APES phosphorus and hydrologic cycles study guide
Study guide flashcards covering the phosphorus cycle and hydrologic cycle in environmental science, focusing on key terms, processes, and interconnections critical for the AP exam.
Quiz(56 questions)
1. Which nutrient is essential for DNA synthesis and energy transfer in organisms?
Terms in this Study Set(56)
Phosphorus Cycle(16)
What is the primary source of phosphorus?
Rocks and minerals, particularly apatite, provide the primary source of phosphorus.
Phosphorus cycle steps include:
1. Weathering of rocks 2. Absorption by plants 3. Consumption by animals 4. Decomposition and sedimentation 5. Geological uplift
True or False: Phosphorus is found in the atmosphere.
False. Phosphorus does not exist in gaseous form in the atmosphere.
Fill in the blank: Phosphorus is essential for _____.
DNA and ATP synthesis.
How do plants acquire phosphorus?
Plants absorb phosphate ions () from the soil through their roots.
What is the role of decomposers in the phosphorus cycle?
Decomposers break down organic matter, releasing phosphorus back into the soil for plant uptake.
Comparison: Phosphorus vs. Nitrogen cycle.
Phosphorus is not atmospheric; nitrogen is. Phosphorus is slower due to fewer gaseous forms.
What is eutrophication?
Eutrophication is the process where excess nutrients, often phosphorus, cause algal blooms in aquatic systems.
Cause → Effect: Fertilizer runoff effects.
Cause: Excess phosphorus from fertilizers. Effect: Algal blooms and oxygen depletion in water bodies.
What happens to phosphorus in aquatic systems?
Phosphorus settles to the bottom as sediments after being used by aquatic organisms.
Phosphorus is often a limiting nutrient because:
Ecosystems often lack available phosphorus, which limits plant growth.
Describe the process of sedimentation.
Sedimentation is the settling of particles, including phosphorus, from water to the bottom of water bodies.
How do humans impact the phosphorus cycle?
Through agricultural runoff, wastewater discharge, and industrial processes, humans increase phosphorus levels in the environment.
What is the role of mycorrhizal fungi?
Mycorrhizal fungi enhance phosphorus uptake for plants by extending their root networks.
True or False: Phosphorus is recycled in ecosystems.
True. Phosphorus is cycled through biological, geological, and chemical processes in ecosystems.
Example: Phosphorus in fertilizers.
Fertilizers often contain phosphate () to promote plant growth, impacting the phosphorus cycle.
Hydrologic Cycle(16)
Define the hydrologic cycle.
The continuous movement of water within the Earth and atmosphere. Processes include evaporation, condensation, precipitation, infiltration, runoff, and transpiration.
What process converts liquid water to vapor?
Evaporation: The transformation of water from liquid to gas due to temperature increase.
True or False: Precipitation only occurs as rain.
False: Precipitation can occur as rain, snow, sleet, or hail.
What is transpiration?
The process where plants release water vapor into the atmosphere through their leaves. It contributes to the water cycle.
List the main processes of the hydrologic cycle.
- Evaporation - Condensation - Precipitation - Infiltration - Runoff - Transpiration
Fill in the blank: Water that infiltrates the ground becomes _____.
Groundwater: Water stored beneath the Earth's surface in soil and rock formations.
How does runoff occur?
Runoff happens when water flows over the land surface into bodies of water, often after precipitation.
Compare evaporation and condensation.
Evaporation: Liquid to vapor; increases humidity. Condensation: Vapor to liquid; forms clouds.
What drives the hydrologic cycle?
Solar energy: It causes evaporation and powers weather systems that redistribute water.
True or False: The hydrologic cycle is a closed system.
True: The total amount of water remains constant, cycling through different forms.
Explain infiltration.
Infiltration is the process where water soaks into the soil, recharging groundwater supplies.
What is the role of rivers in the hydrologic cycle?
Rivers transport water from land to oceans, facilitating evaporation and the cycle's continuity.
Explain the term watershed.
A watershed is an area of land where all water drains to a common waterbody, influencing local hydrology.
What is the significance of water tables?
Water tables indicate the upper surface of groundwater; they fluctuate with precipitation and use.
Short example: How does urbanization affect runoff?
Urbanization increases impervious surfaces, leading to higher runoff and decreased groundwater recharge.
What is sublimation?
Sublimation is the direct transition of water from solid (ice) to gas (vapor) without becoming liquid.
Human Impact(12)
How do fertilizers impact phosphorus cycles?
Fertilizers increase phosphorus runoff into water bodies, leading to eutrophication.
True or False: Urbanization decreases water cycle efficiency.
True. Urbanization leads to increased impervious surfaces, reducing groundwater recharge.
Fill in the blank: Agricultural runoff contributes to ________ in aquatic ecosystems.
eutrophication.
Comparison: Point source vs Non-point source pollution.
Point source: Direct, identifiable sources (e.g., factory discharge). Non-point source: Diffuse, harder to identify (e.g., agricultural runoff).
Cause → Effect: Deforestation effects on phosphorus.
Cause: Deforestation Effect: Increased erosion and phosphorus runoff.
What human action increases water temperature in rivers?
Industrial discharge heats water, reducing dissolved oxygen levels.
Describe the impact of livestock on phosphorus cycles.
Livestock waste contributes excess phosphorus to soil and runoff, causing pollution.
True or False: Phosphorus is abundant in the atmosphere.
False. Phosphorus does not exist as a gas in the atmosphere.
What effect does urban development have on hydrologic cycles?
It leads to increased runoff, reduced infiltration, and altered groundwater recharge.
How does mining affect phosphorus and water cycles?
