BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLES WORKSHOP

The next workshop is to reinforce the explanations about biogeochemical cycles, you must present it
following the teacher´s criteria. Please read it carefully and answer properly to each point. Use the
answersheet to put your answer of the questions that are multiple choice (there is only one correct answer).

1. Six major nutrients are essential for all biological organisms. Name each element and explain why it
is important for biological organisms.

NUTRIENT IMPORTANCE

2. Which of the following best describes the importance of biogeochemical cycles?

a. They show how certain elements and compounds move through the environment and are continually
used and recycled.
b. They explain how energy moves through trophic levels of an ecosystem
c. They describe how the adaptations of organisms change based on environmental pressures.
d. They chart how biotic changes destroy unstable ecosystems.

3. One of the simplest biogeochemical cycles is that of water. Draw a diagram of the water cycle,
showing its major reservoirs and the fluxes of water from one reservoir to another as arrows. Next to
each arrow, indicate the process responsible for the flux of water from one reservoir the other.
4. Which of the following steps of the carbon cycle is occurring at point A?

a. Combustion.
b. Respiration.
c. Decomposition.
d. Photosyntesis.

5. Which of the statements regarding the nitrogen cycle is true?

a. Denitrification occurs when a nitrogen containing compound is produced from nitrogen in the soil.
b. Atmospheric nitrogen is absorbed through the leaves of plants.
c. Nitrogen fixation is the process atmospheric nitrogen is converted into biologically usable forms.
d. Animals obtain nitrogen through the process of cellular respiration.

6. Complete the Nitrogen cycle process with the words in the chart

7. Which of the following statements about the nitrogen cycle is false?

a. Ammonification converts organic nitrogenous matter from living organisms into ammonium (NH 4+).
b. Denitrification by bacteria converts nitrates (NO3-) to nitrogen gas (N2).

c. Nitrification by bacteria converts nitrates (NO3-) to nitrites (NO2-).

d. Nitrogen fixing bacteria convert nitrogen gas (N2) into organic compounds.

8. In urban areas, water can contain high levels of phosphorus due to use of agents such as fertilizers.
What is a possible negative effect of excess phosphorus in the water?

a. High rates of cellular respiration

b. Decrease of algae blooms
c. Increase of aquatic life
d. Development of "dead zones"

9. Review the diagram below. Which statement BEST reflects what is shown?

a. The phosphorus cycle moves in one direction – from soil to plant to animal.
 b. Fungi, plants, and animals are the main converters of elemental phosphorus to phosphates.
c. The phosphorus cycle is made up of many, smaller cycles.
d. Phosphates in solution can only move into soil.

10. Complete the following text about sulfur cycle. Use the words chart next to the text.

ANSWERSHEET

2. 4.
A A
B B
C C
D D
5. 7.
A A
B B
C C
D D
8. 9.
A A
B B
C C
D D