Chapter 18, Biogeochemical cycles

Forms of nitrogen that can be used by plants to build protein

nitrates and nitrites

Bacterial process that converts ammonia to nitrates and nitrites

nitrification

Water that travels from ground surfaces to lakes, rivers, oceans

runoff

The movement of water from bodies of water to the atmosphere

evaporation

Which process do some bacteria use to convert nitrogen gas in the air to ammonia? a. decomposition b. excretion c. denitrification d. nitrogen fixation

d. nitrogen fixation

Where is most of the earth's oxygen found? a. earth's crust b. atmosphere c. water d. plants

a. earth's crust

Why is nitrogen important to living organisms? a. it is used to make proteins b. it is needed for photosynthesis c. it is found in all organic molecules d. it is needed for cellular respiration

it is used to make proteins

The loss of water from plants to the atmosphere

transpiration

Where does carbon fixation occur? a. leaves of plants b. roots of fungi c. lungs of animals d. underground

a. leaves of plants

Which of the following moves water between the earth's surface and the atmosphere and back again? a. water cycle b. condensation cycle c. precipitation d. transpiration

a. water cycle

Bacteria on the root nodules and lightning use this process to convert atmospheric nitrogen to ammonia

nitrogen fixation

The movement of water through an ecosystem

water cycle

What two cycles depend on photosynthesis for part of the recycling process? a. carbon & oxygen b. water & nitrogen c. water & oxygen d. carbon & nitrogen

a. carbon & oxygen

Which cycle involves both photosynthesis and cellular respiration? a. carbon cycle b. nitrogen cycle c. water cycle d. phosphorus cycle

a. carbon cycle

Which of the following processes must occur before precipitation can occur? a. condensation b. evaporation c. transpiration d. run-off

a. condensation

How is ozone helpful? a. it is needed for cellular respiration b. it protects earth from harmful radiation c. it is used during combustion d. it helps form organic molecules

b. it protects earth from harmful radiation

Rain, sleet, and snow are examples of what? a. energy b. precipitation c. organic matter d. water vapor

b. precipitation

Plants release water into the atmosphere through which process? a. condensation b. transpiration c. photosynthesis d. percolation

b. transpiration

Which of these is NOT a way that carbon cycles through the biosphere? a. photosynthesis b. transpiration c. combustion of fossil fuels d. decomposition

b. transpiration

Which type of organism carries out most nitrogen fixation? a. insects b. plants c. bacteria d. mammals

c. bacteria

Most carbon in the atmosphere occurs in what form? a. carbonic acid b. elemental carbon c. carbon dioxide d. carbohydrates

c. carbon dioxide

Which of the following is the MOST important reason that the recycling of carbon is so important to living organisms? a. carbon is needed in the soil b. carbon is needed for fuel combustion c. carbon is needed to make organic molecules d. carbon is needed to make coal

c. carbon is needed to make organic molecules

During which process is carbon fixed? a. transpiration b. cellular respiration c. photosynthesis d. combustion

c. photosynthesis

Sugars made by plants

carbohydrates

To ensure that living organisms have the elements they need, the elements move in which type of cycles? a. chemical cycles b. energy cycles c. biological cycles d. biogeochemical cycles

d. biogeochemical cycles

Plant process that converts carbon dioxide into carbohydrates

photosynthesis

Tiny openings on the underside of a leaf.

stomata

A farmer decides to clear and plant an area of land near a small lake. Once his crop starts to grow, he fertilizes the soil with a commercially prepared chemical fertilizer. What negative effect could the fertilizer have on the nearby ecosystem? a. the chemicals from the fertilizer could poison the plants b. the land that he planted will no longer support nitrogen-fixing bacteria c. the chemicals in the fertilizer could increase the temperature of the water in the nearby lake d. the run-off from the fertilizer could cause an algal bloom in the nearby lake

d. the run-off from the fertilizer could cause an algal bloom in the nearby lake

A diagram involving the words evaporation, condensation, and precipitation would be representing what cycle? a. nitrogen b. carbon c. water d. oxygen

c. water

Bacterial process that converts nitrates into nitrogen gas and returns nitrogen to the atmosphere

denitrification

Which of the following is NOT a way that carbon is stored in the biosphere? a. in the atmosphere b. as fossil fuels underground c. in tissues of living organisms d. ozone

d. ozone

Converting inorganic carbon into organic carbon

carbon fixation

Process of living organisms that uses carbohydrates and releases carbon dioxide

cellular respiration

The process of burning fuels that releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere

combustion

The process through which water vapor becomes clouds.

