Question 1

A process where different microbial taxa work in cooperation to degrade a compound that neither can perform entirely on their own is called

Accepted Answer

A)  allotrophy. 
B)  ammensalism. 
C)  commensalism. 
D)  syntrophy. 
A)  allotrophy. 
B)  ammensalism. 
C)  commensalism. 
D)  syntrophy. D

Question 2

Mercury-resistant bacteria detoxify mercury by producing Hg⁰.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  True

Question 3

Denitrification of fertilizer can result in harmful algal blooms.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  False

Question 4

Why is the water solubility of different nitrogen species of importance to agriculturalists? What processes in the nitrogen cycle are LEAST beneficial to agricultural production of crops?

Accepted Answer

If a particular nitrogen species is high

Question 5

In a global sense,ALL nutrient cycles are coupled together.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

Agricultural application of nitrogen fertilizer

Accepted Answer

A)  reduces global warming by increasing the storage of carbon dioxide in plant biomass. 
B)  increases global warming by increasing microbial respiration in agricultural soils. 
C)  increases global warming by increasing the production of nitrous oxide (N₂O) by denitrification in agricultural soils. 
D)  has little to no effect on the carbon cycle. 
A)  reduces global warming by increasing the storage of carbon dioxide in plant biomass. 
B)  increases global warming by increasing microbial respiration in agricultural soils. 
C)  increases global warming by increasing the production of nitrous oxide (N₂O) by denitrification in agricultural soils. 
D)  has little to no effect on the carbon cycle.

Question 7

The oxidation of ________ occurs both biotically and abiotically; however,at ________ pH values biotic oxidation is more common.

Accepted Answer

A)  Si / low 
B)  ammonia / high 
C)  Fe²⁺ / low 
D)  Hgᵒ / low 
A)  Si / low 
B)  ammonia / high 
C)  Fe²⁺ / low 
D)  Hgᵒ / low

Question 8

Which statement exemplifies the biological pump concept?

Accepted Answer

A)  Autotrophs bring in light photons to synthesize ATP. 
B)  Bacteria oxidize Fe²⁺ into Fe³⁺, and Archaea reduce Fe³⁺ back into Fe²⁺. 
C)  Calcium ions are brought into cells while toxic physiological byproducts are released. 
D)  Primary producers sink to the deep ocean, which provides deep ocean organisms with nutrients when the primary producers die. 
A)  Autotrophs bring in light photons to synthesize ATP. 
B)  Bacteria oxidize Fe²⁺ into Fe³⁺, and Archaea reduce Fe³⁺ back into Fe²⁺. 
C)  Calcium ions are brought into cells while toxic physiological byproducts are released. 
D)  Primary producers sink to the deep ocean, which provides deep ocean organisms with nutrients when the primary producers die.

Question 9

Which compound in fertilizer do farmers use to inhibit the production of easily leached nitrogen compounds?

Accepted Answer

A)  anhydrous ammonia 
B)  carbonate 
C)  nitrapyrin 
D)  nitrate 
A)  anhydrous ammonia 
B)  carbonate 
C)  nitrapyrin 
D)  nitrate

Question 10

Silicoflagellates use silicon compounds in substrate-level phosphorylation.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

Energy yields are high enough for Fe²⁺ oxidation that the bacteria that perform this reaction require only small quantities of Fe²⁺ to be available.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

Abiotic oxidation of Fe²⁺ requires oxygen; no other chemicals can directly oxidize Fe²⁺.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

Phosphonate comprises 25% of the ________ phosphorous pool in marine environments.

Accepted Answer

A)  inorganic 
B)  organic 
C)  insoluble 
D)  biologically unavailable 
A)  inorganic 
B)  organic 
C)  insoluble 
D)  biologically unavailable

Question 14

Why is sulfur cycling more complex to study than other nutrient cycles such as the nitrogen cycle? How might this influence researchers whose primary research interest is in understanding sulfur cycling?

Accepted Answer

Most other nutrient cycles are either ex

Question 15

Coal contains substantial amounts of mercury.When coal is burned to generate heat or electricity,the mercury is released into the atmosphere.Most of this mercury is eventually deposited in the ocean or other aquatic environments.What happens to the mercury once it is deposited in the ocean?

