Test Review Questions; Cycling of Matter Flashcards
(15 cards)
Why must chemical elements be recycled?
Limit of resources, recycling ensure there is enough for everyone.
What processes are involved in Carbon-Hydrogen-Oxygen cycles?
Photosynthesis, respiration, combustion, and decomposition
Hydrologic Cycle in detail
Evaporation (water changes from liquid to gas), condensation (water vapor changes to liquid), precipitation (waters fall back to Earth as rain, snow, hail, etc), runoff (water flows over land), infiltration (water seeps into the ground, and transpiration (water moves from plants to the atmosphere).
Carbon Cycle in detail?
Photosynthesis (plants convert carbon dioxide into organic matter), respiration (organisms release carbon dioxide), decomposition (breakdown of organic matter), fossil fuel formation, and ocean exchange.
Nitrogen Cycle in detail
Nitrogen fixation (conversion of atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms), nitrification (conversion of ammonia to nitrate), denitrification (conversion of nitrate to nitrogen gas), and ammonification (conversion of organic nitrogen to ammonia).
Phosphorus Cycle in detail?
Weathering of rocks (releases phosphorus into soil), plant uptake, animal consumption, decomposition, and runoff.
Why are leguminous (beans) plants rotated on farms?
they enrich the soil with nitrogen, a crucial nutrient for plant growth, and help suppress weeds
Decomposers break down nitrogen compounds and release…?
Ammonium ions
What is the role of bacteria in the nitrogen cycle?
Converting atmospheric nitrogen into forms usable by plants and other organisms
What 2 life functions of animals help maintain the water cycle?
Excretion and Respiration
How is nitrogen in cells of plants and animals first released with help of what organism?
Decomposers such as bacteria and fungi
What is the role of plants in the nitrogn cycle?
Absorbing nitrogen from the soil in the form of nitrate and ammonium, using it for growth, and then releasing it back into the cycle when they decompose
What is the role of plants in the Hydrologic Cycle?
Influencing water movement and availability through transpiration, soil stabilization, and water shortage.
What is the role of plants in the Carbon Cycle
Absorbing CO2 from the atmosphere through photosynthesis.
What is the role of plants in the Phosphorus Cycle?
Absorbing inorganic phosphate from the soil, transoforming it into organic compounds, and then transferring it to other organisms when they are consumed or decompose.
