Download Phosphorous Cycle Review Q*s

PHOSPHORUS CYCLE REVIEW Q’S
WHY IS PHOSPHORUS RARE/
A LIMITING FACTOR FOR
PLANTS?
It’s stored in sedimentary rocks for millions of
years.
It’s also not found in elemental form (b/c it’s
reactive with O2)
EXPLAIN THE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN ORGANIC AND
INORGANIC PHOSPHATE.
Organic- Stored in living things (DNA, cell
membranes)
Inorganic- Stored in non-living things (rocks,
dissolved in water/soil)
PHOSPHORUS IS NOT
FOUND IN WHAT PART OF
EARTH?
The atmosphere
LIST 3 USES FOR
PHOSPHORUS IN LIVING
THINGS.
DNA, ATP (energy), and cell
membranes
WHAT FORM IS
PHOSPHORUS FOUND IN ON
EARTH?
PO4
3-
HOW ARE PHOSPHATES
RELEASED FROM ROCKS?
Rain/wind weathers the rocks, breaking
them down to release P into the
environment
LIST 2 WAYS THAT PHOSPHATE
FROM FERTILIZER IS RELEASED
INTO THE WATER SYSTEMS.
Runoff
Leaching into groundwater
Absorbed into plants
WHAT IS THE TERM FOR PLANTS
OR ANIMALS TAKING IN
INORGANIC PHOSPHATES FROM
THE SOIL?
Assimilation
WHAT IS THE TERM FOR WHEN DEAD
ORGANISMS/ ANIMAL WASTE DECAYS
AND THE ORGANIC P IS RETURNED TO
THE SOIL AS INORGANIC P?
Mineralization
WHAT IS THE TERM FOR WHEN
PHOSPHATE RICH SEDIMENTS
BECOME ROCKS OVER TIME?
Sedimentation
_____________ IS WHEN THE
PHOSPHATE ROCKS FROM THE
OCEAN FLOOR REFORM
MOUNTAINS.
Geological uplift
LIST 2 WAYS THAT HUMANS
CONTRIBUTE TO THE
PHOSPHORUS CYCLE.
Overuse of fertilizers
Cleaners/detergents
Ranching