The Nitrogen Cycle

Question 1

What do the squares represent?

Answer 1

inorganic forms of nitrogen that flow through the ecosystem

Question 2

What do plants absorb?

Answer 2

nitrates e.g. proteins / DNA and animals eat plants

Question 3

What happens when nitrogen decomposes in animals?

Answer 3

they will be decomposed by saprobiotic microbes

Question 4

What is the process of the nitrogen cycle?

Answer 4

makign ammonia - ammonification - from decomposers to ammonium ions

ammonium ions to nitrite = nitrification - bacteria for this is called nitrosomonas

nitrite to nitrate = nitrfirication - nitrobacter

nitrite to nitrogen gas = denitrification - under anaerobic conditions e.g. waterlogged soil

nitrogen gas to plants = nitrogen fixation - rhizobium is the bacteria which does this

plants to decomposers = saprobiotic nutrition - digestion of dead organic matter by
extracellular enzymes

nitrogen gas to ammonion ions - bacteria that does this fixation is called
azotobacter