4.6 Apr 22 WARM-UP The Carbon and Nitrogen Cycles

Explore how essential elements move through ecosystems with our Carbon and Nitrogen Cycles worksheet for high school students.

1. Processes involved in the Carbon Cycle Match the name of the processes with the correct description. Photosynthesis process used by producers to convert solar energy, carbon dioxide, and water into sugars and oxygen Cellular respiration process by which heterotrophs convert chemical energy and oxygen into water, carbon dioxide, and ATP. Decomposition process by which organisms breakdown into organic compounds Combustion process by which carbon dioxide is released from fossil fuels 2. Which of the following is true about the carbon cycle? Combustion reduces carbon dioxide gas in the atmosphere. Cellular respiration uses carbon dioxide gas and water. Decomposition recycles the carbon compounds in nature and produces oxygen gas. Photosynthesis removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and makes organic matter. 3. Which of the following increases the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere? increased photosynthesis reduction of cellular respiration increased usage of fossil fuels increase in waste elimination by animals 4. How does nitrogen enter the biotic part of the Nitrogen cycle? photosynthesis brings in nitrogen gas to the plant nitrogen fixing bacteria form nitrogen compounds like ammonia that plants take in nitrogen gas is inhaled by animals and used by the body the denitrification process creates nitrogen gas that is released to the atmosphere 5. Atmospheric nitrogen has to be combined with other elements, or fixed, in order to be used by plants. Lightning is one way that nitrogen is fixed. When lightning occurs, the extreme heat breaks the bonds in nitrogen molecules, allowing nitrogen to combine with oxygen and form nitrogen oxides. In what way is most of the nitrogen fixed by lightning made available for use by plants? It is moved by the wind toward dry areas. It is incorporated into the exoskeletons of flying insects that eat plants. It is inhaled and exhaled by birds roosting in trees during rainstorms. it is carried by rain to the soil.