All Flashcards
Consequences of deforestation on carbon cycle?
Reduced carbon sequestration, increased atmospheric carbon dioxide.
Consequences of agricultural practices on nitrogen/phosphorus cycles?
Increased runoff of fertilizers, eutrophication of water bodies.
Effects of climate change on the water cycle?
Increased evaporation, altered precipitation patterns, increased frequency of extreme weather events.
What happens when excess nutrients enter a body of water?
Eutrophication, algal blooms, oxygen depletion, fish kills.
What is the effect of clearing a forest for agriculture?
Loss of biodiversity, habitat fragmentation.
How does increased CO2 affect the ocean?
Ocean acidification, harming marine life.
What are the steps of the carbon cycle?
Photosynthesis, respiration, decomposition, combustion, ocean exchange.
What are the steps of the nitrogen cycle?
Nitrogen fixation, nitrification, assimilation, ammonification, denitrification.
What are the steps of the phosphorus cycle?
Weathering, absorption by plants, consumption by animals, decomposition, sedimentation.
What are the steps of the hydrologic cycle?
Evaporation, condensation, precipitation, runoff, infiltration, transpiration.
Why is understanding biomes important?
They are the major 'neighborhoods' of the planet, categorized by climate and biomass.
Why is the carbon cycle important?
Key for understanding climate change due to carbon's role in trapping heat.
Why are the nitrogen and phosphorus cycles important?
Important for plant growth and often influenced by agricultural practices.
Why is the water cycle critical?
Essential for clean water access and understanding water pollution.
How are the cycles interconnected?
Changes in one cycle can affect others, impacting biomes and environmental conditions.
What determines a biome?
Primarily temperature and precipitation patterns.
What is the role of producers?
Producers (plants) are at the bottom of the trophic levels.
What is the role of consumers?
Consumers (herbivores, carnivores, omnivores) are above producers in the trophic levels.
What is the role of decomposers?
Decomposers break down dead organisms.
What drives adaptation and evolution?
Limited resources drive adaptation and evolution, leading to the diversity of life.