Cycle
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What term describes Earth's ability to maintain resources through natural cycles over time?
Sustainability
What is a factor that restricts the growth of a population called?
Limiting factor.
Which type of succession begins in an area without developed soil?
Primary succession.
What term describes the variety of living organisms in an ecosystem?
Biodiversity
What does the term ecological footprint measure?
The amount of biologically productive land and water needed to support resource use and absorb wastes.
What process produces most of the free oxygen in Earth's atmosphere?
Photosynthesis by plants and algae.
What type of population growth occurs when numbers increase rapidly under ideal conditions?
Exponential growth.
What type of succession happens after a disturbance when soil remains?
Secondary succession.
Does a rapid increase in only one species necessarily increase biodiversity?
No. Biodiversity depends on the variety of species, not just the number of organisms.
How can living in densely populated cities sometimes reduce an individual's ecological footprint?
Shared transportation, housing, and infrastructure can reduce resource use per person.
What process changes atmospheric nitrogen into a form plants can use?
Nitrogen fixation.
What is the maximum population an environment can support over time?
Carrying capacity.
What are the first organisms to colonize an area during succession called?
Pioneer species.
Name one resource that can help support greater biodiversity.
Food, water, space, or other available resources.
What human activity releases stored carbon into the atmosphere?
Burning fossil fuels.
What process releases water vapor from plants into the atmosphere?
Transpiration.
What is it called when a population remains relatively stable because births and deaths are balanced?
Population equilibrium.
What are the relatively stable species present near the end of succession called?
Climax species.
Give two examples of human activities that can reduce biodiversity.
Any two: deforestation, pollution, habitat destruction, overhunting, or introducing invasive species.
Why can predictions based on very small amounts of historical environmental data be unreliable?
Small samples may not represent long-term patterns or complex environmental changes.
Name three processes involved in the water cycle.
Evaporation, condensation, and precipitation. (Also accept transpiration, infiltration, or runoff.)
Why might trout with abundant food grow larger than trout with limited food?
Food availability is a limiting factor for growth.
Why are large trees generally absent during early primary succession?
There is little or no developed soil, so large trees cannot establish roots and obtain sufficient nutrients.
Why can a loss of habitat lead to reduced biodiversity?
Organisms lose food, shelter, breeding areas, and other resources needed for survival.
Describe how one biogeochemical cycle moves matter through the environment.
accurately describe the major steps of the water, carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, or phosphorus cycle.