Nutrient Cycling MCQs (Quiz 3) Posted on May 30, 2026Author agropublishers 0 1. Breakdown and decomposition of rocks at or near the Earth’s surface is called __________________ Weathering Deposition Denudation Erosion 2. ___________________ is the process, specialized bacteria use to convert unreactive atmospheric nitrogen gas into ammonia, making it available to living organisms Nitrogen fixation Nitrification Ammonification Denitrification 3. Detritivores primarily feed on _____________ Dead organic matter and debris Living producers Mineral particles Atmospheric gases 4. Ammonification is the process that releases which nitrogen-containing compound ____________ into the soil Carbon dioxide (CO₂) Nitrogen gas (N₂) Oxygen gas (O₂) Ammonia (NH₃) 5. _____________ are the primary product of biological nitrogen fixation from atmospheric N₂ Amino acids Simple proteins Complex proteins NH₃ / NH₄⁺ 6. In ecology, nutrient budget refers to _________________________ The balance of nutrient inputs, outputs, and storage The number of organisms in an ecosystem The rate of decomposition The cost of fertilizer application 7. Which statement correctly distinguishes weathering from denudation? Weathering and denudation are identical processes Weathering is a component of denudation, which also includes erosion and mass wasting Denudation is the breakdown of rocks; weathering is the transport of sediments Weathering includes erosion; denudation does not 8. ____________________________ is called nutrient turnover The rate at which nutrients are cycled and recycled through the biotic and abiotic components of an ecosystem The conversion of inorganic minerals into sedimentary rock The irreversible loss of nutrients from an ecosystem The permanent locking of nutrients into geological formations 9. __________________ involves the physical breaking of rocks without changing their chemical composition Hydrolysis Oxidation Physical weathering Chemical weathering 10. In plants, absorption primarily refers to ________________________________ Uptake of water and dissolved mineral ions from the soil through roots Conversion of soil nutrients into gaseous form Excretion of excess minerals through root tips Storage of water and nutrients in root sediments Loading … Question 1 of 10
