Test Review: Ecocolumns

Front

What role do detritivores play in the carbon cycle?

Back

Detritivores, such as worms and isopods, contribute to the carbon cycle by adding nutrients to the soil through their feces, releasing CO2 during respiration, and decomposing after death.

Front

Why are aquatic plants important in an aquatic chamber?

Back

Aquatic plants serve as a food source for fish, produce oxygen through photosynthesis, and provide good bacteria that convert nitrites to nitrates.

Front

What does the top chamber of an ecocolumn represent in nature?

Back

The top chamber represents the ground or top soil of Earth.

Front

What is the function of aquatic plants in the bottom chamber?

Back

Aquatic plants help put oxygen in the water through photosynthesis, assist the nitrogen cycle with bacteria, and provide food for fish.

Front

What happens to sensitive organisms when dissolved oxygen levels drop below 4 mg/L?

Back

Sensitive organisms, such as fish, can become stressed when dissolved oxygen levels drop below 4 mg/L.

Front

Define detritivores.

Back

Detritivores are organisms that feed on dead organic matter, helping to decompose it and recycle nutrients back into the ecosystem.

Front

What is photosynthesis?

Back

Photosynthesis is the process by which green plants and some other organisms use sunlight to synthesize foods with the help of chlorophyll, producing oxygen as a byproduct.

Front

Explain the nitrogen cycle.

Back

The nitrogen cycle is the process by which nitrogen is converted between its various chemical forms, including fixation, nitrification, and denitrification, essential for plant growth.

Front

What is the significance of dissolved oxygen in aquatic ecosystems?

Back

Dissolved oxygen is crucial for the survival of aquatic organisms, as it is required for respiration in fish and other aquatic life.

Front

What is the role of bacteria in the nitrogen cycle?

Back

Bacteria play a vital role in the nitrogen cycle by converting nitrogen gas into ammonia (nitrogen fixation) and converting nitrites into nitrates (nitrification).