BIO 1302 UNIT 6 JOURNAL Instructions Watch the following video: https://www.nasa.gov/mp4/259924main_DeadzoneWebSho... Click here for a copy of the transcript. In your own words, summarize how a dead zone forms along populated coasts. What are the major sources of the excess nutrients? Consider your community. What are some of the major sources of nutrient runoff that you see on a regular basis? Do you contribute to this problem? Discuss at least two ways in which you, personally, can reduce your impact on ocean life. Your journal entry must be at least 200 words. No references or citations are necessary. UNIT 6 ASSESMENT QUESTIONS Question 1 Which of the following is the slowest to decompose? Proteins Sugars Lignins Cellulose Question 2 Which region contains the largest amount of the global carbon pool? Fossil fuels Aboveground terrestrial systems Ocean Atmosphere Question 3 Which region contains the largest amount of the global nitrogen pool? Fossil fuels Aboveground terrestrial systems Ocean Atmosphere Question 4 Which of the following nutrients is most closely linked to the energy cycle in ecosystems? Carbon Nitrogen Lead Sulfur Question 5 Carbon dioxide concentrations fluctuate in predictable seasonal patterns on the surface of the planet largely as a result of _____________. the influence of vegetation patterns in tropical systems weathering of rock surfaces following seasonal rain events vegetation growth and flux patterns in aquatic systems large-scale patterns of terrestrial plant uptake and dormancy Question 6 Match the answer to the question. - A. B. C. D. E. F. G. H. I. J. K. L. M. N. O. P. Q. R. S. T. U. ________ is the process by which plants absorb a portion of their nutrients from senescing tissues to be stored and used for the production of new tissues. - A. B. C. D. E. F. G. H. I. J. K. L. M. N. O. P. Q. R. S. T. U. The breakdown of chemical bonds that were formed during the construction of plant and animal tissues is called ________. - A. B. C. D. E. F. G. H. I. J. K. L. M. N. O. P. Q. R. S. T. U. The release of organically bound nutrients into an inorganic form is called ________. - A. B. C. D. E. F. G. H. I. J. K. L. M. N. O. P. Q. R. S. T. U. The introduction of high levels of nutrients into a body of water is called ________. - A. B. C. D. E. F. G. H. I. J. K. L. M. N. O. P. Q. R. S. T. U. Precipitation brings appreciable quantities of nutrients into ecosystems that are collectively called ________. - A. B. C. D. E. F. G. H. I. J. K. L. M. N. O. P. Q. R. S. T. U. Large quantities of nutrients are bound tightly in ________ structure; they are not readily available until released by the activities of decomposers. - A. B. C. D. E. F. G. H. I. J. K. L. M. N. O. P. Q. R. S. T. U. Some nutrients are ________ from the soil and carried out of ecosystems by underground water flow to streams. - A. B. C. D. E. F. G. H. I. J. K. L. M. N. O. P. Q. R. S. T. U. The element ________ is a basic constituent of all organic compounds and is involved in the fixation of energy by photosynthesis. - A. B. C. D. E. F. G. H. I. J. K. L. M. N. O. P. Q. R. S. T. U. The difference between the rate of carbon uptake in photosynthesis and the rate of carbon loss due to autotrophic and heterotrophic respiration is the net ________ productivity. - A. B. C. D. E. F. G. H. I. J. K. L. M. N. O. P. Q. R. S. T. U. Nitrogen is generally available to plants in only two forms: ammonium and ________. - A. B. C. D. E. F. G. H. I. J. K. L. M. N. O. P. Q. R. S. T. U. Biological nitrogen fixation is accomplished by symbiotic ________ living in mutualistic association with plants. - A. B. C. D. E. F. G. H. I. J. K. L. M. N. O. P. Q. R. S. T. U. Nitrogen can be returned to the atmosphere when certain bacteria convert it from nitrate into nitrogen gas, which is a process called ________. - A. B. C. D. E. F. G. H. I. J. K. L. M. N. O. P. Q. R. S. T. U. Microbial decomposition of organic matter results in NH4+ production through a process called ________. - A. B. C. D. E. F. G. H. I. J. K. L. M. N. O. P. Q. R. S. T. U. Nearly all of the phosphorus in terrestrial ecosystems comes from the ________ of calcium phosphate minerals. - A. B. C. D. E. F. G. H. I. J. K. L. M. N. O. P. Q. R. S. T. U. ___________ develop as a result of incomplete decomposition of organic matter in swamps and marshes. - A. B. C. D. E. F. G. H. I. J. K. L. M. N. O. P. Q. R. S. T. U. The process of ____________ produces a form of nitrogen that is easily lost from soil through leaching. - A. B. C. D. E. F. G. H. I. J. K. L. M. N. O. P. Q. R. S. T. U. ____________ is when too much nitrogen enters an ecosystem and causes forest decline. - A. B. C. D. E. F. G. H. I. J. K. L. M. N. O. P. Q. R. S. T. U. _________ primary productivity is the total rate of photosynthesis or energy assimilated by plants. - A. B. C. D. E. F. G. H. I. J. K. L. M. N. O. P. Q. R. S. T. U. Plants assimilate energy through the process of _______________. - A. B. C. D. E. F. G. H. I. J. K. L. M. N. O. P. Q. R. S. T. U. ___________is the process that releases carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. A. photosynthesis B. denitrification C. nitrification D. mineralization E. weathering F. leached G. nitrate H. wetfall I. retranslocation J. nitrogen saturation K. gross L. decomposition M. respiration N. bacteria O. fossil fuels P. net Q. eutrophication R. organic S. carbon T. ammonification U. ecosystem 7. Describe how atmospheric carbon dioxide levels fluctuate daily, seasonally, and geographically. Explain why such fluctuation occurs. Your response should be at least 75 words in length. Question 8 Bacteria are major players in biogeochemical cycles. Give examples of different environments and the relative abundance of bacteria in each. Describe the way in which the environment will determine the rate at which nutrients become available through impacts on bacteria. Your response should be at least 200 words in length. UNIT 6 BIO 1302 ASSIGNMENT Introduction Carbon dioxide is the most abundant greenhouse gas in the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere are largely determined by the release of carbon from the burning of fossil fuels and the uptake of carbon dioxide by vegetation (during photosynthesis). Carbon can also be stored in the soil and in the ocean (representing the largest pool of carbon on Earth). Although levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere have fluctuated throughout the history of the world, we are currently seeing the highest levels ever known. Assignment Go to http://www.learner.org/courses/envsci/interactives... and click on “open simulator” in the upper right corner. This will open a new window for the Carbon Cycle simulator that you will use in this activity. In this simulation, you will experiment with how changes in fossil fuel consumption and rates of deforestation affect the concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide, as measured in parts per million (ppm). Using the simulator The default settings for this simulator represent our current increase in fossil fuel use each year—2% (each year we use 2% more fossil fuels than the previous year) and our current annual deforestation rate—1 global ton (G.T.) per year. You can adjust these rates by moving the slider to the left or right. You can also click on “None!” to see what would happen if we stopped using fossil fuels altogether (-100%). Click “reset” to adjust the rates and then click on “run decade” to see how atmospheric carbon dioxide will increase each decade at the given rates. You can see exact numbers by hovering over the graph line.