Unit 3: Functioning Ecosystems. 3

What is the objective of studying biogeochemical cycles?

• To understand the transfer and transformation of matter in ecosystems

• To measure the amount of water in oceans

• To identify different species of plants

• To study the behavior of animals

What is the nutrient cycle?

• The food chain in a forest

• The migration pattern of birds

• The process of photosynthesis in plants

• The pathway an element travels between living and non-living components in an ecosystem

Why are biogeochemical cycles important?

• They are responsible for the growth of mountains

• They retain nutrients in usable forms for living organisms

• They help in the migration of animals

• They control the weather patterns

What percentage of water on Earth is found in oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands?

• 75%

• 50%

• 25%

• 98%

What powers the water cycle?

• Nuclear energy

• Solar energy

• Wind energy

• Geothermal energy

What happens when water vapor cools in the atmosphere?

• It disappears

• It turns into ice

• It evaporates further

• It forms liquid clouds

Why is phosphorus important?

• It is a major component of the atmosphere

• It is used in the production of fossil fuels

• It is essential for the formation of bones, teeth, and nucleic acids

• It helps in the process of photosynthesis

Where is phosphorus stored?

• In rocks

• In the atmosphere

• In living organisms

• In the ocean

How is phosphorus released from rocks?

• Wind erodes the rock

• Animals break the rock

• Water dissolves the rock

• Plants absorb the rock

What happens to phosphorus when living organisms die?

• It goes back into the soil/water

• It evaporates into the atmosphere

• It turns into carbon

• It remains in the dead organism