NR 501 EXAM 2 UNH QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
100% CORRECT
microbes - ANSWER bacteria, archaea, and fungi
bacteria and fungi are the primary decomposers
microfauna - ANSWER protozoa and nematodes
consumers of soil microbes, release plant-available nutrients in this process
macrofauna - ANSWER collembola, rotifers, mites, earthworms, etc
earthworms - ANSWER earthworms are beneficial in some contexts but are invasive in
the Northern US. They cause significant disruption in invaded forests
mycorrhizae - ANSWER form a symbiotic relationship with plants, providing nutrient in
exchange for carbon
nitrogen mineralization - ANSWER conversion of organic N to inorganic N
nitrogen immobilization - ANSWER conversion of inorganic N to organic N
soil respiration - ANSWER the production of carbon dioxide when soil organisms respire
pools - ANSWER places where something is stored, ex carbon or nitrogen
, fluxes - ANSWER how stored material flows between pools
soil organic matter - ANSWER plant material in various stages of decay
includes living organisms and their dead tissues and wastes, microbial by-products and
residues
how can you increase soil organic matter levels? - ANSWER inputs must be increased
and/or outputs decreased
inputs: plant inputs, soil amendments
outputs: decomposition, erosion, leaching
how much carbon is stored in the terrestrial biosphere? - ANSWER 450-600 pentagrams
of carbon
Types of carbon fluxes - ANSWER photosynthesis, respiration, decomposition, soil
respiration, and human activities
organic matter - ANSWER includes all plant, animal, and microbial material in the soil
living and dead
organic carbon - ANSWER the carbon atoms present within organic compounds
a component of organic matter but not organic matter itself
Why is organic carbon used as an index/proxy for organic matter? - ANSWER carbon is
easier to measure accurately, provides a reliable estimate of the amount of organic
matter
100% CORRECT
microbes - ANSWER bacteria, archaea, and fungi
bacteria and fungi are the primary decomposers
microfauna - ANSWER protozoa and nematodes
consumers of soil microbes, release plant-available nutrients in this process
macrofauna - ANSWER collembola, rotifers, mites, earthworms, etc
earthworms - ANSWER earthworms are beneficial in some contexts but are invasive in
the Northern US. They cause significant disruption in invaded forests
mycorrhizae - ANSWER form a symbiotic relationship with plants, providing nutrient in
exchange for carbon
nitrogen mineralization - ANSWER conversion of organic N to inorganic N
nitrogen immobilization - ANSWER conversion of inorganic N to organic N
soil respiration - ANSWER the production of carbon dioxide when soil organisms respire
pools - ANSWER places where something is stored, ex carbon or nitrogen
, fluxes - ANSWER how stored material flows between pools
soil organic matter - ANSWER plant material in various stages of decay
includes living organisms and their dead tissues and wastes, microbial by-products and
residues
how can you increase soil organic matter levels? - ANSWER inputs must be increased
and/or outputs decreased
inputs: plant inputs, soil amendments
outputs: decomposition, erosion, leaching
how much carbon is stored in the terrestrial biosphere? - ANSWER 450-600 pentagrams
of carbon
Types of carbon fluxes - ANSWER photosynthesis, respiration, decomposition, soil
respiration, and human activities
organic matter - ANSWER includes all plant, animal, and microbial material in the soil
living and dead
organic carbon - ANSWER the carbon atoms present within organic compounds
a component of organic matter but not organic matter itself
Why is organic carbon used as an index/proxy for organic matter? - ANSWER carbon is
easier to measure accurately, provides a reliable estimate of the amount of organic
matter
