Biology EOC Category 5 (Cont)

The diagram shows why the ocean is a large carbon sink.

An increase in the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere can cause atmospheric temperatures to increase. Which statement best explains how this could affect the ocean as a carbon sink?

The carbon cycle includes processes that release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and places that act as carbon reservoirs. The diagram in the image shows both major processes that release carbon and major carbon reservoirs.

Which of these disruptions would cause an excess output in the carbon cycle?

As a part of the nitrogen cycle, animals acquire some amino acids by doing which of the following?

The diagram in the image represents the nitrogen cycle in a student's aquarium. Ammonia, nitrites, and, to a lesser degree, nitrates can be harmful to fish. The student wants to keep the nitrogen in this aquarium cycling normally without having to continually change the water.

Which of the following should the student add more of to help remove the nitrates and improve the natural cycling of nitrogen in this aquarium?

Enchanted Rock State Natural Area is located in central Texas. Enchanted Rock is a dome of granite. The area consists of four easily identifiable communities. The table describes the characteristics of each type of community in the area.

A student studying primary succession should focus on which of these communities?

The graph shows the basic changes in a forest community following a disturbance.

The information shown in the graph suggests that the changes in the forest community were caused by-

During secondary succession, which of these best describes why decomposing pioneer plants give way to larger, more complex plant species, such as hardwood trees?

Roads are often built through forests for industrial purposes or as land developed for residential or commercial needs. How would road construction through a forest most likely affect the ecosystem?

Dead zones are low-oxygen areas that develop on the sea floor. Scientists hypothesize that phytoplankton blooms cause the dead zones. Phytoplankton blooms occur when excess nutrients are introduced by pollution from fertilizers, sewage plants, and the burning of fossil fuels. Which of the following would most likely cause an increase in these contributors to dead zones?