GY 102 LearnSmart Ch 17

Rank the following processes based upon their nitrogen flux, placing the process with the highest maximum flux at the top and the process with the lowest maximum flux at the bottom.

1. Denitrification 2. Biological nitrogen fixation 3. Haber-Bosch industrial process 4. Fossil fuel combustion 5. Lightning

Rank the following reservoirs based upon how much phosphorus they store, placing the reservoir that stores the most phosphorus at the top and the reservoir that stores the least phosphorus at the bottom.

1. Marine sediments 2. Oceans 3. Soils 4. Mineable rock 5. Biota

Rank the following reservoirs based upon how much carbon they store, placing the reservoir with the highest amount of stored carbon at the top and the reservoir with the lowest amount of stored carbon at the bottom. (Note: Carbonate rocks are excluded from this ranking.)

1. Oceans 2. Fossil fuels 3. Soils 4. Atmosphere 5. Biota

Use the accompanying diagram to rank the following sulfur reservoirs by size, placing the reservoir with the largest flux at the top and the lowest at the bottom.

1. Oxidized and reduced sediments 2. Oceans 3. Atmosphere 4. Wind erosion

Rank the following steps in order in which they occur during photosynthesis. Put the first step on top.

1. Special plant cells called chloroplasts "fix" insolation (solar energy), exciting electrons. 2. Energy released by electrons is used to make molecules of ATP (adenosine triphosphate). 3. ATP (adenosine triphosphate) transfers energy between cells. 4. The energy transfer between cells releases O2.

Describe the series of events leading to fishkills in coastal areas during storm events by putting the following in the correct order, with the first occurrence on top.

1. Storms deliver windblown organic debris (leaves, branches, etc.) and saltwater into freshwater ecosystems. 2. Freshwater fish, unable to cope with salt water conditions, begin to die. 3. As fish die, detritivores break down the dead organisms and other organic debris, consuming vast quantities of oxygen. 4. As oxygen is depleted, more organisms die, leading to a positive feedback loop that quickly draws down available oxygen levels in the ecosystem.

What is a biogeochemical cycle?

A way to describe the chemical connections between different aspects of an ecosystem.

Match the organism (letter) with the proper description of its place in the food web diagram.

A(hawk): Tertiary consumer B(snake): Secondary consumer C(chipmunk): Primary consumer D(plant): Primary producer

The accompanying figure demonstrates how energy flows through an ecosystem. Match the letter to the correct step in the energy flow diagram.

A: Inputs B: Storage C: Outputs D: Process E: Feedback loops

Match the letter to the correct rate of population growth as shown on the graph.

A: Slow growth B: Rapid growth C: Very rapid growth

Match the letter with the correct type of population shown in the graph.

A: Stable, high population B: Unstable population C: Stable, low population

___ measures the number of species and the evenness of species population in an ecosystem.

Biodiversity

___ is the study of how organisms and populations of organisms interact with one another and with nonliving components in their environment.

Ecology

In which of the following countries and areas has sulfur dioxide emissions fallen in the past 20 years? (Choose all that apply.)

Europe; United States

True or false: In an open system, such as an ecosystem, inputs of energy and matter are divided from within the system itself.

False

True or false: More oxygen is generated in the profundal zone than in the limnetic zone.

False

True or false: The biological oxygen demand (BOD) refers to the total amount of oxygen produced by plants in an ecosystem.

False

Match the term with its correct definition.

Habitat: The physical environment in which a species lives. Ecological niche: The unique position a species occupies within an ecosystem relative to other species.

According to the map, in which of the following regions does the human demand for energy (Human Appropriation of Net Primary productivity, HANPP) exceed the total energy supplied by NPP? (Select all that apply.)

India, Arabian Peninsula, Eastern China

___ is an ecosystem's ability to resist changes after a stress is applied.

Inertia

Match the various processes involved in photosynthesis with their descriptor or definition.

Light reaction: Chlorophyll in plant chloroplasts fixes solar energy, exciting electrons in the process. Calvin cycle: This occurs in the absence of sunlight; molecules fix CO2 to create sugars. ATP: This is adenosine triphosphate, a molecule that transfers energy between cells.

___ prevent(s) ecosystem health even if all other biotic, abiotic, and energy components are satisfied.

Limiting nutrients

Match the term on the left with its proper description on the right. Use the diagram to help you.

Limnetic zone: The area in the lake where oxygen production exceeds oxygen consumption. Profundal zone: The area in the lake where oxygen consumption exceeds oxygen production. Compensation point: The area in the lake where oxygen production equals oxygen consumption.

Which of the following is not an invasive species in the United States?

Mallard duck

Match the process proposed to control the carbon cycle by removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to its description.

Mineral carbonation: Injecting CO2-rich water into ultramafic igneous rocks. Ocean fertilization: Putting iron on the ocean surface to stimulate growth of phytoplankton, and thereby CO2 uptake. Invigorated vegetation: High temperatures and longer growing seasons result in more plants that use more CO2.

Match the type of symbiosis with its correct description.

