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Ch. 55 - Ecosystems and Restoration Ecology
Chapter 55, Problem 5

Which of the following has the greatest effect on the rate of chemical cycling in an ecosystem? a. the rate of decomposition in the ecosystem b. the production efficiency of the ecosystem's consumers c. the trophic efficiency of the ecosystem d. the location of the nutrient reservoirs in the ecosystem

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Chemical Cycling

Chemical cycling refers to the movement and transformation of nutrients and elements through biotic (living organisms) and abiotic (environmental) components of an ecosystem. This process is essential for maintaining ecosystem health, as it ensures the availability of vital nutrients like carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus, which are necessary for the growth and survival of organisms.
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Decomposition

Decomposition is the process by which organic matter is broken down into simpler substances by decomposers, such as bacteria and fungi. This process is crucial for nutrient cycling, as it releases nutrients back into the soil, making them available for plants and other organisms. The rate of decomposition can significantly influence the overall rate of chemical cycling in an ecosystem.
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Trophic Efficiency

Trophic efficiency refers to the proportion of energy or biomass transferred from one trophic level to the next in a food chain. It is a measure of how effectively energy is utilized by consumers after accounting for energy lost through metabolic processes. High trophic efficiency can enhance the productivity of an ecosystem, thereby affecting the overall rate of chemical cycling.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question

Which of these ecosystems has the lowest net primary production per square meter? a. a salt marsh b. an open ocean c. a coral reef d. a tropical rain forest

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Textbook Question

The discipline that applies ecological principles to returning degraded ecosystems to a more natural state is known as a. restoration ecology. b. thermodynamics. c. eutrophication. d. biogeochemistry.

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Textbook Question

Nitrifying bacteria participate in the nitrogen cycle mainly by a. converting nitrogen gas to ammonia. b. releasing ammonium from organic compounds, thus returning it to the soil. c. converting ammonium to nitrate, which plants absorb. d. incorporating nitrogen into amino acids and organic compounds.

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Textbook Question

Which of the following was a result of the Hubbard Brook watershed deforestation experiment? (A) Most minerals were not recycled within the intact forest ecosystem. (B) Calcium levels remained high in the soil of deforested areas. (C) Deforestation decreased water runoff. (D) The nitrate concentration in waters draining the deforested area became dangerously high.

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Textbook Question

Which of the following would be considered an example of bioremediation? a. adding nitrogen-fixing microorganisms to a degraded ecosystem to increase nitrogen availability b. using a bulldozer to regrade a strip mine c. reconfiguring the channel of a river d. adding seeds of a chromium-accumulating plant to soil contaminated by chromium

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Textbook Question

If you applied a fungicide to a cornfield, what would you expect to happen to the rate of decomposition and net ecosystem production (NEP)? a. Both decomposition rate and NEP would decrease. b. Neither would change. c. Decomposition rate would increase and NEP would decrease. d. Decomposition rate would decrease and NEP would increase.

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