condensation

The carbon cycle recycles carbon between living organisms and the nonliving components of their environment. Which human activities are MOST believed to disrupt the carbon cycle and cause global warming? a. polluting rivers, lakes, and streams with fertilizers b. releasing chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) into the atmosphere c. introducing non-native species into an established ecosystem d. burning fossil fuels and clear-cutting forests

d. burning fossil fuels and clear-cutting forests

Which two processes are involved in both the oxygen cycle and the carbon cycle? a. combustion and cellular respiration b. photosynthesis and transpiration c. transpiration and combustion d. cellular respiration and photosynthesis

d. cellular respiration and photosynthesis

What is the water called that sinks into the soil beneath the earth's surface? a. run-off b. water vapor c. condensation d. groundwater

d. groundwater

Which of the following describes a plant's role in the carbon cycle? a. it stores carbon dioxide in its leaves to be consumed by animals b. it releases carbon dioxide as a byproduct of photosynthesis c. it decomposes organic carbon molecules like carbohydrates into inorganic carbon compounds in the soil d. it converts carbon dioxide to carbohydrates through photosynthesis

d. it converts carbon dioxide to carbohydrates through photosynthesis

How is cellular respiration used in the carbon cycle? a. it converts carbon dioxide into carbohydrates b. it converts the carbon in the soil into fossil fuels c. it passes carbon from plants to animals d. it releases carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere

d. it releases carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere

Most of the earth's autotrophs use the energy in sunlight to change carbon dioxide and water into which products? a. nitrogen and protein b. carbon monoxide and fats c. ozone and complex carbohydrates d. oxygen and simple sugars

d. oxygen and simple sugars

Which of the following statements is true about photosynthesis? a. photosynthesis uses oxygen and water to produce glucose and carbon dioxide b. photosynthesis uses carbon dioxide and oxygen to produce glucose and water c. photosynthesis uses glucose and water to produce oxygen and carbon dioxide d. photosynthesis uses water and carbon dioxide to produce glucose and oxygen

d. photosynthesis uses water and carbon dioxide to produce glucose and oxygen

A graph showing a drastic increase in algae could be the result of ___. a. over-fishing drastically decreased the number of large fish in the pond and allowed algae more room to grow. b. the small fish in the pond ate more insect larvae than algae during that year c. migrating birds that carried algae on their feet introduced additional algae into the pond d. the pond was contaminated with commercial fertilizer causing an algae bloom

d. the pond was contaminated with commercial fertilizer causing an algae bloom

What role do plants play in the nitrogen cycle? a. they release nitrogen into the atmosphere by decomposing nitrates and nitrites b. they convert atmospheric nitrogen to ammonia c. they produce and release nitrogen as a byproduct of photosynthesis d. they convert nitrates and nitrites in the soil to proteins

d. they convert nitrates and nitrites in the soil to proteins

What is the role of decomposers in the nitrogen cycle? a. they release nitrogen gas into the atmosphere b. they release nitrogen during cellular respiration c. they use ammonia when they break down dead organisms d. they release nitrogen into the soil when they break down dead organisms

d. they release nitrogen into the soil when they break down dead organisms

Which of the following is NOT a way that carbon in dead organisms is returned to the carbon cycle? a. by becoming a part of a fossil fuel b. through decomposition c. through the process of combustion d. through photosynthesis

d. through photosynthesis

Rain, sleet, hail, and snow are examples of ___.

