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9. Decomposition

Total questions: 10

Worksheet time: 5mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Important to the structural integrity of plant cells, but NOT a polysaccharide (chain of sugars):

a)

Chitin

b)

Lignin

c)

Cellulose

d)

Hemi-cellulose

2.

Important to the structural integrity of plant cells, this polysaccharide (chain of sugars) links cellulose and lignin:

a)

Peptidoglycan

b)

Protein

c)

Chitin

d)

Hemi-cellulose

3.

Which of these is likely to be converted to CO2 the slowest?

a)

Soluble carbohydrates

b)

Cellulose

c)

Lignin

d)

These all get converted to CO2 at the same rate

4.

Important to the structural integrity of plant cells and comprised of the reaction product from photosynthesis, this is the single most common polysaccharide (chain of sugars) in the world.

a)

Hemi-Cellulose

b)

Lignin

c)

Cellulose

d)

Chitin

5.

Which of these does not require enzymatic depolymerization and is therefore likely to be converted to CO2 the fastest?

a)

Simple sugars

b)

Cellulose

c)

Lignin

d)

Hemi-cellulose

6.
Why do soil microbes have to excrete their digestive enzymes to the outside of their cells?
a)
dead organic matter polymers are too large to pass through microbial membranes otherwise
b)
dead organic matter polymers often must be de-toxified prior to microbial uptake
c)
dead organic matter polymers contain a high proportion of low energy compounds that may be removed prior to microbial uptake
d)
dead organic matter polymers contain a high proportion of low nutrient compounds that may be removed prior to microbial uptake
7.
Within any particular climate, the rate of organic matter decomposition is primarily dependent upon
a)
the chemical composition of the organic matter
b)
which decomposer microbes are present
c)
the species diversity of the decomposer community
d)
the amount of sun- and ultraviolet light reaching the organic matter
8.

A soil's ability to retain organic matter is first and foremost a function of its:

a)

Age

b)

Parent Material

c)

Biotic community

d)

Climate

9.

Which of these is likely to be converted to CO2 the slowest?

a)

Root exudates

b)

Deciduous leaves

c)

Wood

d)

Roots

10.

At the global scale, across regions with variable precipitation, which climate variable is likely to be the best correlated with plant litter mass loss rates during the first year of decomposition?

a)

actual evapotranspiration rates

b)

precipitation

c)

potential evapotranspiration rates

d)

soil temperature