Cycling of Matter

Question 1

Biomass

Answer 1

Biomass Material from living or recently living organisms, composed of a mixture of organic molecules containing hydrogen, carbon, often nitrogen, and small quantities of other atoms

Question 2

Compost Bin

Answer 2

A container for piles of biomass to promote decomposition and decay resulting in a recyclable fertilizer

Question 3

Decomposers

Answer 3

Organisms such as bacteria and fungi that break down dead organisms and organic wastes

Question 4

Decay

Answer 4

To break down or decompose

Question 5

Carbon Cycle

Answer 5

The movement of carbon from the nonliving environment into living things and back

Question 6

Nitrogen Cycle

Answer 6

The movement of nitrogen from the nonliving environment into living things and back

Question 7

Water Cycle

Answer 7

The movement of water through the atmosphere, the ground, bodies of water, and living things; the continuous movement of water above, on, and below Earth’s surface

Question 8

Detritivores

Answer 8

An organism like the earthworm that feeds on the decaying matter after it has been broken down by decomposers

Question 9

Consumers

Answer 9

Organisms that eat producers or other consumers to obtain energy

Question 10

Bacteria

Answer 10

Bacteria are important decomposers; they are widely distributed and can break down just about any type of organic matter

Question 11

Fungi

Answer 11

The primary decomposers of litter in manyecosystems, fungi grow a branching network ofhyphae which can penetrate larger pieces of organic matter and create theenzymesnecessary to decomposelignin, a chemically complex substance found in wood

Question 12

Thermal Energy

Answer 12

Thermal energy is the portion of the internal energy that is responsible for a system’s temperature.

Question 13

Carbon Dioxide

Answer 13

Enters the leaves of plants and is used in the photosynthesis process; exhaled by animals as waste from respiration

Question 14

Glucose

Answer 14

A molecule with stored chemical energy that was converted from radiant energy during the photosynthetic reaction

Question 15

Organic Compounds

Answer 15

A compound that contains organic carbon and other atoms usually oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, phosphorus, and/or sulfur

Question 16

Microorganisms

Answer 16

An organism too small to be seen by the unaided human eye, such as bacteria and fungi

Question 17

Dry Weight

Answer 17

A measurement of the mass of something when completely dried

Question 18

Photosynthesis

Answer 18

Process by which plant cells make food using water, carbon dioxide, and light from the Sun

Question 19

Grazing Food Web

Answer 19

Energy flows from producers to consumers and finally to decomposers

Question 20

Detrital Food Web

Answer 20

Energy from producers flows directly to decomposers as detritus or waste. The decomposers in turn break down the organic matter, furnishing food and energy for consumers.

Question 21

Terrestrial Biosphere

Answer 21

A collective term for all living organisms on land

Question 22

Hydrosphere

Answer 22

All the waters on Earth’s surface, such as lakes and seas

Question 23

Limestone

Answer 23

A common sedimentary rock consisting mostly of calcium carbonate

Question 24

Calcium Carbonate Rocks

Answer 24

A colorless or white crystalline compound, CaCO3, occurring naturally as chalk, limestone, or marble

Question 25

Peat Moss

Answer 25

A spongy plant that grows in very wet places, especially bogs. The leaves of peat moss have large dead cells surrounded by smaller living ones; the dead cells easily absorb water up to 20 times their dry weight.

Question 26

Respiration

Answer 26

The transport of oxygen from the outside air to the cells within tissues and the transport of carbon dioxide in the opposite direction

Question 27

Methane

Answer 27

An odorless, colorless, flammable gas, CH4 , the major constituent of natural gas and one of the simplest organic compounds