AQA · Biology · 8461

GCSE Biology: How materials are cycled

Ecology · AQA GCSE Biology (8461), specification point 4.7.2.2. Cards are generated from the exam board's own specification for "How materials are cycled", and every card links back to the page it came from. Specification © AQA — used with attribution.

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  1. Between which two components of an ecosystem do materials cycle?

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    The abiotic (non-living) and biotic (living) components.

  2. Why are materials in the living world recycled?

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    To provide the building blocks for future organisms.

  3. In what form does the carbon cycle return carbon from organisms to the atmosphere?

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    As carbon dioxide.

  4. Which process do plants use to take carbon dioxide back out of the atmosphere?

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    Photosynthesis.

  5. The water cycle provides ? water for plants and animals on land before it drains into the seas.

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    fresh

  6. Which two processes continuously move water through the water cycle?

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    Evaporation and precipitation.

  7. Where does water in the water cycle eventually drain to?

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    The seas.

  8. How do microorganisms return carbon to the atmosphere?

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    By decomposing dead organisms and waste, releasing carbon as carbon dioxide (through respiration).

  9. What do microorganisms return to the soil when they cycle materials?

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    Mineral ions.

  10. Decomposing ? return carbon to the atmosphere as carbon dioxide and mineral ions to the soil.

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    microorganisms

  11. Why is the carbon cycle important to living organisms?

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    It returns carbon to the atmosphere as carbon dioxide, which plants need for photosynthesis to build new organic material.

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