Mutualism: Both species benefit from the interaction. Commensalism: One species benefits from the interaction, while the other remains largely unaffected. Parasitism: One species benefits from the interaction, while the other is harmed by the interaction.

Match the form of nitrogen found in the biosphere with its uses and properties.

Nitric oxide: By-product of combustion; oxidizes readily to form NO2. Ammonia: Strong, pungent odor; used in cleaning products and fertilizers. Nitrate: Used in gunpowders and explosives. Nitrogen gas: Makes up 78% of the atmosphere but is unusable by plants. Nitrous oxide: A greenhouse gas; also known as "laughing gas".

Which fluxes in this biogeochemical cycle flow in only one direction? (Select all that apply.)

Oceans to crust; Fresh water to oceans

___ is a measure of the number of species present in an ecosystem.

Richness

___ is a major threat to biodiversity. (Select all that apply.)

Road building; clearcutting of forests for farms and timber; mining; planting of "energy crops"

___ succession occurs when a disturbance destroys vegetation but leaves the soil intact. ___ succession occurs when land is so disturbed that the soil is destroyed and only pioneer species are able to colonize it.

Secondary; Primary

Which of the following are autotrophs? (Select all that apply.)

Shrubs; Grasses; Trees

The two regions with the highest overall amphibian species richness are ___ and ___.

South America; Africa

___ are the observable components of an ecosystem, whereas ___ are the dynamic processes that occur between them.

Structures; functions

Net primary productivity (NPP) is influenced locally by ___. (Select all that apply.)

Sun angle and cloud cover; soil type; air and surface temperatures

In extratropical lake ecosystems, the compensation point is usually ___ the thermocline in the summer.

above

Sulfur oxides can react with water, which is then incorporated into precipitation to form ___.

acid rain

The hypoxic "dead zone" found in the Gulf of Mexico is the result of ___.

agricultural runoff from the Mississippi River that carries nitrates and other chemicals into the gulf.

Eutrophication of aquatic systems can lead to ___. (Select all that apply.)

algal blooms; reduced oxygen content; increased turbidity

Unlike the carbon and nitrogen cycle, which have a significant component in the ___, the phosphorus cycle occurs mainly in the ___, so it is referred to as a sedimentary biogeochemical cycle.

atmosphere; lithosphere

Whereas ___ acquire their nutrients from the soil, water, and air, and their energy from photosynthesis, ___ obtain their food by eating other organisms.

autotrophs; heterotrophs

It is important to maintain ___ in ecosystems as it ensures food security, acts as a buffer against extreme weather, provides ecotourism opportunities, and has aesthetic and spiritual impacts on humans.

biodiversity

The amount of oxygen needed to sustain an organism is referred to as the ___.

biological oxygen demand (BOD)

Humans impact the carbon cycle by ___. (Select all that apply.)

burning fossil fuels; producing cement; deforestation

Carbon becomes stored in the lithosphere when ___. (Choose all that apply.)

calcium carbonate (CaCO3)-bearing marine organisms die, causing their shells to become part of sediments; plate tectonics plasters carbon-bearing rocks against the overriding plate

Sulfur dioxide (SO2), which is released by certain human activities, is a dangerous compound because it ___. (Select all that apply.)

can stunt plant growth; reduces rates of plant reproduction; causes respiratory illness in humans

By burning fossil fuels, manufacturing cement, and deforesting lands, humans are impacting the ___ cycle.

carbon

Ocean acidification occurs because extra ___ emitted by human activities is absorbed by ocean water.

carbon

The element ___ is required for essential organic molecules such as carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.

carbon

The ___ is the area in a lake where O2 production through photosynthesis is balanced by O2 consumption through respiration or fermentation.

compensation point

The process that breaks down organic matter into inorganic materials is known as ___.

decomposition

Biogeography combines concepts from ___ and ___ to understand how life is distributed on Earth.

ecology; physical geography

This is the physical environment in which a community of organisms interact.

ecosystem

This is the evenness of the population of different species in an ecosystem.

equitability

Reduced oxygen content, increased turbidity, and increase algal growth in aquatic ecosystems are common responses to ___.

eutrophication

The response of an aquatic ecosystem to the addition of a foreign substance (or too much of a substance that is normally present) is ___.

eutrophication

Heterotrophs include organisms such as ___. (Select all that apply.)

fish; mammals; birds

Sulfur is an essential nutrient for life because it is ___. (Select all that apply.)

helps protect animals and plants from bacteria; used as an energy source in chemosynthesis; necessary for plant growth

The four types of eating habit classifications found among heterotrophs are ___.

herbivores, detritivores, carnivores, omnivores

An aquatic ecosystem that is lacking in dissolved oxygen is said to be experiencing ___.

hypoxia

A(n) ___ species is one that disrupts an ecosystem in which it has been introduced by developing a broad geographic range and occupying a biological niche.

invasive

Nitrogen (N) is important to life because ___. (Select all that apply.)

it is fundamental to cell metabolism; it is found in the structure of amnio acids and nucleic acids

