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Environmental Nutrient Cycles

Total questions: 130

Worksheet time: 1hrs 16mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

How does water leave the ocean?

a)

Precipitation

b)

Transpiration

c)

Evaporation

d)

Vapor transport

2.

What is the 10% rule?

(a)  

3.

What is trophic collapse?

a)

An ecosystem collapses due to human intervention

b)

Climate change

c)

Too many predators

d)

Changing a trophic level damages the ecosystem

4.

What is an invasive species?

a)

A non-native species

b)

A non-native species that damages the ecosystem

c)

A non-native species with no predators

d)

A native species

5.

Which of these is NOT part of the nitrogen cycle?

a)

Combustion

b)

Decomposition

c)

Fixation

d)

Nitrification

6.

Where does nitrogen fixation happen?

a)

The atmosphere

b)

In the body

c)

In the soil

d)

In the roots of a plant

7.

Are you Trick or Treating this year?

a)

Yeah, I totally will.

b)

Nahhh... I'm too old for that.

8.

Which cycle does cellular respiration fit into?

a)

The water cycle

b)

The carbon cycle

c)

The nitrogen cycle

9.

Which cycle does photosynthesis fit into?

a)

The water cycle

b)

The carbon cycle

c)

The Nitrogen cycle

10.

How do humans alter the carbon cycle?

a)

Fossil fuels

b)

Eating

c)

Destroying decomposers

d)

Respiration

11.

How does water leave the atmosphere?

a)

Condensation

b)

Transpiration

c)

Precipitation

d)

Percolation

12.

How would surface runoff contribute to pollution in a lake?

a)

Water washes pollutants into the lake

b)

It wouldn't. Pollutants don't move through the water cycle.

c)

Pollutants are already present in the lake

13.

Which substance in the nitrogen cycle would be in excess if there were no decomposers?

a)

Nitrates

b)

Nitrites

c)

Ammonia

d)

N2

14.
What is it called when water vapor cools and changes into a liquid?
a)
condensation
b)
respiration
c)
precipitation
d)
evaporation
15.
The three steps of the water cycle include:
a)
condensation, precipitation, filtration
b)
filtration, irrigation, evaporation
c)
precipitation, condensation, evaporation
d)
precipitation, filtration, evaporation
16.
Which of the following is NOT part of the carbon cycle?
a)
condensation
b)
photosynthesis
c)
combustion
d)
respiration
17.
Which of these is the greatest cause of harmful levels of carbon in the atmosphere?
a)
respiration
b)
combustion
c)
photosynthesis
d)
decomposition
18.
The process of plants losing water through their leaves is called ____.
a)
condensation
b)
evaporation
c)
transpiration
d)
exhaling
19.
What is the only process that removes carbon from the atmosphere?
a)
combustion
b)
cellular respiration
c)
photosynthesis
d)
decomposition
20.
Where is carbon stored in the environment?
a)
Fossil fuels
b)
Wood of trees
c)
Calcium carbonate (shells and bones)
d)
All of the above
21.
These gases, such as carbon dioxide, trap heat in the Earth's atmosphere causing global warming
a)
Global warming gases
b)
Hot House gases
c)
Green House gases
d)
Thermal pollution
22.

The carbon in coal, oil, and natural gas came from

a)

the combustion of fossil fuels

b)

the remains of dead organisms

c)

carbon-fixing bacteria in swamp soil

d)

