Biogeochemical Quiz Bellwarmer terminology

____________ cycles connect biological, geological and chemical aspects of organisms in a biosphere

• Ecological

• Hydrological

• Transpiration

• Biogeochemical

What type of organism converts nitrogen into a usable form for plants?

• fungus

• bacteria

• mold

• earthworms

When water is used for irrigation, only about one-half can be used again. Much of this water is lost for use on land because it __________________ back into the air.

• evaporates

• transpires

• precipitates

• condenses

What two processes fuel the carbon cycle

• transpiration and transport

• cellular respiration and transpiration

• cellular respiration and photosynthesis

• photosynthesis and transport

CO2 is returned to the atmosphere by all methods EXCEPT

• combustion

• photosynthesis

• decomposition

• respiration

Soil bacteria are responsible for any steps in the nitrogen cycle. Soil bacteria are NOT responsible for _______________________.

• nitrogen fixation

• ammonification

• nitrification

• assimilation

Groundwater moves from the ground through plants and then back into the atmosphere through the process of

• precipitation

• run-off

• transpiration

• condensation

Look carefully at the model. Plants take in and release carbon dioxide. Plants take in carbon dioxide for photosynthesis. What process releases carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere?

• precipitation

• condensation

• transpiration

• respiration

When an organism excretes waste or dies, the nitrogen in its tissues is in the form of organic nitrogen (e.g. amino acids, DNA). Various fungi and prokaryotes then decompose the tissue and release inorganic nitrogen back into the ecosystem as ammonia

• nitrogen fixation

• denitrification

• ammonification

• nitrification

any natural or industrial process that causes free nitrogen (N2), which is a relatively inert gas plentiful in air, to combine chemically with other elements to form more-reactive nitrogen compounds such as ammonia, nitrates, or nitrites.

• nitrogen fixation

• denitrification

• ammonification

• nitrification