Decay Processes Flashcards
Why do materials decay?
Because they are broken down (digested) by microorganisms.
When are microorganism more active?
Microorganism are more active and digest materials faster in warm, moist, aerobic conditions
What does the decay process release?
Substances that plants need to grow
What occurs in a stable community?
The processes that remove materials are balanced by the processes that return materials. The materials are constantly cycled
Living things remove materials from the environment for growth and other processes. When are they returned?
In waste materials or when the living things die and decay
What is the constant cycle of carbon called?
The carbon cycle
What takes place in the carbon cycle?
CO2 is removed from the environment by green plants and algae for photosynthesis
The carbon from the CO2 is used to make carbohydrates, fats and proteins, which make up the body of plants and algae
When green plants and algae respire, some of this carbon becomes CO2 and is released into the atmosphere
When green plants and algae are eaten by animals and these animals are eaten by other animals, some of the carbon becomes part of the fats and proteins that make up their bodies
When animals respire some of this carbon becomes CO2 and I released into the atmosphere
When plant, algae and animals die, some animals and microorganism feed on their bodies
By the time the microorganisms and detritus feeders have broken down the waste products and dead bodies of organisms in ecosystems and cycled the materials as plant nutrients, all the energy originally absorbed by the green plant and algae has been transferred
Combustion of wood and fossil fuels releases CO2 into the atmosphere
