19. Organisms and their environment Flashcards
What is photosynthesis (carbon cycle)?
synthesis of chemical energy from light energy using water and carbon dioxide
What is respiration (carbon cycle)?
chemical process inside cells that releases energy
What is feeding (carbon cycle)?
ingesting organic matter from other organisms
What is decomposition (carbon cycle)?
breakdown of dead organic matter into simple nutrients/molecules that can be recycled back into the ecosystem
What is fossilisation (carbon cycle)?
dad organic matter compressed under optimum conditions into fossil fuels after millions of years
What is combustion (carbon cycle)?
complete oxidation of organic matter such as fossil fuels and biomass
What is decomposition (nitrogen cycle)?
proteins to ammonium ions
What is nitrification?
ammonium ions to nitrate ions
What is denitrification?
nitrate ions to nitrogen gas
Which organisms carry out nitrification?
nitrifying bacteria
What is a necessary condition for denitrification?
no presence of oxygen
For _______ to occur, no oxygen must be present.
denitrification
What is nitrogen fixation?
nitrogen gas to nitrates
Which organisms carry out decomposition?
by bacteria and fungi (decomposers)
Which organisms carry out nitrogen fixing? Where are they located?
nitrogen fixing bacteria
found in root nodules of legume plants
Which organism absorbs nitrate ions?
plants