Deck 27: Biogeochemical Cycles

Question 1

The movement of chemicals through ecosystems occurs through

A) Gross primary production
B) Biogeochemical cycles
C) Geobiochemical cycles
D) Biomagnification
E) Physiochemical cycles

Answer 1

Biogeochemical cycles

Question 2

How does DDT in the environment affect many birds?

A) It poisons them
B) It causes chronic liver failure
C) It causes egg shell thinning and breaking
D) It reduces the number of prey
E) It causes neurological degeneration

Answer 2

It causes egg shell thinning and breaking

Question 3

DDT stands for

A) Diethyldiphenyltrichloroethane
B) Diethanedichlorotriethylmethane
C) Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane
D) Dibenzyldiethyltrimethylethane
E) Diphenyldichlorotriethylmethane

Answer 3

Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane

Question 4

Which nutrient does not cycle globally?

A) Carbon
B) Water
C) Nitrogen
D) Phosphorus
E) Sulfur

Question 5

Atmospheric carbon exhibits a turnover in ___ years.

A) 1-2
B) 3-4
C) 6-10
D) 10-20
E) 20-50

Question 6

Stiling and Drake conducted experiments about the effects, if any, of elevated CO₂ on plant growth and insect herbivory. What did they find?

A) Increased plant growth but no change in insect herbivory
B) No change in plant growth but elevated insect herbivory
C) Increased plant growth but reduced insect herbivory
D) Increased plant growth and increased insect herbivory
E) No change in either plant growth or insect herbivory

Question 7

Ammonification is the conversion of ______________ to NH₃ and NH₄

A) Living plant and animal matter
B) Nitrites
C) Inorganic nitrogen
D) Nitrates
E) Dead plant and animal matter

Question 8

What follows nitrogen fixation in the nitrogen cycle?

A) Nitrification
B) Ammonification
C) Assimilation
D) Denitrification
E) Decombustion

Question 9

If a forested area surrounding a stream is cleared of trees, what has been found to happen?

A) Increased import of nutrients to the soil
B) Decreased rates of soil and rock weathering
C) Increased run-off of water
D) Decreased rates of chemical leaching
E) Increased denitrification

Question 10

The amount of carbon released into the atmosphere from soil respiration, by microbes, is about the same as the amount of carbon absorbed from the atmosphere by plants.