AP Biology › Understanding Eco-Chemical Cycles
Which of the following is not a type of precipitation?
Runoff
Rain
Sleet
Snow
Precipitation is when condensed water vapor falls to Earth. Common types of precipitation include rain, sleet, and snow. In contrast, runoff is water flow across the Earth’s surface.
Recently, the amount of carbon in the atmosphere has increased. What human activity has directly caused this?
Burning of fossil fuels
Genetic engineering
Technology advancements
An increase in the average lifespan
The burning of fossil fuels has increased the amount of carbon in the atmosphere, contributing to the greenhouse effect and global warming. Burning fossil fuels mainly involves combustion reactions in which the fuel is oxidized, producing carbon dioxide and water. While the other answer choices may add to the carbon dioxide levels of the atmosphere, the question asks for a direct cause.
Which of the following is not involved in an eco-chemical cycle?
Iron
Carbon
Nitrogen
Water
Phosphorus
Water, carbon, nitrogen, sulfur, and phosphorus have cyclic pathways that allowing them to flow within an ecosystem. Iron is not involved in very many ecological processes, and does not follow a defined chemical cycle.
Which of the following is not true regarding the assimilation stage of the nitrogen cycle?
Atmospheric nitrogen is converted into organic nitrogen
Plants absorb nitrogen from the soil
Symbiotic bacteria may aid with absorption of nitrogen from the soil
Nitrogen is incorporated into plants through roots as nitrate ions, nitrite ions, and ammonium ions
In the process of assimilation, organic nitrogen is incorporated into plants through the roots. The type of nitrogen incorporated may be nitrate ions, nitrite ions, or ammonium ions. Symbiotic bacteria may assist this process.
Which of the following best explains how atmospheric nitrogen enters the nitrogen cycle in marine ecosystems?
Through precipitation
Through animal excretions
Through plant decomposition
Through algae waste
The marine nitrogen cycle is very similar to the terrestrial nitrogen cycle. In marine ecosystems, atmospheric nitrogen enters the cycle through precipitation.
Which of the following best explains where nitrogen can be found in the terrestrial biosphere?
All of these
Living organisms
Humus
Decomposing matter
Nitrogen is necessary for all life; therefore, it is present in the territorial biosphere in living organisms, humus, and decomposing matter.
Transpiration involves the release of water vapor from which of the following components of the terrestrial biosphere?
Plants and soil
Animals
Plants
Soil
Animals and soil
Transpiration is defined as the release of water vapor from plants and soil.
Water flows through which of the following in the process of percolation?
Soil and rocks
Atmosphere
Ground surface
None of these
Percolation is defined as the vertical flow of water through subsurface soil and rocks. Percolation is influenced by gravity.
Which of the following best explains what occurs in the process of advection?
The movement of water through the atmosphere
The conversion of water from a solid phase to a gaseous phase
Flow of water from the ground surface into the soil
The flow of water underground
Advection can be described as the movement of water through the atmosphere and it is critical to the water cycle.
Which of the following best describes the process of deposition?
It is both the conversion of water from a gaseous to a solid phase and it is the opposite of sublimation
It is the conversion of water from a gaseous to a solid phase
It is the opposite of sublimation
It is neither the conversion of water from a gaseous to a solid phase nor is it is the opposite of sublimation
Deposition is the conversion of water from a gaseous to a solid phase; therefore, deposition is the opposite process of sublimation.