Concept explainers
SCIENTIFIC INQUIRY
INTERPRET THE DATA Ihe feather moss Pleurozium schreberi harbors species of symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria. Scientists studying this moss in northern forests found that the percentage of the ground surface“covered” by the moss increased from about 5% in forests that burned 35 to 41 years ago to about 70% in forests that burned 170 or more years ago From mosses growing in these forests, they also obtained the following data on nitrogen fixation:
(a) Use the data to draw a line graph, with age on the x-axis and the nitrogen fixation rate on the y-axis.
(B) Along with the nitrogen added by nitrogen fixation, about 1kg of nitrogen per hectare per year is deposited into northern forests from the atmosphere as rain and small particles. Evaluate the extent to which Pleurozium affects nitrogen availability in northern forests of different ages.
Want to see the full answer?
Check out a sample textbook solutionChapter 29 Solutions
Campbell Biology
- Many plants that produce nodules for nitrogen-fixing bacteria are common on disturbed sites. Explain how these plants might simultaneously compete with and facilitate other plant species.arrow_forwardFigure 20.12 Which of the following statements about the nitrogen cycle is false? a. Ammonification converts organic nitrogenous matter from living organisms into ammonium (NH4+) . 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.arrow_forwardFigure 44.21 In which of the following regions would you expect to find photosynthetic organisms? the aphotic zone, the meritic zone, the oceanic zone, and the benthic realm the photic zone, the intertidal zone, the meritic zone, and the oceanic zone the photic zone, the abyssal zone, the meritic zone, and the oceanic zone the pelagic realm. the aphotic zone, the meritic zone, and the oceanic zonearrow_forward
- Plant growth is limited by available nitrogen. Why is nitrogen fixation a limiting factor? There is very little nitrogen available after fossil fuel combustion utilizes the available nitrogen. Nitrogen must be produced by bacteria due to the inability of recycling by decomposers. There is no nitrogen in the atmosphere; it is only found in aquatic biomes. The stability of nitrogen gas makes it difficult to turn into nitrogen for living things.arrow_forwardIn the light of carbon cycle: a) How we humans disturbed the carbon cycle? b) What can we do so that these disturbances are not cause and they don’t affect the environment? Suggest at least three ways.arrow_forward4. Energy is always transferred from a. autotrophs to heterotrophs b. heterotrophs to autotrophs c._ autotrophs to decomposersarrow_forward
- Make a diagram showing the interconnection between carbon and nitrogen cycle. Indicate possible microorganisms (scientific name) involved in each process.arrow_forwardAt a global scale, harmful algal blooms (HABS) are appearing in many places, often new places, and lasting longer than previously recorded. Across Florida, the occurrence of algal blooms, caused by various species of phytoplankton, has been intensifying. In the summer of 2016, a state of emergency was declared because a toxic cyanobacterial bloom occurred in Lake Okeechobee which spread into and throughout the St. Lucie River and Estuary. Water samples collected during the bloom helped identify a limiting nutrient. 1. Data from a Burger et al. (2004) indicate that mercury levels in Florida gar, top-level predators, from Lake Okeechobee were not higher than mercury levels of fish muscle from other locations in the United States. However, mercury levels in the livers of Florida gar were above the level considered safe for human consumption. a. Explain why this is good news for people who fish in Lake Okeechobee. b. Explain why this is bad news for non-human consumers of fish, and how it…arrow_forwardwhich of the following statements about algal bloom and eutrophication is true? 1. Eutrophication is typically caused by the removal of nitrogen and/or phosphorus 2. algal blooms cannot produce toxic substances that threaten drinking water 3. when algae in an algal bloom die, decomposition produces excess oxygen, which can kill fish 4. algae populations grow when limiting nutrients become more availablearrow_forward
- With reference to the phosphorus cycle, explain the benefits of phosphate solubilizing microorganisms to plants and Discuss how the activities of symbionts in a mutualistic association can lead to microbial weathering (1000 words).arrow_forwardDefend the statement that the more and longer we use fossil fuels as the dominant fuel in the world, the greater the adverse impacts of that use will be in terms of air and water pollution and the greater the potential disruption for society as increasing worldwide population competes for limited fossil fuels.arrow_forwardYou are culturing 2 algal species. Species A has a maximum photosynthetic output of 8 mg C mg-1 chl a h-1 and a half saturation constant of 20 µE m-2 s-1. Species B reaches a maximum photosynthetic output of 4 mg C mg-1 chl a h-1 and has half saturation constant of 18 µE m-2 s-1. Which species will be growing faster at a PAR light intensity of 80 µE m-2 s-1? Why?arrow_forward
- Biology 2eBiologyISBN:9781947172517Author:Matthew Douglas, Jung Choi, Mary Ann ClarkPublisher:OpenStaxConcepts of BiologyBiologyISBN:9781938168116Author:Samantha Fowler, Rebecca Roush, James WisePublisher:OpenStax CollegeBiology (MindTap Course List)BiologyISBN:9781337392938Author:Eldra Solomon, Charles Martin, Diana W. Martin, Linda R. BergPublisher:Cengage Learning
- Biology Today and Tomorrow without Physiology (Mi...BiologyISBN:9781305117396Author:Cecie Starr, Christine Evers, Lisa StarrPublisher:Cengage Learning