carbon dioxide dissolved in ocean water

23.
Green plants are
a)
producers
b)
consumers
c)
herbivores
d)
omnivores
24.
What are the four most important materials needed by living organisms?
a)
water, carbon, oxygen, nitrogen
b)
water, food, oxygen, carbon
c)
water, carbon, nitrogen, phosphorous
d)
water, carbon, food, phosphorous
25.
An underground layer of rocks or sand that can hold groundwater.
a)
watershed
b)
levee
c)
aquifer
d)
erosion
26.
An area or ridge of land that separates waters flowing to different rivers, basins, or seas.
a)
watershed
b)
levee
c)
aquifer
d)
erosion
27.
How much of the Earth's water is stored in the oceans?
a)
50%
b)
67%
c)
97%
d)
85%
28.
This is essential to living organisms, it is found in nucleic acid and amino acids.
a)
Nitrogen
b)
Carbon
c)
Water
d)
Phosphorous
29.
This is part of nucleic acids, ATP, and helps form animals' bones and teeth.
a)
Nitrogen
b)
Carbon
c)
Water
d)
Phosphorous
30.
The conversion of ammonium to nitrate is called what?
a)
nitrification
b)
renitrification
c)
denitrification
d)
unnitrification
31.
The conversion of nitrate to nitrogen gas is called what?
a)
nitrification
b)
renitrification
c)
denitrification
d)
unnitrification
32.
What is it called when water vapor cools and changes into a liquid?
a)
condensation
b)
respiration
c)
precipitation
d)
evaporation
33.
Where would you find most of the Earth's phosphorous?
a)
In the atmosphere
b)
Underwater
c)
on the Earth's surface
d)
Underground
34.
Which of the following is NOT a stage of the nitrogen cycle?
a)
organisms breathe in nitrogen gas
b)
organisms release nitrogen compounds via waste or decomposition
c)
bacteria convert unusable nitrogen to usable nitrogen
d)
plants absorb nitrogen compounds from the soil
35.
The three steps of the water cycle include:
a)
condensation, precipitation, filtration
b)
filtration, irrigation, evaporation
c)
precipitation, condensation, evaporation
d)
precipitation, filtration, evaporation
36.
Which of the following is NOT part of the carbon cycle?
a)
condensation
b)
photosynthesis
c)
combustion
d)
respiration
37.
Which of these is the greatest cause of harmful levels of carbon in the atmosphere?
a)
respiration
b)
combustion
c)
photosynthesis
d)
decomposition
38.
Which of these steps is part of the nitrogen cycle AND the phosphorous cycle?
a)
it starts off inside underwater rocks and dirt
b)
bacteria convert it into organic compounds
c)
animals leaving waste and death and decay release it back into the soil
d)
rain water and ocean waves break off pieces, putting it back into the ecosystem
39.
Which of these is in both the carbon cycle AND the phosphorous cycle?
a)
erosion
b)
respiration
c)
photosynthesis
d)
combustion
40.
Which type of bacteria would transform nitrate into nitrogen gas?
a)
nitrogen-fixing
b)
denitrifying
c)
nitrifying
d)
nitrogen-defixing
41.
Bacteria that cause nitrification in the soil cause nitrogen to change from _________ to _________.
a)
nitrogen gas; ammonia
b)
nitrogen gas; organic nitrogen
c)
ammonia; nitrate
d)
nitrate; ammonia
42.
Which of these is NOT a step of the carbon cycle?
a)
erosion
b)
respiration
c)
nitrification
d)
photosynthesis
43.
Which of these is a step in the carbon cycle, the nitrogen cycle, and the phosphorous cycle?
a)
condensation
b)
decomposition
c)
respiration
d)
photosynthesis
44.
The process of plants losing water through their leaves is called ____.
a)
condensation
b)
evaporation
c)
transpiration
d)
exhaling
45.
What is the only process that removes carbon from the atmosphere?
a)
combustion
b)
cellular respiration
c)
photosynthesis
d)
decomposition
46.
Where is carbon stored in the environment?
a)
Fossil fuels
b)
Wood of trees
c)
Calcium carbonate (shells and bones)
d)
All of the above
47.
These gases, such as carbon dioxide, trap heat in the Earth's atmosphere causing global warming
a)
Global warming gases
b)
Hot House gases
c)
Green House gases
d)
Thermal pollution
48.
A particular golf course is using large amounts of nitrogen fertilizer. What process could move this nitrogen into a local stream?
a)
volatilization
b)
nitrogen fixation
c)
runoff
d)
ammonification
49.
What converts nitrogen into a useable form for plants and animals?
a)
bacteria
b)
fungi
c)
rain
50.

What cycle are fossil fuels part of ?

a)

carbon

b)

oxygen

c)

nitrogen

d)

phosphorus

51.

What is the largest reservoir for water?

a)

the ocean

b)

rocks and minerals

c)

the atmosphere

d)

glaciers

52.

What is the largest reservoir for nitrogen?

a)

the ocean

b)

rocks and minerals

c)

the atmosphere

d)

bacteria

53.
Carbon dioxide is added to the atmosphere by
a)
Burning fossil fuels 
b)
Cellular respiration
c)
Decomposing organic matter
d)
All answers are correct
54.

