Table of contents

1. Introduction to Biology2h 42m
2. Chemistry3h 37m
3. Water1h 26m
4. Biomolecules2h 23m
5. Cell Components2h 26m
6. The Membrane2h 31m
7. Energy and Metabolism2h 0m
8. Respiration2h 40m
9. Photosynthesis2h 49m
10. Cell Signaling59m
11. Cell Division2h 47m
12. Meiosis2h 0m
13. Mendelian Genetics4h 44m
14. DNA Synthesis2h 27m
15. Gene Expression3h 6m
16. Regulation of Expression3h 31m
17. Viruses37m
- Viruses
  37m
18. Biotechnology2h 58m
19. Genomics17m
- Genomes
  17m
20. Development1h 5m
21. Evolution3h 1m
22. Evolution of Populations3h 53m
23. Speciation1h 37m
24. History of Life on Earth2h 6m
25. Phylogeny2h 31m
26. Prokaryotes4h 59m
27. Protists1h 12m
28. Plants1h 22m
29. Fungi36m
- Fungi
  19m
- Fungi Reproduction
  17m
30. Overview of Animals34m
- Overview of Animals
  34m
31. Invertebrates1h 2m
32. Vertebrates50m
33. Plant Anatomy1h 3m
34. Vascular Plant Transport1h 2m
- Water Potential
  1h 2m
35. Soil37m
- Soil and Nutrients
  20m
- Nitrogen Fixation
  16m
36. Plant Reproduction47m
- Flowers
  33m
- Seeds
  14m
37. Plant Sensation and Response1h 9m
38. Animal Form and Function1h 19m
39. Digestive System1h 10m
- Digestion
  1h 3m
- Blood Sugar Homeostasis
  7m
40. Circulatory System1h 49m
41. Immune System1h 12m
42. Osmoregulation and Excretion50m
- Osmoregulation and Excretion
  50m
43. Endocrine System1h 4m
- Endocrine System
  1h 4m
44. Animal Reproduction1h 2m
- Animal Reproduction
  1h 2m
45. Nervous System1h 55m
- Neurons and Action Potentials
  1h 8m
- Central and Peripheral Nervous System
  46m
46. Sensory Systems46m
- Sensory System
  46m
47. Muscle Systems23m
- Musculoskeletal System
  23m
48. Ecology3h 11m
49. Animal Behavior28m
- Animal Behavior
  28m
50. Population Ecology3h 41m
51. Community Ecology2h 46m
52. Ecosystems2h 36m
53. Conservation Biology24m
- Conservation Biology
  24m

52. Ecosystems

Introduction to Ecosystems

General Biology

52. Ecosystems

Introduction to Ecosystems

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3:18 minutes

Problem 4

Textbook Question

In a model of the carbon cycle, how would you label an arrow from the atmosphere to plants?

a. cellular respiration
b. photosynthesis
c. decomposition
d. consumption

Verified step by step guidance

Identify the process by which plants utilize carbon from the atmosphere. This process involves the conversion of carbon dioxide into organic compounds, primarily sugars, using the energy from sunlight.

Recognize that cellular respiration is the process by which organisms break down sugars to produce energy, releasing carbon dioxide as a byproduct, which is the opposite of what we are looking for.

Understand that decomposition refers to the breakdown of organic matter into simpler compounds, releasing carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere, which is also not the process we are looking for.

Consider that consumption generally refers to one organism eating another, which does not directly involve the transfer of carbon from the atmosphere to plants.

Conclude that the correct label for the arrow from the atmosphere to plants in the carbon cycle model is the process that captures atmospheric carbon dioxide and converts it into organic molecules in plants.

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Key Concepts

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

Photosynthesis

Photosynthesis is the process by which green plants, algae, and some bacteria convert light energy into chemical energy, specifically glucose, using carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and water. This process occurs primarily in the chloroplasts of plant cells and is essential for producing the organic compounds that serve as food for the plant and, ultimately, for other organisms in the ecosystem.

Carbon Cycle

The carbon cycle is a biogeochemical cycle that describes the movement of carbon among the atmosphere, oceans, soil, and living organisms. It involves processes such as photosynthesis, respiration, decomposition, and combustion, which collectively regulate the levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and are crucial for maintaining life on Earth.

Cellular Respiration

Cellular respiration is the metabolic process by which cells convert glucose and oxygen into energy, carbon dioxide, and water. While it is a critical process for energy production in living organisms, it is not the process that describes the movement of carbon from the atmosphere to plants, which is specifically captured by photosynthesis.

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Related Practice

Textbook Question

Most of the nutrients available for plant growth in an ecosystem are

a. Deposited in rain

b. Made available through the recycling of decomposers

c. Maintained within that ecosystem over time

d. B and C are correct

e. A, B, and C are correct

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Textbook Question

What roles do bacteria play in the nitrogen cycle?

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Textbook Question

Use Figures 34.5C and 34.18 to predict how global warming (rapid increase in Earth's average temperature; see Module 7.14) might affect the water cycle.

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Textbook Question

Aquatic biomes differ in levels of light, nutrients, oxygen, and water movement. These abiotic factors influence the productivity and diversity of freshwater ecosystems.

a. Productivity, roughly defined as photosynthetic output, is high in estuaries, coral reefs, and shallow ponds. Describe the abiotic factors that contribute to high productivity in these ecosystems.

b. How does extra input of nitrogen and phosphorus (for instance, by fertilizer runoff) affect the productivity of lakes and ponds? Is this nutrient input beneficial for the ecosystem? Explain.

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Open Question

Researchers use models like the business-as-usual model to examine the possible effects of climate change on both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. These models are not predictions of our future, but instead allow us to make decisions now to avoid future problems. Provide examples of how society should change to reduce the impact of climate change on our oceans.

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Textbook Question

Which of the following organisms is correctly paired with a trophic level?

a. cyanobacterium—secondary consumer

b. grasshopper—primary consumer

c. zooplankton—primary producer

d. grass—decomposer

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Multiple Choice

Imagine the ecosystem of your local park has gone through a harsh winter, and the total energy contained within the ecosystem is relatively low. To increase the total amount of energy entering the ecosystem, which of the following types of organism could you introduce into the park?

Which of the following terms encompasses all the others?