The Nitrogen Cycle and the Phosphorus Cycle

The Nitrogen Cycle and the Phosphorus Cycle

Multiple Choice

Plants and animals need nitrogen to make __________.

• Protein
• Carbohydrates
• Lipids
• Minerals

Multiple Choice

What process occurs when dead plant and animal matter decomposes and nitrogen is released back into the atmosphere?

• Assimilation

• Fixation

• Ammonification

• Denitrification

Multiple Choice

What is the process of combining nitrogen gas with other elements to make nitrogen into usable compounds?

• nitrogen composition

• nitrogen fixation

• ammonia

• denitrification

Multiple Choice

How is nitrogen "fixed" into a usable form for plants?

• Through action of bacteria only

• Through lightning only

• Through action of bacteria and lightning

• Through photosynthesis

Multiple Choice

A correct path that nitrogen could take would be

• air -> animals -> plants -> bacteria

• animals -> air -> bacteria -> plants

• bacteria -> air -> plants -> animals

• air -> bacteria -> plants -> animals

Multiple Choice

What is the formula for atmospheric nitrogen?

• N

• N₂

• NH₃

• NO₃

Multiple Choice

How do animals get the nitrogen they need?

• From the air they breathe

• From the water they drink

• From the food they eat

• From the sun

Multiple Choice

What converts nitrogen gas into a usable form for plants and animals?

• bacteria

• rain

• fungi

• car exhaust

Multiple Choice

Nitrification happens in the ______

• Air 
• Soil 
• Ground Water 
• Plants 

Multiple Choice

The process in which Nitrogen circulates and is recycled is called ____________

• The nitrogen cycle
• The water cycle
• The carbon cycle
• Nitrogen Fixation 

Multiple Choice

What happens when organisms die and decay? 

• Their bodies are lifted up
• Their nitrogen returns to the soil
• they keep their nitrogen
• They stay on earth forever

Multiple Choice

After plants and animals contain nitrogen, what puts it back into atmosphere and soil?

• decomposition
• precipitation
• condensation
• bacteria

Multiple Choice

Plants and animals cannot use nitrogen directly from the air.

• True
• False

Multiple Choice

Organisms that need nitrogen to survive

• only plants
• only animals
• only bacteria
• all living organisms

Multiple Choice

Organisms that break down dead plants & animals and release nitrogen back into atmosphere...

• bacteria
• plants
• animals
• producers

Multiple Choice

How much of the atmosphere is composed of nitrogen gas?

• 87%
• 38%
• 78%
• 21%

Multiple Choice

How much of the atmosphere is composed of nitrogen gas?

• 87%
• 38%
• 78%
• 21%

Multiple Choice

In general, algal blooms occur when

• toxins accumulate in shellfish.

• nutrients decrease in the water.

• nutrients increase in the water.

Multiple Choice

An algal bloom is the rapid growth of a population of

• fungi

• protozoans

• algae

Multiple Choice

Too much phosphorus in waterways (rivers, lakes) can lead to___________.

• eutrophication

• Nothing

• Death

• diseases

Multiple Choice

Which of the following statements is true of the phosphorus cycle?

• Phosphorus enters the atmosphere as phosphates.
• The phosphorus cycle utilizes the processes of erosion, and weathering.
• Phosphates are used in carbohydrate and glucose storage.
• The phosphorus cycle utilizes bacteria to breakdown phosphates and make them available for plants.

Multiple Choice

_____ brings phosphorous into our waterways. .

• precipitation
• runoff
• transpiration
• condensation

Multiple Choice

True or false: Phosphorous can enter the atmosphere

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

What is the phosphorus' symbol on the periodic table?

• P

• pH

• Ph

• H

Multiple Choice

Which nutrient is not cycled through the atmosphere and stays only on ground level?

• carbon
• nitrogen
• phosphorus
• water

Multiple Choice

This is released by the weathering of rocks.

• Carbon
• Oxygen
• Phosphorus
• Nitrogen

Multiple Choice

What role do decomposers play in the phosphorous cycle?

• absorb phosphorous 
• release phosphorous into atmosphere
• return phosphorous into the soil
• combustion

Multiple Choice

Phosphorous is passed from plants to ____ who eat them

• plants
• animals
• scavengers

Multiple Choice

This is NOT a part of the phosphorus cycle.

• Phosphate is incorporated into sedimentary rocks

• Phosphate bound to soil

• Atmospheric phosphate

• Phosphate is absorbed from the soil by plants

Multiple Choice

What nutrients increase the rate of algae growth and reproduction in aquatic ecosystems?

• nitrates and phosphates

• sulfates and ammoniates

• philates and sulfates

• phosphates and communicates

Multiple Choice

What causes eutrophication of a lake?

• a dramatic drop in phosphate and nitrate levels

• a dramatic increase in phosphate and nitrate levels

• increased indicator tests taken at the lake

• a high fish population in the lake

Multiple Choice

Which statement best explains this image?

• The west coast is the source of the most nutrients due to colonization and development of land.

• The midwest is the source of most nutrients due to farming and fertilizer use.

• The east coast is the source of most nutrients due to flooding of fields.

Multiple Choice

Fertilizer, sewage, and animal feces can wash in to water, leading to...

• thermal pollution

• eutrophication

• photosynthesis

• noise pollution

Multiple Choice

An increase in the amount of nutrients in a lake is known as

• calcification

• cellular respiration

• eutrophication

• photosynthesis

Multiple Choice

The size of dead zones will ________ with more nitrogen run-off.

• Increase

• Stay the same

• Decrease

Multiple Choice

The long term effects of a dead zone includes all of the following except for

• Fisherman may struggle to catch any fish.

• The crops of farmers stop growing.

• The health of the fish population declines.

• There is an increase in the population of decomposers such as bacteria.

Multiple Choice

In a dead zone, _________ levels are really low such that living organisms are not able survive.

• nitrogen

• oxygen

• fertilizer

• carbon dioxide

Multiple Choice

True or False: Fertilizers used for growing crops always stay within the boundaries of the farm.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is NOT a source of nitrates and phosphates into a river?

• Fertilizers

• Animal waste

• Wastewater

• Burning fossil fuels