Cycles & Atmosphere
What is the largest carbon sink on Earth?
Ocean
Other sinks include: forests, soil, atmosphere, sedimentary rocks (coal, limestone)
Name the soil horizons, starting with the thin layer of humus and ending with partially weathered bedrock.
OABC
What pH level would be considered acid rain?
Lower than 6, but higher than 3. Below 3 is unrealistic. No deduction if the number is less than 7.
What percent of energy passes to the next trophic level?
10%
What zone is found on the bottom of a lake?
benthic
What is the most common gas in the atmosphere today, and what percentage does it occupy?
Nitrogen, 78%
What is the most permeable soil texture?
sand
What is the strongest indicator of contamination from cattle?
E.coli (bacteria, won't be counted wrong, but no points)
The largest number a population can reach in an environment is known as the ...
carrying capacity
Name a Tragedy of the Commons associated with Southern California.
Name 3 greenhouse gases.
CFCs, Methane, CO2, Water vapor, HCFCs,
What step of a food chain generally occurs in soil?
Decomposition
What pollution would be most associated with a volcanic eruption?
Particles in the atmosphere, ash, gases from the eruption,
keystone species (no point deduction for foundational species)
Name 2 characteristics of an r strategists.
matures quickly, lots of offspring, smaller, short life span
What "fixes" nitrogen to make it usable for plants? Hint: Often associated with legumes.
Name an invasive species found in VA that would impact the soil.
any of the plants would take out nutrients, latternflys bring nutrients to the soil by killing trees
What nutrients are associated with areas of no of low oxygen, or dead zones, in bodies of water?
Nitrogen and Phosphorus
What is the limiting factor that prevents plant growth in the aphotic zone?
no sunlight
Give an example of point source pollution in the Gulf of Mexico.
What gas is responsible for ozone depletion?
CFCs
When soil or rock layer pore space is completely filled with water, what is in known as?
zone of saturation or aquifer... (no deduction for groundwater)
What causes ocean acidification?
absorbing CO2 into seawater from the atmosphere
Give an example of primary succession
volcano creating a new island (Iceland)
Glacier removing all soil down to the bedrock
Name a keystone species found in Virginia. (may need to explain why it is keystone)
beaver- builds dams to make lakes for other organisms