N-Cycle in Wetlands Flashcards
1
Q
What is the important process of the N-cycle?
A
- Nitrogen fixation
- Nitrification
- Denitrification
2
Q
What is Nitrogen fixation?
A
Conversion of N2 gas to organic nitrogen.
Done by blue-green algae, aerobic and anaerobic bacteria
3
Q
What is Nitrification?
A
Ammonium is oxidized to nitrate.
Done by aerobic bacteria
4
Q
What is denitrification?
A
Converts nitrate (form available to plants) to nitrous oxide (N2O) or molecular nitrogen (N2).
Done by anaerobic bacteria.
5
Q
Why denitrification in wetlands is important?
A
- Humans have doubled N in the land N-cycle through: (Manufacturing fertilizer, Nitrogen-fixing crops, Fossil fuel burning)
- Much nitrate (NO3-) is transported in rivers and streams
- This leads to eutrophication in coastal waters
- Eutrophication – algal blooms
- When algae dies, it creates hypoxia
- Persistent hypoxia in coastal waters creates a risk for marine life.
6
Q
Why the N-cycle in wetlands is important?
A
To get the Nitrogen out of the runoff water before it goes into the water bodies, the process is denitrification which mainly occurs in waterlogged or saturated soils – in wetlands.
