For my Ecosystem Ecology and Biogeochemistry class, I\'m struggling with these q

Question

For my Ecosystem Ecology and Biogeochemistry class, I'm struggling with these questions, I'd really appreciate some help! Thank you in advance!

1) Consider a relatively pristine watershed that has many lakes distributed along its stream and river courses and another watershed that drains a similar landscape with similar population density and similar climate zone, but which has very few lakes. Which river system would you expect to discharge the most reactive N to the ocean? Briefly justify your answer.

2) Why are ocean-atmosphere interactions important in determining terrestrial ecosystem type (1 or 2 sentences)?

Explanation / Answer

Question 1:

(a): GREAT LAKES WATERSHED: It is a combination of the five great lakes(Huron, Michigan, Ontario, Superior and Erie) which are interconnected fresh water bodies located in the north America along the United States- Canadian border. This is the best example of watershed with many lakes distributed along its stream. Within these great lakes there are several thousands of lakes termed as inland lakes. They are the largest freshwater lakes on earth and they contain almost 21% of the world's freshwater. Interesting fact about great lakes watershed is that it's almost equal to the size of United Kingdom. Another example for watershed which have very few lakes is LA GRANDE RIVER BASIN which is the smallest north American watershed. This watershed raises in the highlands of North central Quebec and flows west to drain into James bay.

Question 2:

OCEAN-ATMOSPHEREINTERACTIONS:

There are different ways in which ocean and atmosphere interacts. Through heat, water, salt or momentum between them. The air and the ocean are continuously exchanging heat and ocean has a higher heat capacity.

TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEM: There are a wide variety of ecosystems all over the world where they usually exist on land and in the waters. But terrestrial ecosystem are found only on land. It is an area where physical objects such as soil, rocks and water function together with plants and animals.

Generally atmosphere and earth's ecosystems are a part of coupled system and they both influence one another. Terrestrial ecosystems photosynthetic productivity changes in temperature, precipitation and CO2 levels i.e if Climate becomes more favorable for growth productivity increases and carbon uptake from the atmosphere is enhanced.

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