Cycles within an ecosystem

Question 1

C and N in the atmosphere

What are the two main cycles that occur in an ecosystem?

Answer 1

• Carbon cycle
• Nitrogon cycle

Question 2

Give three molecules that are cycled through ecosystems?

Answer 2

• Oxygen carbon dioxide and water

Question 3

Brifly describe how carbon is cycled through an ecosystem

Answer 3

• CO2 is absorbed by autotrophs (plants)
• Respiration, decomposition, combustion realse carbon dioxed
• So carbon dioxide is realsed back into the atmosphere

Question 4

N D N D

Briefly describe how nitrogen is cycled through an ecosystem

Answer 4

• Nitrogen fixation- nitrogen is converted into nitrates from lightining, bacteria and haber process for plants to use
• Decomposition- deocmposers break down dead matter into ammonia
• Nitrification- nitrifiying bacteria convert ammonia into nitrites than nitrates
• Dentrification- dentreifiying bacteria convert nitrates back into nitrogen and realse nitrogen back into the atmophere

• Plants take in the nitrates
• Animals consume plants so gain the nitrates
• Animals die
• Decomposers break down the animals dead matter, the animals consumed the plants so there is nitrates in the animals body
• Decomposers turn nitrates to ammonia
• Ammonia is in the soil dentryifiiying bacteria convert back to nitrates
• The nitrates need somwher to go so dentryifiying bacteria convert nitrates to nitrogen gas