
Concept explainers
An ecosystem is comprised of a group of living organisms (microorganisms, animals, and plants) and non-living organisms (water, air, and mineral soil). The ecosystem does not possess a well-defined physical boundary. Ecologists state the ecosystem in different ways based on its functions, particularly how the nutrients and energy are assimilated and disseminated by the living organisms.

Answer to Problem 1TQ
Nutrients continuously traveled between the living things (biotic) and non-living things (abiotic). The movement of nutrients among various organisms as well as the physical environment is known as nutrient cycling. Therefore, option (a) is correct.
Explanation of Solution
Justify reasons for the correct statement:
Chemicals essential for effective growth and survival of the organisms in an ecosystem are referred as nutrients. A nutrient cycle is the continuous movement of nutrients from the physical surroundings into a living organism. Later, the nutrient is reprocessed back into the physical environment. Therefore, the movement of nutrients between physical environment and the living organism is termed as nutrient cycling.
Option (a) is given as “nutrient cycling”.
Hence, option (a) is correct.
Justify reasons for the incorrect statements:
Option (b) is given as “ecosystem services”.
Ecosystem services are categorized into four types. They are provisioning (water and food production), regulating (climate and disease control), cultural (recreational and health benefits), and supporting (oxygen production and nutrient cycles). Therefore, it is not directly associated only with the nutrient cycle. Hence, it is a wrong answer.
Option (c) is given as “net primary productivity”.
The rate at which plants generate net essential chemical energy in an ecosystem is referred to as a net primary productivity. Therefore, it is not related to the nutrient cycle. Hence, it is a wrong answer.
Option (d) is given as “decomposition”.
It is the process of decay or rotting, which is achieved by the breakdown of complex organic compounds into simpler organic forms. Hence, it is a wrong answer.
Hence, options (b), (c), and (d) are incorrect.
The movement of nutrients between organism and the physical environment is termed as nutrient cycling.
Want to see more full solutions like this?
- The following table is from Kumar et. al. Highly Selective Dopamine D3 Receptor (DR) Antagonists and Partial Agonists Based on Eticlopride and the D3R Crystal Structure: New Leads for Opioid Dependence Treatment. J. Med Chem 2016.arrow_forwardThe following figure is from Caterina et al. The capsaicin receptor: a heat activated ion channel in the pain pathway. Nature, 1997. Black boxes indicate capsaicin, white circles indicate resinferatoxin. You are a chef in a fancy new science-themed restaurant. You have a recipe that calls for 1 teaspoon of resinferatoxin, but you feel uncomfortable serving foods with "toxins" in them. How much capsaicin could you substitute instead?arrow_forwardWhat protein is necessary for packaging acetylcholine into synaptic vesicles?arrow_forward
- 1. Match each vocabulary term to its best descriptor A. affinity B. efficacy C. inert D. mimic E. how drugs move through body F. how drugs bind Kd Bmax Agonist Antagonist Pharmacokinetics Pharmacodynamicsarrow_forward50 mg dose of a drug is given orally to a patient. The bioavailability of the drug is 0.2. What is the volume of distribution of the drug if the plasma concentration is 1 mg/L? Be sure to provide units.arrow_forwardDetermine Kd and Bmax from the following Scatchard plot. Make sure to include units.arrow_forward
- Choose a catecholamine neurotransmitter and describe/draw the components of the synapse important for its signaling including synthesis, packaging into vesicles, receptors, transporters/degradative enzymes. Describe 2 drugs that can act on this system.arrow_forwardThe following figure is from Caterina et al. The capsaicin receptor: a heat activated ion channel in the pain pathway. Nature, 1997. Black boxes indicate capsaicin, white circles indicate resinferatoxin. a) Which has a higher potency? b) Which is has a higher efficacy? c) What is the approximate Kd of capsaicin in uM? (you can round to the nearest power of 10)arrow_forwardWhat is the rate-limiting-step for serotonin synthesis?arrow_forward
- Human Anatomy & Physiology (11th Edition)BiologyISBN:9780134580999Author:Elaine N. Marieb, Katja N. HoehnPublisher:PEARSONBiology 2eBiologyISBN:9781947172517Author:Matthew Douglas, Jung Choi, Mary Ann ClarkPublisher:OpenStaxAnatomy & PhysiologyBiologyISBN:9781259398629Author:McKinley, Michael P., O'loughlin, Valerie Dean, Bidle, Theresa StouterPublisher:Mcgraw Hill Education,
- Molecular Biology of the Cell (Sixth Edition)BiologyISBN:9780815344322Author:Bruce Alberts, Alexander D. Johnson, Julian Lewis, David Morgan, Martin Raff, Keith Roberts, Peter WalterPublisher:W. W. Norton & CompanyLaboratory Manual For Human Anatomy & PhysiologyBiologyISBN:9781260159363Author:Martin, Terry R., Prentice-craver, CynthiaPublisher:McGraw-Hill Publishing Co.Inquiry Into Life (16th Edition)BiologyISBN:9781260231700Author:Sylvia S. Mader, Michael WindelspechtPublisher:McGraw Hill Education