precipitation

The movement of water from the atmosphere to the ground

precipitation

How are decomposers critical to the carbon cycle? a. they return nitrogen gas back into the atmosphere b. they convert carbon dioxide into usable carbon c. they return carbon to the environment for reuse d. they store carbon compounds in fossils for later use

c. they return carbon to the environment for reuse

The movement of elements and compounds through ecosystems

biogeochemical cycles

How does carbon enter the soil? a. through dead organisms b. through photosynthesis c. through cellular respiration d. through combustion

a. through dead organisms

Plants release water back into the atmosphere through which process? a. transpiration b. percolation c. precipitation d. condensation

a. transpiration

How do plants use carbon dioxide in photosynthesis? a. it is used for cellular respiration b. it is used to make sunlight c. it is used to produce carbohydrates d. it is released as a byproduct of photosynthesis

c. it is used to produce carbohydrates

Before plants can use the nitrogen in ammonia, it must be changed into which form(s)? a. nitrogen gas and nitrates b. nitrogen gas and nitrites c. nitrates and nitrites d. amino acids and nitrogen gas

c. nitrates and nitrites

How does carbon dioxide in the atmosphere enter into living organisms? a. burning of forests b. combustion of fossil fuels c. photosynthesis d. transpiration

c. photosynthesis

In the oxygen cycle, which of the following processes releases oxygen gas back into the atmosphere? a. cellular respiration b. transpiration c. photosynthesis d. combustion

c. photosynthesis

Through which process is oxygen released into the atmosphere? a. combustion b. condensation c. photosynthesis d. nitrification

c. photosynthesis

The water that is not absorbed into the ground and that may end up in lakes, river, and streams is called what? a. precipitation b. water vapor c. run-off d. transpiration

c. run-off

Why must nitrogen gas be converted to another form in the soil? a. so it can produce lightning b. so it can be harvested by humans c. so it can be used by plants d. so it can kill bacteria in the soil

c. so it can be used by plants

How does nitrogen get recycled back to the atmosphere? a. decay by bacteria b. infiltration of groundwater c. runoff of precipitation d. lightning in storm clouds

a. decay by bacteria

During which stage of the carbon cycle is carbon fixed? a. during photosynthesis b. during cellular respiration c. when carbon dioxide is in the atmosphere d. when carbohydrates are in plants and animals

a. during photosynthesis

Why must nitrogen be "fixed" in the nitrogen cycle? a. nitrogen in the atmosphere is not usable by many organisms b. nitrogen in the atmosphere is an incomplete molecule c. the nitrogen wastes produced by many animals are harmful to the environment d. the nitrogen in the soil must be returned to the atmosphere

a. nitrogen in the atmosphere is not usable by many organisms

What is the importance of plants in the carbon cycle? a. they convert atmospheric carbon into usable carbon compounds b. they convert water vapor into liquid water which is released into the soil c. they decay organic matter in compost heaps and sewage d. they convert nitrogen into nitrogen gas which is released into the atmosphere

a. they convert atmospheric carbon into usable carbon compounds

The result of nitrogen fixation and a component of consumer wastes

ammonia

How do animals obtain carbon to be used in cellular processes? a. by breathing in carbon dioxide b. by eating plants or other animals c. by photosynthesis d. by carbon fixation

b. by eating plants or other animals

Through which process do living organisms release carbon into the atmosphere? a. photosynthesis b. cellular respiration c. transpiration d. combustion

b. cellular respiration

As humans burn fossil fuels for energy, the percent of carbon stored in fossils is reduced while the carbon in the atmosphere is increased. If green plants are also being removed, how might the carbon cycle and greenhouse effect be influenced? a. more carbon will be left in terrestrial ecosystems, decreasing the greenhouse effect globally b. more carbon will be left in the atmosphere, increasing the greenhouse effect globally c. more carbon will be left in the atmosphere, decreasing the greenhouse effect globally d. more carbon will be left in terrestrial ecosystems, increasing the greenhouse effect globally

b. more carbon will be left in the atmosphere, increasing the greenhouse effect globally

The part of the earth where living organisms can be found

biosphere

How many atoms of oxygen make up a molecule of ozone? a. 1 b. 2 c. 3 d. 4

c. 3

How is the burning of fossil fuels related to the carbon cycle? a. carbon stored in organisms through decomposition millions of years ago is released during the burning process, decreasing the CO2 in the atmosphere b. carbon stored in organisms through decomposition millions of years ago is released during the burning process, increasing the CO2 in the atmosphere c. carbon stored in organisms through photosynthesis and ingestion millions of years ago is released during the burning process, increasing the CO2 in the atmosphere d. carbon stored in organisms through photosynthesis and ingestion millions of years ago is released during the burning process, decreasing the CO2 in the atmosphere

c. carbon stored in organisms through photosynthesis and ingestion millions of years ago is released during the burning process, increasing the CO2 in the atmosphere