Name: Date: ______

The Water Cycle

Match the following terms to the correct definition. (Not all terms will be used!)

The change of a substance from a liquid to a gas A. Transpiration

The change of state from a gas to a liquid B. Condensation

Water that seeps into the ground that slowly flows back into the soil, C. Precipitation

streams, rivers, and oceans

D. Groundwater

The process of plants releasing large amounts of water vapor

E. Evaporation

The precipitation that falls on land that flows into streams, rivers, F. Runoff

oceans, and lakes

G. Water Cycle

_ Any form of water that falls to the Earth’s Surface from the clouds

H. Photosynthesis

The movement of water between the oceans, atmosphere, land, and I. Decomposition

living things

Using the terms you matched above, complete the diagram below.

The Water Cycle (Continued)

1.  Name the different types of precipitation:

a.  c

b.  d.

2. Explain the significance of the water cycle.

3. Where does the energy that powers the water cycle come from?

A. plants C. electrical outlets

B. animals D. sun

4. Which of the following is true about the water cycle?

A. It only moves through all living organisms

B. It only moves through all nonliving things

C. Water is moved through the physical environment and living organisms

D. The only way for water to move back to the atmosphere through evaporation

*CRITICAL THINKING: Why are the oceans salty?

The Carbon Cycle

Compare and contrast each of the following terms.

1. Decomposition and Combustion ______

2. Photosynthesis and Respiration ______

3. Organic Molecules and Inorganic Molecules (See textbook page 33). ______

Directions: Complete the missing terms in the carbon cycle diagram below:

The Nitrogen Cycle

Fill in the blanks.

1. The Earth’s atmosphere is made up of percent of nitrogen.

2. When organisms die, break down the remains which helps release nitrogen into the soil for plants to use.

3. in the soil are able to change nitrogen gas into forms that plants can use.

Short Answers

4. Why is nitrogen essential to life? ______

5. Describe, in detail, the importance of nitrogen fixation in the nitrogen cycle. ______

6. How do animals contribute to the nitrogen cycle? ______

Match the organism to its role in the nitrogen cycle.

Nitrogen fixation A. Herbivores and Omnivores

Decomposition B. Bacteria

Receives nitrogen by eating plants C. Plant roots

Takes up nitrogen from soil D. Decomposers

CRITICAL THINKING: Do the three cycles you learned about (water, carbon, and nitrogen cycles) affect each other in any way? Explain.

______

Succession

The stages of both primary and secondary succession are mixed up below.

Directions: Decide if each step is a part of Primary Succession or Secondary Succession and write your choice in the second column. Then, in the third column, number the steps of primary and secondary succession in order.

Stages / Primary or Secondary? / Step #?
Small trees such as conifers may start to grow among the weeds and continue to grow to form a forest.
Either the wind blows seeds or insects carry seeds allowing new weeks to appear.
Bare rock where nothing lives is exposed.
Over time, mosses are replaced by ferns which are then replaced by grasses and wildflowers. Enough soil also allows shrubs and small trees to grow.
Enough soil forms for mosses to grow which replaces pioneer species and other tiny organisms begin to live there.
A natural disaster causes a major disturbance and destroys a community leaving only some weeds left to grow.
The soil is deep enough to support a forest.
As older trees die, they are replaced by different trees if the climate can support them.
Acids from pioneer species creates small particles from rocks that start to form soil.

Succession (Continued)

1.  Compare and contrast primary and secondary succession.

______

2.  Is primary or secondary succession more important than the other? Explain. ______

3.  Describe what a pioneer species is. Why is it important to the ecosystem? ______

4.  North Caldwell is surrounded by many trees and wild habitats (i.e. many deer, birds, etc.). Using your knowledge of succession, predict what you think the area of North Caldwell will be like in 100 years. Explain the entire process.

______