___ species have slow rates of reproduction and maturation, prolonged nurturing, and a higher likelihood of survival into adulthood.

k-selected

The ___ zone in a lake is at the top, where photosynthesis generates more oxygen than is required for respiration and fermentation. In contrast, the ___ zone is at the bottom, where very little photosynthesis takes place and more oxygen is used for respiration and fermentation than is produced.

limnetic; profundal

Humans have accelerated eutrophication in many aquatic systems through ___. (Select all that apply.)

municipal sewage systems; leaky septic systems; runoff from fertilizers in agricultural fields

The total amount of energy fixed for photosynthesis, minus the energy wasted for plant growth and respiration, is known as ___.

net primary productivity (NPP)

Since the atmosphere and ocean reservoirs are essentially in equilibrium, there is little exchange of ___ gas between the two.

nitrogen

The element ___ is important for cell metabolism and is found in amino acids and nucleic acids.

nitrogen

The production of gunpowder and use of fertilizer are examples of how humans add ___ to the environment.

nitrogen

The nitrogen compound ___ is a greenhouse gas that has impacts on the environment and human health, including stressing ecosystems and causing melting in the cryosphere.

nitrous oxide

When an "exotic" species is released into an ecosystem and survives to become part of that ecosystem, it is referred to as a(n) ___.

non-native species

Ecosystem structures consist of the biotic, abiotic, and energy components. These include ___. (Select all that apply.)

nutrients; soil, rocks, and minerals; species composition

The Second Law of Thermodynamics states that energy cannot be transferred with 100% efficiency. This explains why ___.

only about 10% of the energy in an ecosystem is transferred from one trophic level to the next

An ecosystem is a(n) ___ because energy and matter are being input from outside the system itself.

open system

Carbon (C) is important to life on Earth because ___. (Select all that apply.)

organic molecules, such as lipids, proteins, and nucleic acid, all require carbon; It is the element that forms the building blocks for life

Due to its highly reactive nature, ___ can bond with other atoms and molecules to form essential organic compounds.

phosphorus

In contrast with the carbon and nitrogen cycles, the ___ cycle occurs mostly in the lithosphere.

phosphorus

The element ___ is essential for the cell structure of many plants and animals, and it forms the energy-storing compound ATP.

phosphorus

The most significant part of the ___ is the rock cycle, which involves an estimated 1 billion metric tons of the element. Finding an economically feasible way to retrieve this element is a major challenge.

phosphorus

Nitrogen moves from the atmosphere to the land mostly through ___ and nitrogen-fixing bacteria. Nitrogen is released into the atmosphere by the ___ process, by which microbes convert other forms of nitrogen into nitrogen gas.

plants; denitrification

A limiting nutrient ___ ecosystem health when all other factors (biotic, abiotic, energy) are met.

prevents

Also known as a autotroph, a ___ ___ is an organism that derives its energy from photosynthesis.

primary producer

Also known as an autotroph, a ___ ___ is an organism that derives its energy from photosynthesis.

primary producer

___ species have rapid rates of reproduction and maturation, but many do not survive in adulthood.

r-selected

In the United States, the major sources for phosphate and phosphorus are ___. (Select all that apply.)

recent marine deposits in Florida; ancient sedimentary layers in Wyoming and Utah

Biodiversity can be protected by ___. (Select all that apply.)

reintroducing species into ecosystems where they have disappeared; creating wildlife or nature preserves; assembling gene or seed banks

Organisms living within the same ecosystem interact with one another in three different ways. These three interactions are ___.

reproduction; predation; competition

The rate at which an ecosystem recovers following stress is called ___.

resilience

The three global or regional factors that influence net primary productivity (NPP) are ___.

soil conditions (i.e., soil pH); the average amount of precipitation; length of the growing season

Ecosystem functions are dynamic processes that occur in the environment. These include ___. (Select all that apply.)

soil formation; photosynthesis; evaporation

Ecosystem ___ refers to the degree of fluctuation in the populations of species over time.

stability

A major disturbance to an ecosystem will result in predictable change in species called ___.

succesion

The burning of coal releases most of the atmospheric ___ attributable to humans.

sulfur

Since ___, lake systems are most sensitive to pollution during the summer. (Select all that apply.)

the biological oxygen demand is highest when water is warmest; photosynthesis is greatest when sunlight is most direct

The compensation point in a lake is where ___.

the production of O2 through photosynthesis is balanced by the use of O2 by respiration or fermentation.

Eutrophication is defined as ___.

the response of an aquatic ecosystem and high net primary productivity (NPP)

Phosphorus is essential to life on Earth because it is involved in ___. (Select all that apply.)

the structure of DNA; the formation of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which stores energy; the cell structure of many plants and animals

The day length and atmospheric conditions in ___ climates allow many species to exist without disruption, which leads to high biodiversity. ___ climates are much harsher, and as a result, biodiversity is much lower.

tropical; polar

Sulfur is released from the land to the atmosphere through ___. (Select all that apply.)

volcanic eruptions; the burning of coal and petroleum