Accepted Answer

Answers could include a diagram similar

Question 16

The Fe and Mn cycles include

Accepted Answer

A)  reduced and oxidized forms that are very chemically reactive. 
B)  large reservoirs of solid mineral forms that are chemically inert. 
C)  incorporation of Fe and Mn into the exoskeletons of diatoms and other alga. 
D)  toxic forms that can poison aquatic ecosystems if the cycles are imbalanced. 
A)  reduced and oxidized forms that are very chemically reactive. 
B)  large reservoirs of solid mineral forms that are chemically inert. 
C)  incorporation of Fe and Mn into the exoskeletons of diatoms and other alga. 
D)  toxic forms that can poison aquatic ecosystems if the cycles are imbalanced.

Question 17

The largest reservoir of methane is found

Accepted Answer

A)  trapped under permafrost and marine sediments. 
B)  in the rumen of cows and other ruminant animals. 
C)  in the atmosphere. 
D)  trapped in volcanic rocks. 
A)  trapped under permafrost and marine sediments. 
B)  in the rumen of cows and other ruminant animals. 
C)  in the atmosphere. 
D)  trapped in volcanic rocks.

Question 18

Most phosphorous,such as that found in inorganic phosphate (HPO₄⁻),exist in the +5 oxidation state in nature.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

Acetogens can ferment glucose into acetate,but methanogens cannot.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

Human activities have disrupted the carbon cycle by

Accepted Answer

A)  burning carbon stored as fossil fuels or biomass, thus increasing the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. 
B)  decreasing the primary productivity of the oceans, resulting in increased atmospheric carbon dioxide. 
C)  burning methane hydrates to produce electricity. 
D)  acidifying the ocean, resulting in the release of large amounts of dissolved carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. 
A)  burning carbon stored as fossil fuels or biomass, thus increasing the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. 
B)  decreasing the primary productivity of the oceans, resulting in increased atmospheric carbon dioxide. 
C)  burning methane hydrates to produce electricity. 
D)  acidifying the ocean, resulting in the release of large amounts of dissolved carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

Exam 20: Nutrient Cycles

A process where different microbial taxa work in cooperation to degrade a compound that neither can perform entirely on their own is called

Mercury-resistant bacteria detoxify mercury by producing Hg⁰.

Denitrification of fertilizer can result in harmful algal blooms.

Why is the water solubility of different nitrogen species of importance to agriculturalists? What processes in the nitrogen cycle are LEAST beneficial to agricultural production of crops?

In a global sense,ALL nutrient cycles are coupled together.

Agricultural application of nitrogen fertilizer

The oxidation of ________ occurs both biotically and abiotically; however,at ________ pH values biotic oxidation is more common.

Which statement exemplifies the biological pump concept?

Which compound in fertilizer do farmers use to inhibit the production of easily leached nitrogen compounds?

Silicoflagellates use silicon compounds in substrate-level phosphorylation.

Energy yields are high enough for Fe²⁺ oxidation that the bacteria that perform this reaction require only small quantities of Fe²⁺ to be available.

Abiotic oxidation of Fe²⁺ requires oxygen; no other chemicals can directly oxidize Fe²⁺.

Phosphonate comprises 25% of the ________ phosphorous pool in marine environments.

Why is sulfur cycling more complex to study than other nutrient cycles such as the nitrogen cycle? How might this influence researchers whose primary research interest is in understanding sulfur cycling?

Coal contains substantial amounts of mercury.When coal is burned to generate heat or electricity,the mercury is released into the atmosphere.Most of this mercury is eventually deposited in the ocean or other aquatic environments.What happens to the mercury once it is deposited in the ocean?

The Fe and Mn cycles include

The largest reservoir of methane is found

Most phosphorous,such as that found in inorganic phosphate (HPO₄⁻),exist in the +5 oxidation state in nature.

Acetogens can ferment glucose into acetate,but methanogens cannot.

Human activities have disrupted the carbon cycle by

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The oxidation of occurs both biotically and abiotically; however,at pH values biotic oxidation is more common.