Exam 24: Nutrient Cycles, Biodegradation, and Bioremediation

The primary energy source for termites comes from

The copolymer poly- B- hydroxybutryate is an example of a _, because the material came from microorganisms that are capable of degrading the polymer as well.

When microorganisms degrade oil, the carbon is oxidized to

Mercury can serve as a transcriptional activator in the regulation of certain genes.

Abiotic oxidation of Fe2+ requires oxygen; no other chemicals can oxidize Fe2+.

Methanogens, among other compounds, use alcohols and fatty acids to synthesize methane gas in anoxic environments.

Describe what might be expected to happen to microbial communities with a global temperature increase of 4°C.

Lignin is a complex polymer of methoxylated compounds and is present in many .

Describe how syntrophy helps explain why certain enrichments yield consortia and never an individual species.

occurs when an organism degrades a compound only when catabolism of a different organic compound ensues.

When carbon is limiting in a system, sulfate reducers often predominate the system when sufficient sulfate ions are present for reduction.

The precipitation of iron ions into solid forms it is often due to exposure of organic carbon compounds.

The animals living near hydrothermal vents tend to eat primarily chemolithotrophic bacteria.

Humic acids are difficult to degrade, and therefore they usually remain in a system for several decades.

Explain from where humus is derived, and use that knowledge to infer its chemical composition.

When dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) is aerobically degraded in a marine environment, which product is most often used to support growth?

Which compound in fertilizer do farmers use to inhibit the production of easily leached nitrogen compounds?

Coccolithophores and foraminiferans both use to form their exoskeletons.

Which organisms form the foundation of the carbon cycle?

Which iron species is produced primarily from iron smelting and rarely is produce by microbial- mediated processes?