In an ecosystem, what happens to the atoms of certain chemical elements, such as carbon, oxygen, and nitrogen?

a)

They move into and out of living systems.

b)

They are only found in abiotic factors.

c)

They move out of living systems and do not return.

d)

They move into living systems and remain there.

55.

The carbon in coal, oil, and natural gas came from

a)

the combustion of fossil fuels

b)

the remains of dead organisms

c)

carbon-fixing bacteria in swamp soil

d)

carbon dioxide dissolved in ocean water

56.

Nitrogen fixation is the process in which certain bacteria convert nitrogen gas into

a)

liquid nitrogen

b)

nitrates

c)

nitrites

d)

ammonia

57.

The water cycle is driven by

a)

water

b)

wind

c)

the sun

d)

Earth's rotation

58.

A place where matter/nutrients are collected/stored.

a)

A lake

b)

A reservoir

c)

A cloud

d)

The atmosphere

59.

Law of conservation of mass states that

a)

matter is neither created nor destroyed

b)

matter is destroyed

c)

matter is created

d)

matter does not change

60.
An oreo cookie weighs 20 grams.  It gets crushed into crumbs for a recipe.  How much do its crumbs weigh?
a)
15 grams
b)
25 grams
c)
20 grams
61.

A mosquito with a mass of 2.5 grams dies and is decomposed. How much of its matter is either used by the decomposer or returned to the Earth?

a)

10%

b)

0%

c)

100%

d)

50%

62.

What is a Biogeochemical Cycle?

a)

How energy flows through ecosystems.

b)

How the sunlight is transform into heat.

c)

The ways in which an element moves in the Biosphere.

d)

None of these.

63.
What is the only process that removes carbon from the atmosphere?
a)
combustion
b)
cellular respiration
c)
photosynthesis
d)
decomposition
64.
What converts nitrogen into a useable form for plants and animals?
a)
bacteria
b)
fungi
c)
rain
65.
Which nutrient is not cycled through the atmosphere?
a)
carbon
b)
nitrogen
c)
phosphorous
d)
water
66.

Photosynthesis is an important part of the ______ cycle

a)

Carbon

b)

Water

c)

Phosphorus

d)

Nitrogen

67.

In evaporation, water _______

a)

turns from a liquid state to vapor (gas)

b)

falls from the sky like rain or snow

c)

forms clouds

d)

gets locked into ice

68.
How do animals get nitrogen?
a)
the atmosphere 
b)
eating other organisms
c)
rainwater
d)
lightning 
69.
When humans burn fossil fuels, most of the carbon quickly enters the                       as carbon dioxide.
a)
Water
b)
Atmosphere
c)
Sun
d)
Air
70.
During which phase of the nitrogen cycle is nitrogen gas returned to the atmosphere?
a)
Ammonification
b)
Nitrogen fixation
c)
Nitrification
d)
Denitrification
71.
During which phase of the nitrogen cycle are nitrates taken up into plant roots?
a)
Ammonification
b)
Assimilation
c)
Nitrificaiton
d)
Denitrification
72.
Which of the following events removes water from the atmosphere?
a)
Precipitation
b)
Evaporation
c)
Infiltration
d)
Run off
73.
What does a food web represent?
a)
All connections of energy flow throughout all organisms in a habitat.
b)
The specific ways that mutualism is carried out.
c)
A single pathway or energy flow between organisms. 
d)
How carnivores get their food. 
74.
The image provided is an example of a(n):
a)
Producer
b)
Autotroph
c)
Consumer
d)
Insect
75.

In the food web above, what organism is a tertiary consumer?

a)

Fox

b)

Frog

c)

Vole

d)

Grass

76.
In the energy pyramid here, how much of the energy in each level gets lost as heat or used by the organism for survival?
a)
80%
b)
90%
c)
10%
d)
20%
77.
If these organisms were arranged in an ecological biomass pyramid, which organism would have the least amount of biomass?
a)
coyote
b)
insect
c)
lizard
d)
shrub
78.
The diagram represents a pyramid of energy in an ecosystem.  Which level would most likely contain organisms that do photosynthesis?
a)
A
b)
B
c)
C
d)
D
79.

