Biogeochemical Cycles Flashcards
What are biogeochemical cycles?
Natural processes that recycle essential atoms like carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen through living organisms and the environment.
Name two important biogeochemical cycles.
The carbon cycle and the nitrogen cycle.
What four elements make up most of the atoms in living organisms?
Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen.
What happens to atoms when an animal grows?
The animal takes in atoms from its food and builds tissues like muscle, skin, and bone.
What happens to atoms when an organism dies?
The body decomposes, and the atoms are released back into the environment (e.g. soil or air).
How do atoms in decomposed organisms return to the food chain?
Plants absorb them from the soil and build them into tissues; animals then eat the plants.
What types of molecules do atoms like carbon form in the body?
Carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids.
Why are these cycles important?
They ensure that essential elements are continually reused and made available to all living organisms.
What is an example of how atoms are shared through time?
A carbon atom from Einstein’s body could be in your body today, because of recycling through the carbon cycle.
Where is carbon found in living things?
In carbon dioxide, carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins.
