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CCEA GCSE Biology > The Nitrogen Cycle, Minerals & Eutrophication > Flashcards

The Nitrogen Cycle, Minerals & Eutrophication Flashcards

1
Q

Aerobic

1 mark

A

With Oxygen.

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2
Q

Anaerobic

1 mark

A

In the absence of Oxygen.

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3
Q

Amino acid

1 mark

A

The building blocks that make up a protein molecule.

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4
Q

Animal slurry

2 marks

A

Animal dung and excrement that can be used as a fertiliser.

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5
Q

Compost

2 marks

A

Decayed organic matter which can be used as a plant fertiliser.

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6
Q

Concentration

1 mark

A

The measure of the amount of a substance.

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7
Q

Faeces

1 mark

A

Waste matter from the Bowels.

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8
Q

Harvest

1 mark

A

To gather a crop.

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9
Q

Manure

1 mark

A

Animal dung (solid waste) used as fertiliser.

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10
Q

Nitrate

2 marks

A

Chemical absorbed from the soil by plants to produce their protein.

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11
Q

Root nodules

1 mark

A

Swellings found on roots.

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12
Q

Food chain

3 marks

A

A sequence (usually shown as a diagram) of feeding relationships between organisms

  • showing which organisms eat what + the movement of energy through trophic levels.

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13
Q

Nitrogen gas makes up __% of Earth’s atmosphere?

1 mark

A

78%

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14
Q

What is Nitrogen gas an essential component in?

2 marks

A

Amino acids + proteins.

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15
Q

How do plants absorb Nitrogen?

1 mark

A

In the form of nitrates.

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16
Q

What organisms cannot directly absorb nitrogen gas?

2 marks

A

Plants + animals.

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17
Q

Nitrates + other minerals are taken into a plant via

1 mark

A

Root hair cells

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18
Q

Root hair cells

2 marks

A

Specially adapted root cells.

  • they are specially adapted by having a long extension that provides a large surface area for absorption.
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19
Q

Specially adapted root cells

1 mark

A

Root hair cells

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20
Q

Special adaption of a root hair cell

2 marks

A

Long extension that provides a large surface area for absorption.

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21
Q

Nitrates/other minerals are absorbed in the soil by

4 marks

A

Process of active transport

  • moves the mineral from an area of low to an area of high concentration (in the soil)
  • against a concentration gradient, in the plant root.
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22
Q

What is required for active transport when transporting minerals into the soil

(3 marks)

A

Energy (from aerobic respiration) is required to move minerals against the concentration gradient

  • so this process needs to happen in the presence of O2.
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23
Q

Plants use ________ to make amino acids + proteins; these are then transferred to animals in the food chain.

(1 mark)

A

Nitrates

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24
Q

Plants use nitrates to make _____ _____ + _______; these are then transferred to animals in the food chain.

(2 marks)

A

Amino acids + proteins.

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25
Q

Made by nitrates in the Plant, what is transferred to animals in the food chain?

(2 marks)

A

Amino acids + proteins.

26
Q

Carries out the processes in the nitrogen cycle

1 mark

27
Q

Nitrogen gas converted into nitrates -Nitrogen Fixing Bacteria (NFB) carries out what process?

(1 mark)

A

Converting Nitrogen Gas into Nitrates.

28
Q

Nitrogen Fixing Bacteria need what and why?

2 marks

A

O2 - they are aerobic.

29
Q

Why is O2 needed in the Nitrogen Cycle?

2 marks

A

O2 + high temps quicken process.

30
Q

What is found free in soil/roots modules

  • found on roots of plants such as peas, beans + clover?

(1 mark)

A

Nitrogen Fixing Bacteria

31
Q

Within roots nodules, Nitrogen Fixing Bacteria gain 1._____________ from 2.______ + plant gains source of nitrates in return.

(2 marks)

A
  1. Carbohydrates

2. Plant

32
Q

Within roots nodules, Nitrogen Fixing Bacteria gain carbon from plant + 1._____ gains source of 2.________ in return

(2 marks)

A
  1. Plant

2. Nitrates

33
Q

Nitrogen Fixing Bacteria gain Carbon

2 marks

A

From plant

+ plant gains source of nitrates in return.