The amount of energy stored by the primary consumers is 54,000 joules..

Based on this model, how much of the energy was provided to the secondary consumers?

a)

53,460 joules

b)

5,400 joules

c)

540 joules

d)

54 joules

80.

Eutrophication is defined as a change that occurs to an aquatic ecosystem. This change is mainly due to what?

a)

Newly introduced fish

b)

Depletion of the ozone layer

c)

Increased nutrient concentration

d)

Increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide.

81.
In the carbon cycle, atmospheric carbon dioxide is converted into organic material by which process?
a)
cellular respiration
b)
decomposition
c)
photosynthesis
d)
transpiration
82.
Which environmental concern is most associated with burning fossil fuels?
a)
global climate change
b)
pollution of ocean waters
c)
ozone layer destruction
d)
decrease in levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide
83.
Which environmental factor would cause the greatest decrease in the number of species of plants and animals living in some of the lakes in the United States?
a)
increase in dissolved oxygen levels
b)
global warming
c)
ozone destruction
d)
acid rain
84.
Which human activity would most likely deplete nonrenewable resources?
a)
use of natural enemies to eliminate insect pests
b)
development of wildlife refuges 
c)
governmental restriction of industrial pollution 
d)
increased use of fossil fuels
85.
In what process is Carbon transformed into chemical energy?
a)
Photosynthesis
b)
Respiration
c)
Primary Production
d)
Secondary Production
86.
Which of the following add carbon dioxide to the atmosphere?
a)
volcanoes
b)
combustion of fossil fuels
c)
animal and plant respiration
d)
all of these
87.

How does carbon in a grass plant get into a lion?

a)

The lion breathes in carbon given out by the plant.

b)

Carbon from grass doesn't end up in a lion.

c)

The carbon ends up in the food the lion eats.

88.
Why does too much carbon dioxide in the atmosphere cause climate change?
a)
It cools down our planet
b)
It blocks out UV rays
c)
It traps heat and warms up our planet
d)
It lets sunlight escape
89.
Organisms that need nitrogen to survive
a)
only plants
b)
only animals
c)
only bacteria
d)
all living organisms
90.
How nitrogen is "fixed" into useable form for plants...
a)
through action of bacteria only
b)
through lightning only
c)
through action of bacteria & lightning
d)
through photosynthesis
91.
What is the process of combining nitrogen gas with other elements to make nitrogen into usable compounds?
a)
nitrogen composition
b)
ammonia 
c)
nitrogen fixation
d)
denitrification
92.
A group of ecosystems with  the same climate and  communities (desert, grassland, rainforest)
a)
Biosphere
b)
Ecosystem
c)
Biome
d)
Community
93.
Nonliving parts of an ecosystem
a)
Biotic
b)
Abiotic
c)
Prebiotic
d)
Nonbiotic
94.
The living parts of an ecosystem
a)
Biotic
b)
Abiotic
c)
Antibiotic
d)
Probiotic
95.

Which of the following has the levels of organization in the correct order?

a)

Population - Species - Community - Ecosystem - Biome - Biospehere

b)

Species - Population - Community - Ecosystem - Biome - Biosphere

c)

Species - Community - Population - Biome - Ecosystem - Biospehre

d)

Community - Population - Species - Biome - Ecosystem - Biosphere

96.

A group of the same species living in the same area.

a)

Individual

b)

Ecosystem

c)

Population

d)

Community

97.

Many species living together and interacting in the same area.

a)

Individual

b)

Community

c)

Ecosystem

d)

Population

98.

What do we call the region of the globe that supports life?

a)

atmosphere

b)

geosphere

c)

biosphere

d)

aquasphere

99.

All of the interacting living species in an area make up a biological

a)

population

b)

ecosystem

c)

community

d)

biome

100.

A close relationship between two species where on benefits and the other is harmed is referred to as

a)

mutualism

b)

parasitism

c)

commensalism

d)

egotism

101.

The nonliving things in an environment on which the living things depend are called ___________ factors

a)

ecological

b)

nicnhe

c)

biotic

d)

abiotic

102.

A(n)_____________ is made up a biological community and all of the abiotic factors that affect it.

a)

biosphere

b)

ecosystem

c)

population

d)

organism

103.

The complex role of a species or an organism in an environment is referred to as its___________________

a)

habitat

b)

habit

c)

niche

d)

biome

104.

