Ecology Unit 4 Learning Objectives

which of the following are major reservoirs of the carbon cycle? select all that apply.

• oceans

• vegetation + soils

• atmosphere

• fossil fuels

• Earth's crust

which of the following describes how carbon can move from the ocean to the atmosphere?

• runoff

• photosynthesis

• burning of fossil fuels

• diffusion

describe the carbon cycle.

• when three or more people toss carbon atoms back and forth in a circular pattern

• the manner in which nitrogen is cycled globally

• the movement of carbon between atmospheric, terrestrial, and oceanic pools over weeks to decades

rank the causes of carbon flux from smallest to largest.

• photosynthesis

  respiration

  atmosphere-ocean flux

• atmosphere-ocean flux

  respiration

  photosynthesis

• atmosphere-ocean flux

  photosynthesis

  respiration

• photosynthesis

  atmosphere-ocean flux

  respiration

which of the following are ways that humans influence the carbon cycle? select all that apply.

• burning fossil fuels

• deforestation

• industrial activity

• having a regular sleep schedule

why is nitrogen a limiting factor for plant growth?

• because nitrogen is an essential nutrient for plants to survive, but they cannot utilize its gaseous form

• because some plants use up too much gaseous nitrogen, making it less available for other plants

• nitrogen is not a limiting factor for plant growth.

what are the key pools of the ecosystem-level nitrogen cycle? select all that apply.

• atmosphere

• soils

• biomass

• marine biota

which of the following are biologically mediated nutrient transformations in the nitrogen cycle that are also key fluxes? select all that apply

• burning fossil fuels

• nitrogen fixation

• denitrification

• dental technician

how can human modifications to the nitrogen cycle lead to changes in an ecosystem?

• activities like making fertilizer can lead to too much nitrogen in an ecosystem

• the use of cement makes up about 8% of the global total of carbon dioxide

• humans are not able to modify the nitrogen cycle due to the lack of ability to perform nitrogen fixation

what is ocean acidification?

• the process of ocean water becoming warmer due to climate change

• the process of ocean water becoming more acidic due to the absorption of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

• the process of ocean water becoming more basic due to the release of ammonia

• the process of ocean water becoming less salty due to excessive rainfall