Mining disrupts ecosystems, increases sedimentation, and releases phosphorus into waterways.
Fill in the blank: Wetlands help filter phosphorus from ________.
runoff.
What is a consequence of excessive phosphorus in water bodies?
Algal blooms can occur, disrupting aquatic ecosystems and water quality.
Ecosystem Interactions(12)
How does phosphorus influence primary productivity?
Phosphorus is a key nutrient for plant growth, promoting photosynthesis and biomass accumulation.
True or False: Water cycles affect phosphorus distribution.
True. Water movement can transport phosphorus to different ecosystems, influencing nutrient availability.
Fill in the blank: Eutrophication is caused by excess __________ in water bodies.
phosphorus.
Comparison: Rivers vs. Lakes in phosphorus filtering.
Rivers: transport phosphorus; Lakes: can accumulate phosphorus, leading to algal blooms.
What role do wetlands play in phosphorus cycling?
Wetlands filter phosphorus from water, thus reducing nutrient loading in downstream ecosystems.
Cause → Effect: Phosphorus runoff from agriculture leads to?
Eutrophication and algal blooms, disrupting aquatic ecosystems.
How do aquatic plants respond to phosphorus enrichment?
They increase growth rates, potentially leading to overgrowth and oxygen depletion.
True or False: Increased rainfall reduces phosphorus runoff.
False. Increased rainfall can enhance runoff, increasing phosphorus loading into water bodies.
What is a consequence of phosphorus accumulation in freshwater systems?
Hypoxia, which negatively impacts fish and other aquatic life.
Describe the relationship between the hydrologic cycle and phosphorus cycling.
The hydrologic cycle transports phosphorus in water, linking terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.
True or False: Phosphorus is a gaseous nutrient in the atmosphere.
False. Phosphorus primarily exists in solid and dissolved forms, not as a gas.
How does phosphorus interact with sediment in aquatic ecosystems?
Phosphorus can bind to sediments, affecting its availability and cycling in water bodies.
Questions in this Study Set(56)
1. Which nutrient is essential for DNA synthesis and energy transfer in organisms?
2. What is the primary natural source of phosphorus for ecosystems?
3. What term describes the continuous movement of water on Earth and in the atmosphere?
4. What is the primary consequence of excessive use of phosphorus fertilizers in agriculture?
5. What is the main consequence of excessive phosphorus in aquatic ecosystems?
6. Which step in the phosphorus cycle involves the release of phosphorus from rocks?
7. What process transforms water from a liquid state into vapor?
8. Which of the following activities is most likely to contribute to increased phosphorus levels in rivers?
9. Which of the following practices is most likely to contribute to phosphorus runoff?
10. True or False: Phosphorus is a gas in the atmosphere.
11. True or False: Water can only fall to the ground as rain during precipitation.
12. True or False: Urbanization improves the hydrologic cycle by enhancing groundwater recharge.
13. Which statement is true regarding phosphorus in the hydrologic cycle?
14. Phosphorus is crucial for the formation of which biological molecules?
15. What is the term for the process where plants release water vapor into the atmosphere?
16. What is a primary source of non-point source pollution in waterways?
17. How does the presence of wetlands influence phosphorus levels in nearby water bodies?
18. How do plants primarily obtain phosphorus?
19. Which of the following is NOT a main process of the hydrologic cycle?
20. Fill in the blank: The practice of __________ contributes to increased phosphorus runoff and soil erosion.
21. Which of the following is NOT a direct effect of eutrophication in freshwater systems?
22. What is the significance of decomposers in the phosphorus cycle?
23. Fill in the blank: Water that seeps into the soil and replenishes underground reserves becomes _____.
24. Which of the following best describes point source pollution?
25. Which process can contribute to phosphorus accumulation in lakes?
26. In contrast to the nitrogen cycle, what is a key characteristic of the phosphorus cycle?
27. Which process primarily causes water to flow over land into bodies of water after precipitation?
28. How does livestock farming contribute to phosphorus pollution?
29. How do aquatic plants typically respond to increased phosphorus availability?
30. What is eutrophication primarily a result of?
31. How do evaporation and condensation differ?
32. What is a significant human-induced change to the phosphorus cycle?
33. What impact does heavy rainfall typically have on phosphorus runoff?
34. Which process describes the effects of phosphorus runoff from agricultural lands?
35. What is the main energy source driving the hydrologic cycle?
36. Which of the following practices can help mitigate phosphorus pollution in water bodies?
37. Which of the following statements about phosphorus is FALSE?
38. What typically happens to phosphorus in aquatic ecosystems after it is utilized by organisms?
39. True or False: The hydrologic cycle is an open system.
40. What effect does urban development typically have on local hydrology?
41. What is the primary role of phosphorus in primary productivity?
42. Why is phosphorus considered a limiting nutrient in many ecosystems?
43. What does infiltration refer to in the context of the hydrologic cycle?
44. Fill in the blank: The term __________ refers to the process by which excess nutrients, particularly phosphorus, lead to dense algal growth in aquatic ecosystems.
45. Which ecosystem is least likely to act as a phosphorus sink?
46. What does sedimentation refer to in the context of the phosphorus cycle?
47. What role do rivers play in the hydrologic cycle?
48. Which of the following is NOT a method to reduce phosphorus entering water bodies?
49. How have human activities impacted the phosphorus cycle?
50. What is a watershed?
51. What is the role of mycorrhizal fungi in the phosphorus cycle?
52. What is the significance of a water table in hydrology?
53. True or False: Phosphorus is continuously recycled in ecosystems.
54. How does urbanization impact runoff?
55. What component of fertilizers is commonly associated with phosphorus?
56. What does sublimation refer to in the hydrologic cycle?
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