Carbon Cycle Flashcards
Which nutrients are not endless resources, why and what is the solution to this?
Nutrients such as carbon and nitrogen, There is a finite amount of each element on the planet and as such, they need to be recycled in order to allow new organisms to be made and grow
In what form is carbon taken out of the atmosphere by plants and why?
Carbon is taken out of the atmosphere in the form of carbon dioxide by plants to be used for photosynthesis.
What happens after carbon in taken out of the atmosphere by plants?
It is passed on to animals (and microorganisms) by feeding
What happens after Carbon is passed on to animals (and microorganisms) by feeding and why?
It is returned to the atmosphere in the form of carbon dioxide by plants, animals and microorganisms as a result of respiration
What happens after Carbon dioxide is returned to the atmosphere in the form of carbon dioxide by plants, animals and microorganisms?
If animals and plants die in conditions where decomposing microorganisms are not present the carbon in their bodies can be converted, over millions of years and significant pressure, into fossil fuels. However, if animals and plants die in conditions where decomposing microorganisms are present, they decompose the dead organisms and return carbon back into the atmosphere in the form of Carbon dioxide as a result of respiration.
What happens after animals and plants are converted into fossil fuels?
Then When fossil fuels are burned (combustion), the carbon combines with oxygen and carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere
How are animals and plants converted into fossil fuels?
When decomposing microorganisms are not present the carbon in their bodies can be converted, over millions of years and significant pressure, into fossil fuels
Explain what happens when fossil fuels are burned
When fossil fuels are burned (the process is known as combustion), the carbon combines with oxygen and carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere.
Increased use of fossil fuels is contributing to…
An increase in the carbon dioxide content of the atmosphere
What is reducing the amount of producers?
Mass deforestation is reducing the amount of producers.
What are the consequences of deforestation on producers?
Mass deforestation is reducing the amount of producers available to take carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere by photosynthesis
What is Nitrogen required for?
Nitrogen is is required to make proteins and build DNA.
Explain how nitrate ions help plants to grow.
Nitrate ions contains amino acids which are used to make proteins & for building DNA.
Why can Neither plants nor animals can absorb Nitrogen from the air?
Neither plants nor animals can absorb it from the air as N2 gas is very stable and the bonds holding the nitrogen atoms together would need massive amounts of energy to break .
How can Nitrogen be taken out of the air?
Nitrogen fixing bacteria found ‘free living’ in soil and also in the root nodules of certain plants (peas, beans, clover – we call them leguminous plants) take N2 gas and change it into nitrates in the soil
Lightning can ‘fix’ N2 gas, splitting the bond between the two atoms and turning them into nitrous oxides like N2O and NO2 that dissolve in rainwater and ‘leach’ into the soil
Why is Nitrogen converted into nitrates?
Neither plants nor animals can absorb it from the air as it is very stable, so by converting it to nitrates it is now converted into something easier for the plants to absorb.
Where can we find Nitrogen fixing bacteria?
Free living’ in soil and also in the root nodules of certain plants (peas, beans, clover – we call them leguminous plants)
Purpose of Nitrogen fixing bacteria
They take N2 gas and change it into nitrates in the soil so that it can be absorbed by plants.
How is lightning involved in the Nitrogen gas?
As Nitrogen cannot be absorbed by plants, lightning can ‘fix’ N2 gas, splitting the bond between the two atoms and turning them into nitrous oxides like N2O and NO2 that dissolve in rainwater and ‘leach’ into the soil
What happens after Nitrogen is converted into nitrates?
Plants absorb the nitrates they find in the soil and use the nitrogen in them to make proteins
What happens after the plants absorb the nitrates in the soil?
Animals eat the plants (or other animals) and get the nitrogen they need from the proteins in the plant or animal
What happens after Animals eat the plants?
Waste (urine and faeces) from animals sends nitrogen back into the soil as ammonium compounds (the urea in urine contains nitrogen)
What does the urea in urine contain?
Nitrogen
What sends nitrogen back into the soil as ammonium compounds?
Waste (urine and faeces) from animals.