34
Q

Nitrogen Fixing Bacteria (NFB)

4 marks

A

Prokaryotic (aerobic) microorganisms

Found ‘free’ in soil/root nodules found on roots of leguminous plants

35
Q

In decaying plants + animals;

5 marks

A

Bacteria/fungi break down protein into ammonium compounds -

put back into the soil by decomposers.

Urine + faeces sends Nitrogen back into soil as ammonium compounds.

36
Q

Where is Urea, in the Body, found?

1 mark

37
Q

What does Urea contain?

1 mark

38
Q

Urine + faeces during decomposition of an animal

2 marks

A

Sends Nitrogen back into soil as ammonium compounds.

39
Q

Protein in the Body during decomposition of an animal

3 marks

A

Bacteria/fungi break down protein into ammonium compounds (ammonia)-

put back into the soil by decomposers.

40
Q

2 ways Nitrogen can be taken out of the air and converted into something easier to absorb:

(10 marks)

A
  • NF bacteria found ‘free living’ in soil + root nodules of leguminous Plant take N2 gas = change into nitrates in soil
  • Lightning can ‘fix’ N2 gas, splitting bond between the 2 atoms + turning them into nitrous oxides like N2O and NO2 that dissolve in rain water and ‘leach’ into the soil.
41
Q

Leguminous plants (legumes)

1 mark

A

Plants such as peas, beans + clover.

42
Q

Nitrifying Bacteria (NB)

3 marks

A

Aerobic (needs O2) - O2 + high temps quickens process of Nitrification.

43
Q

During the Nitrogen Cycle Ammonia is converted into

1 mark

44
Q

Nitrogen Fixing Bacteria - job

3 marks

A

Gain carbon from plant (Nitrogen Fixation stage)

Transforming Nitrogen Gas from the atmosphere into “fixed nitrogen” compounds - usable by plants.

45
Q

How can Farmers help reduce the amount of Denitrifying bacteria in their soil?

(1 mark)

A

By ploughing and turning over soil.

46
Q

Fertilisers

5 marks

A

Mainly contain nitrates that the crops can use for growth.

Can also contain calcium - needed for the production of plant cell walls

Magnesium - needed to make chlorophyll.

47
Q

What happens when crops are harvested + animals slaughtered?

1 mark

A

Nutrients they took from the soil are lost.

48
Q

In order to replace these lost nutrients in fertilisers, farmers use…

(2 marks)

A

Natural or artificial fertiliser.

49
Q

Examples of Natural Fertilisers e.g. slurry, manure and compost

(3 marks)

A
  • Slurry
  • Manure
  • Compost
50
Q

If nutrients are removed but not replaced in soil

1 mark

A

It will eventually lose its ability to grow crops.

51
Q

What do crops use Nitrates (from fertilisers) for?

1 mark

52
Q

How can calcium from fertilisers benefit a crop?

1 mark

A

Production of plant cell walls.

53
Q

How is magnesium (from fertilisers) used by crops?

1 mark

A

To make chlorophyll.

54
Q

Eutrophication

2 marks

A

Water pollution caused by the addition of sewage or fertiliser.

55
Q

Sewage or fertiliser run-off increases

3 marks

A

Nitrate concentration of the water
+ has a negative effect on the aquatic ecosystem;

  • nutrient concentration of water.
56
Q

Process of Eutrophication

8 marks

A

Sewage/fertiliser run-off increases nutrient concentration of water.

Extra nutrients cause increased growth of equator plants/algae - this is known as algai bloom.

Algai bloom - covers waters surface killing plants below the surface as light + O2 can’t reach them.

Algae die as nutrients run out.

Aerobic Bacteria decomposes dead plants.

Bacteria use up O2 for respiration.

Fish + other organisms die from lack of O2.

57
Q

Algae Bloom

4 marks

A

Extra nutrients causing increased growth of equator plants/algae over waters surface

  • killing plants below the surface as light + O2 can’t reach them.
58
Q

Aerobic Bacteria decomposes

1 mark

A

Dead plants

59
Q

Bacteria uses up __ for respiration.

1 mark

60
Q

Bacteria use up O2 for ___________.

1 mark

A

Respiration

61
Q

Fish + other organisms die from

1 mark

A

Lack of O2.

62
Q

Reduce eutrophication

2 marks

A

Controlling the use of fertiliser.

Storing manure + slurry more securely.

CCEA GCSE Biology (33 decks)

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