cycle

The continuous movement of phosphorus through the Earth's lithosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere. It involves various processes, including mining, weathering, runoff, uptake by organisms, and deposition in sediments.

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Eutrophication

The excessive richness of nutrients in a lake or other body of water, frequently due to runoff from land, which causes a dense growth of plant life and death of animal life from lack of oxygen.

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Study Notes

Recycling in the Biosphere

  • Energy flows from one trophic level to the next, eventually escaping as heat.
  • Energy from sunlight constantly enters the biosphere, but matter is recycled.
  • Elements like oxygen, carbon, and hydrogen move between organisms and ecosystems.
  • Biogeochemical cycles are closed loops powered by energy flow.
  • Cycles involve biological, geological, and chemical processes.
  • Human activity also plays a role in cycles.
  • Matter is transformed, not created or destroyed.

Cycles of Matter

  • Biological processes encompass all living organism activities (eating, breathing, etc.)
  • Geological processes include volcanic activity and rock formation/breakdown.
  • Chemical and physical processes involve things like cloud formation and precipitation.

The Water Cycle

  • Water constantly moves between oceans, atmosphere, and land.
  • Water enters the atmosphere through evaporation from water bodies or plants.
  • Water condenses in the air to form clouds.
  • Precipitation (rain, snow, etc.) returns water to Earth's surface.
  • Runoff moves water into rivers, lakes, and oceans.
  • Groundwater can enter plants or add to water bodies.
  • Evaporation and transpiration complete the cycle.

The Carbon Cycle

  • Carbon is a component in organic compounds (carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, etc.).
  • Major reservoirs include the atmosphere (CO2), oceans, organisms, rocks, and underground deposits.
  • Biological activity, human activities (burning fossil fuels), and geological processes influence the cycle.
  • CO₂ is taken up by producers during photosynthesis and released by cellular respiration.

The Nitrogen Cycle

  • Nitrogen is essential for amino acids and nucleic acids, but exists primarily as N₂ gas.
  • Certain bacteria perform nitrogen fixation, converting N₂ to ammonia (NH3).
  • Soil bacteria then convert ammonia into nitrates and nitrites.
  • Primary producers use those compounds for growth.
  • Decomposers return nitrogen to the soil.
  • Denitrification converts nitrates back to nitrogen gas.
  • Nitrogen fixation is impacted by lightning and fertilizer use.

The Phosphorus Cycle

  • Phosphorus is a critical part of DNA and RNA.
  • Phosphorus is mostly found in rock, soil, sediments, and living organisms.
  • Phosphate is released by the weathering of rock and is used by plants, and then animals and returns eventually to soil or sediments through decomposition.
  • Major human impact is from fertilizer use and mining.

Nutrient Limitation

  • Primary productivity is the rate of organic material creation.
  • A limiting nutrient is one whose supply limits productivity even if other nutrients are plentiful.
  • Nutrient availability strongly impacts the productivity of an ecosystem.

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Description

Explore the intricate recycling processes of matter within the biosphere, including biogeochemical cycles and the water cycle. Understand how energy flows through ecosystems and the role of human activity in these cycles. This quiz examines the transformation of matter through various biological, geological, and chemical processes.

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