Living Environment Regents Practice Test

Which of the following is a natural cycle that may be disrupted by the removal of oak trees?

1. Photosynthesis

2. Water cycle

3. Nutrient cycling

4. Energy flow

The correct answer is: Nutrient cycling

The removal of oak trees can significantly disrupt nutrient cycling, which is the process through which nutrients are transferred between living organisms and the environment. In a forest ecosystem, trees like oaks play a vital role in maintaining this cycle. They absorb nutrients from the soil and utilize them for growth. When trees die or are removed, the cycle is interrupted as the nutrients that would typically be returned to the soil through decomposition are not available. Additionally, oak trees provide habitat and food for various organisms, contributing to the biodiversity that relies on this nutrient exchange. As these organisms decompose, they further enrich the soil, thereby supporting a healthy nutrient cycle. The absence of oak trees can diminish this complexity, leading to nutrient depletion in the soil and negatively affecting plant growth and overall ecosystem health. While photosynthesis, the water cycle, and energy flow are all critical ecological processes, their disruptions are often more indirect consequences of factors like deforestation rather than being a direct cycle associated specifically with the removal of oak trees. The nutrient cycling is most directly impacted due to the integral roles these trees play in both nutrient uptake and providing organic matter through leaf litter and root structures.