Water Cycle
Water falling to the earth from condensed clouds is known as what?
Precipitation.
Where is the biggest source of nitrogen in the planet?
In the atmosphere
What is the measure of an individual's impact on the environment by calculating greenhouse gas emissions from their lifestyle
Carbon footprint
The majority of the phosphorus in the world is stored in what?
Rocks.
Which biological process do plants use to take in carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and get energy?
Photosynthesis.
How do plants and animals get water?
Plants: absorb it by the roots
Animals: Drink and eat plants
Who "fixes" the nitrogen into a form that we can use?
Bacteria (either in the soil or in the roots of legumes).
What is an ecological footprint?
This concept measures the amount of land and water required to produce goods/services and manage resulting waste.
Why is Phosphorus important in life forms?
It is a fundamental component of DNA, RNA, and cell membranes, and it drives cellular energy production (ATP).
Name two ways that carbon is released into the atmosphere using biological processes?
Cellular respiration and decomposition.
How does ocean/lake water return to the atmosphere?
Evaporation.
Animals get most of the nitrogen they need by what?
Consuming plants or other animals that have the nitrogen".
What is the unit to measure the water footprint?
gallons of water (sometimes litres)
What must happen to the rock in order for plants to absorb the phosphorus within them?
Break down into soil. "watering"
Humans have contributed more carbon to the carbon cycle by doing what?
Burning fossil fuels.
Where is found the biggest amount of fresh water?
In glaciers or ice caps
Planting legumes in a field the year before a crop will do what to the productivity of your field?
Increase productivity because there is more nitrogen in the soil.
How can we reduce our ecological footprint?
Open answer...
Herbivores and carnivores obtain phosphorus by doing what?
Consuming plants and/or animals that have phosphorus".
How do herbivores and carnivores get the carbon that they need?
By consuming plants and/or animals that have carbon".
What is "transpiration"?
Is "when leaves release water through their underside to evaporate".
Nitrogen is used in the body to make what?
DNA and proteins.
Why is the excess of nitrogen bad in an ecosystem?
Because it disrupts natural balances, causing nutrient pollution that kills aquatic life, reduces biodiversity, and accelerates climate change. It drives excessive algal growth (eutrophication), creates oxygen-depleted "dead zones" in water, harms soil health, and causes acid rain.
Phosphorus is returned to the rock cycle from plants and animals by what?
Hardening into solid phosphate after being sediment".
Why do we need carbon?
Fundamental building block for all known life on Earth, forming the structural backbone of DNA, proteins, and cells What is "to form DNA and proteins". The creation of cells is also acceptable.