BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLES—QUIZLET VOCABULARY biogeochemical cycles: cycles by which nutirents circulate through an ecosystem using biotic and abiotic components carbon cycle: the circulation and reutilization of carbon atoms especially via the process of photosynthesis and respiration cellular respiration: the process by which cells produce energy from carbohydrates; atmospheric oxygen combines with glucose to form water and carbon dioxide condensation: the process by which molecules of water vapor in the air become liquid water consumers: organisms, mainly animals, that must eat other organisms to obtain nutrients de-nitrifying bacteria: the process in the soil when "fixed" nitrogen turns back into free nitrogen and get released back into the air decomposers: organisms, such as bacteria and that break down wastes and dead organisms emissions: pollutants/greenhouse gases that are released into the atmosphere by burning of fossil fuels eutrophication: addition of phosphorus to bodies of water in the amount that can lead to the overgrowth of producers, usually algae evaporation: the process by which water changes from liquid form to an atmospheric gas groundwater: water that fills the cracks and spaces in underground soil and rock layers law of conservation of matter: matter may be transformed from one type to another, but it cannot be created or destroyed nitrogen cycle: the circulation and reutilization of nitrogen in both inorganic and organic phases nitrogen fixing bacteria: bacteria that lives in roots of legumes and convert atmosphere nitrogen into ammonia nutrients: matter that organisms require for their life processes phosphorus cycle: The movement of phosphorus atoms from rocks through the biosphere and hydrosphere and back to rocks photosynthesis: process by which plants use the sun's energy to convert water and carbon dioxide into sugars precipitation: the falling to earth of any form of water (rain or snow or hail or sleet or mist) primary producers: organisms, including plants and algae, that produce their own food respiration: a breathing process in which plants and animals consume oxygen and release carbon dioxide run-Off: water that flows over the ground surface rather than soaking into the ground transpiration: the emission of water vapor from the leaves of plants water cycle (hydrologic cycle): the continuous cycle of the transfer of water through an ecosystem, which involves evaporation, transpiration, condensation, and precipitation
Answer the questions to test your knowledge of lesson concepts. You can check your work using the answers on the bottom of the page. 19. Describe how photosynthesis and cellular respiration help drive the carbon cycle. 20. Explain how the hydrosphere and geosphere participate in the phosphorus cycle. Chapter Vocabulary Review Match each term with its definition. 1. tectonic plate 2. macromolecule 3. aquifer 4. primary producer 5. feedback loop 6. hydrocarbon 7. landform 8. atom 9. nutrient 10. eutrophication 11. law of conservation of matter 12. erosion 13. consumer a. soil removal by water, wind, ice, or gravity b. an organism that must eat organisms to obtain nutrients c. a protein, nucleic acid, carbohydrate, or lipid d. an overgrowth of producers caused by the release of phosphorus e. an organism that can produce its own food f. an organic compound that contains only hydrogen and carbon g. a large section of lithosphere that moves across Earth’s surface h. the basic unit of matter i. a mountain, island, or continent that above and below an ocean’s surface j. a cyclical process that can be either positive or negative k. an underground water reservoir l. matter needed by an organism to live m. that matter can be transformed but not created or destroyed