Biogeochemical Cycling Flashcards
Biogeochemical Cycling
The movement and exchange of essential elements and compounds between Earth’s spheres.
Why is biogeochemical cycling important to life on Earth?
They ensure the availability and recycling of crucial nutrients necessary for the growth and functioning of organisms.
What are the major elements involved in biogeochemical cycling?
Carbon
Nitrogen
Phosphorus
Sulphur
Oxygen
Water
Nitrogen
Essential element for living organisms, making structural proteins and enzymes.
Why is the nitrogen cycle needed, with the atmosphere being 78% nitrogen already?
This is the elemental nitrogen. Plants and animals are unable to absorb nitrogen in this form as it is unreactive.
What does the nitrogen cycle do?
Transforms elemental nitrogen into usable forms such as nitrate and ammonium which plants can absorb.
Processes involved in the nitrogen cycle
Nitrogen fixation
Assimilation
Ammonification
Nitrification
Denitrification
What does nitrogen fixation do?
Nitrogen fixation transforms atmospheric nitrogen and solid nitrogen into a useable form of nitrogen such as ammonium and nitrate.
When does the transfer of nitrogen occur?
When an organism consumes another living thing.
What does denitrification do?
It transforms the nitrogen compounds found in the back to atmospheric nitrogen.
What are some ways humans impact the nitrogen cycle?
Synthetic fertilizer use
Industrial nitrogen fixation
Fossil fuel combustion
Livestock farming
Deforestation
Phosphorus
An element essential for plant and animal growth, as well as the health of microbes inhabiting the soil
Why does phosphorus gradually become less available to plants over thousands of years?
It is slowly lost in runoff
What does low concentration of phosphorus in soils do?
Reduces plant growth, and slows soil microbial growth.
What is the main source of phosphorus?
Rocks
