Biogeochemical Cycles
In biogeochemical cycles, what recycles through abiotic reservoirs like soil and rocks and biotic reservoirs like plants and animals?
nitrogen, phosphorus, carbon, water
What is eutrophication?
the rapid growth of algae because of excess phosphorus and nitrogen in the water (from runoff). At first, these producers make more oxygen, but when they die their bodies sink to the bottom of the water where they are decomposed. The decomposers have to perform respiration to stay alive which depletes the water of most of its O2 causes fish to die.
What primary producer in the ocean makes most of the energy for aquatic biomes?
phytoplankton
Which two zones allow for photosynthesis to occur?
littoral: near shoreline and plants can grow
limnetic: top layer of open water in middle of lake where phytoplankton can perform photosynthesis
Describe estuaries, intertidal zones, and coral reef
E: fresh water meets, salt water; host to migratory birds, most diverse biomes in the world
IZ: area between high and low tide marks; constantly exposed or covered in water; species like mangrove forest are home to many species. Can be sandy or rocky too
CR: made of calcium carbonate (egg shells); all underwater; lots of photosynthetic algae live on coral; provide food and habitat for many animals. Rainforests of the sea
What two chemical processes help get water back into the atmosphere from PLANTS and ANIMALS?
p: transpiration
a: respiration
What is the difference between primary and secondary succession?
P: starting from nothing usually due to volcanic eruption
S: forest fire destroys some of the plant life, but not all
T or F: The earth's climate is affected by the rotation of the planet.
false. its the tilt on its axis.
Where does decomposition happen in a lake?
What is the bottom layer of the ocean?
Benthic zone
Describe how CO2 is recycled through in a body of water.
CO2 is dissolved into the water, taken in by plants to do photosynthesis, recycled through to fish who do respiration, plants/fish that die become sediment (sedimentation) which get compressed into rocks (compression) that can be broken down through dissolution.
What is a keystone species?
Makes up a small proportion of a community's biomass but has a large influence on the community's composition. If you remove the KS biodiversity decreases ALOT.
How do ocean current impact coastal climates? Describe the relative temperature.
it is relatively cool because water heats up much more slowly than land does.
what two zones can photosynthesis not occur?
profundal and benthic.
All of the water above the seafloor is which zone?
pelagic
bacteria and archaea convert ____ into ____ around the roots of plants so that plants can do photosynthesis.
N2, NH4+
How much energy is transferred from one trophic level to the next?
T or F: Energy is recycled and nutrients are transferred.
10%
False
What two factors help suppress tree growth in temperate grasslands?
grazing and fires
Which zone is the first zone where light cannot penetrate?
profundal
What is the zone called that is between the intertidal zone and the edge of the continental shelf?
neritic zone
How does phosphorus get into the soil for plants to use?
phosphate-rich rocks erode and release phosphorus that plant can absorb and pass to the rest of the food chain.
What is the difference between competitive exclusion principle and resource partitioning? Give an example of each
CEP: two species cannot live in the same niche forever. one species is better at getting resources to survive and pushes the other out
RP: two species use the same resource, but at different times or in different locations.
What is the permafrost? Where is it found?
Tundra. PF is a layer of ground that is permanently frozen. Stores a lot of CO2 as well.
Which zone would you find scavengers?
benthic
Which is larger the profundal zone of the ocean or the photic zone of the ocean?
profundal