An organism that cannot make its own food and gets its nutrients from feeding on other organisms is called a(n)______________.

a)

autotroph

b)

herbivore

c)

omnivore

d)

heterotroph

105.

An organism that uses the energy of sunlight or inorganic chemicals to produce its own "food" is called a(n)____________.

a)

autotroph

b)

heterotroph

c)

omnivore

d)

carnivore

106.

A heterotroph that feeds primarily on living plant material is called a(n)_______________.

a)

omnivore

b)

carnivore

c)

herbivore

d)

detritivore

107.

A deer that feeds on the acorns from an oak tree is an example of a(n)_______________.

a)

First order consumer

b)

Second order consumer

c)

Third order consumer

d)

Producer

108.

Why do plants and animals need nitrogen?

a)

To produce proteins

b)

To store energy

c)

To digest food

d)

To conduct photosynthesis

109.

Where does the carbon come from that plants use?

a)

Animals

b)

Water

c)

Air

d)

Wisconsin

110.
What does every food chain start with?
a)
producers
b)
sun
c)
consumer
d)
decomposers
111.
Use the diagram to answer the question.
The Mayfly is a food source for which 3 organisms?
a)
Frog, Dragon Fly and snake
b)
Frog, trout and dragon fly
c)
Frog, salamander and trout
d)
Frog and phytoplankton
112.
What gas is released by plants during photosynthesis?
a)
sulfur
b)
carbon dioxide
c)
oxygen
d)
hydrogen
113.
If there is 1000 Kcal available in the producers in trophic level 1, how much energy is available in the herbivores in trophic level 2?
a)
10 Kcal
b)
1 Kcal
c)
100 Kcal
d)
1000 Kcal
114.
In this food web, which two organisms could be harmed if the mouse population were to decrease?
a)
Deer and caterpillar
b)
Wolf and snake
c)
Oak and grass
d)
Hawk and songbird
115.

Most of the nitrogen on earth is atmospheric nitrogen gas. Nitrogen gas cannot be used by most life. What process converts it into usable nitrogen and which organisms do this?

a)

Predation, wolves

b)

Digestion, all animals

c)

Nitrogen Fixation, bacteria

d)

Denitrification, bacteria

116.

Pseudoscorpions often hitch rides on the backs of large beetles or true bugs. What is the ecological relationship?

a)

Mutualism

b)

Commensalism

c)

Parasitism

d)

Competition

117.
A clownfish uses a sea anenome as a safe place to live. While living there, the clownfish lures in food for the anenome. This is an example of what type of relationship?
a)
Predator-Prey
b)
Commensalism
c)
Mutualism
d)
Parasitism
118.

True or False: Halloween sells more candy than Valentine's Day

a)

True

b)

False

119.
True or False?
Trick-or-treating was popularized as a way to reduce town-wide pranking and vandalism.
a)
True
b)
False
120.

More than 93% of kids under the age of _____ go trick or treating.

a)

15

b)

10

c)

11

d)

12

121.

What is the most popular candy in the United States?

a)

Reese's Peanut Butter Cups

b)

Skittles

c)

Twix

d)

Snickers

122.

Which state produces the most amount of pumpkins per year?

a)

California

b)

New York

c)

Illinois

d)

Hawaii

123.

The first Jack-O-Lanterns were made with____

a)

Turnips

b)

pumkins

c)

potato

d)

pinapple

124.

On average, how many licks does it take to get to the center of a tootsie pop?

a)

50

b)

75

c)

150

d)

252

125.

What percentage of parent's steal their kid's halloween candy?

a)

50%

b)

75%

c)

90%

d)

0%

126.

The word Halloween means_________

a)

tiny pumkins

b)

All hallow's eve

c)

Scary monsters

d)

the night of fright

127.

How many times do you have to say Beetlejuice to get him to show up?

a)

1

b)

2

c)

3

d)

4

128.

Is a pumpkin a fruit or a vegetable?

a)

Vegetable

b)

Fruit

129.
Which is the correct order of colors for a piece of candy corn?
a)
A
b)
B
c)
C
d)
D
130.
Which of these was the first "fun size" candy?
a)
Hershey's
b)
Kit Kat
c)
Twix
d)
Snickers

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