Unit 3- Biogeochemical Cycles

Front

What is the primary source of phosphorus in ecosystems?

Back

Rocks and minerals.

Front

Identify the cycle pictured: The Water cycle, The Carbon cycle, The Nitrogen cycle, The Phosphorus cycle.

Back

The Phosphorus cycle.

Front

Which of the following steps correctly describes the process of the phosphorus cycle?

Back

Phosphorus is weathered from rocks, absorbed by plants, consumed by animals, and returned to the soil through decomposition.

Front

What effect does urbanization have on the water cycle, particularly in terms of runoff?

Back

Urbanization increases runoff due to the prevalence of impermeable surfaces like concrete and asphalt.

Front

What is a likely environmental consequence of the increased use of nitrogen fertilizers in agriculture?

Back

Increased leaching of nitrates into groundwater, contributing to drinking water contamination.

Front

Define biogeochemical cycles.

Back

Biogeochemical cycles are natural processes that recycle nutrients in various chemical forms from the non-living environment to living organisms and back.

Front

What role do decomposers play in biogeochemical cycles?

Back

Decomposers break down dead organic matter, returning nutrients to the soil and making them available for plants.

Front

Explain the water cycle.

Back

The water cycle is the continuous movement of water on, above, and below the surface of the Earth, involving processes like evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and infiltration.

Front

What is nitrogen fixation?

Back

Nitrogen fixation is the process of converting atmospheric nitrogen (N2) into a form usable by plants, typically ammonia (NH3), often facilitated by bacteria.

Front

Describe the carbon cycle.

Back

The carbon cycle is the process by which carbon is exchanged among the biosphere, geosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere, involving processes like photosynthesis, respiration, and decomposition.