Energy Flow and Nutrient Cycling in Ecosystems Quiz

Autotrophs are organisms that produce their own food through processes like photosynthesis.

Photosynthesis is the process by which plants convert sunlight into chemical energy in the form of glucose.

Oxygen is not a greenhouse gas; common greenhouse gases include carbon dioxide, methane, and water vapor.

Mutualism is a symbiotic relationship where both interacting species benefit from the association.

Decomposition is the process where decomposers break down organic matter into simpler compounds, recycling nutrients in the ecosystem.

Solar energy is the primary source of energy for most ecosystems on Earth, driving processes like photosynthesis.

Transpiration is the process where water moves through plants and is released into the atmosphere through their leaves.

The nitrogen cycle involves the conversion of atmospheric nitrogen into a form that plants can use, often facilitated by nitrogen-fixing bacteria.

Gross primary productivity represents the total energy captured by primary producers through photosynthesis.

Nutrient cycling involves the release of nutrients from dead organisms and waste back into the environment.

A food web describes the complex network of feeding relationships among different organisms in an ecosystem.

Bacteria play a crucial role in nitrogen fixation, converting atmospheric nitrogen into a form usable by plants.

Temperature is a significant factor influencing the rate of decomposition in an ecosystem; warmer temperatures generally accelerate the process.

Nitrogen fixation by bacteria is not a component of the phosphorus cycle; the phosphorus cycle primarily involves geological processes.

Primary producers, such as plants, usually have the highest biomass in an ecosystem.

In the deep ocean, producers are often limited by nutrient availability, as sunlight penetration is minimal.

Energy flow involves the transfer of nutrients between different trophic levels in an ecosystem, representing the movement of energy through the food chain.

Keystone predation is the phenomenon where large predators have a disproportionately large impact on the structure and function of an ecosystem.