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APES > V - Nutrient Cycling & Soils > Flashcards

V - Nutrient Cycling & Soils Flashcards

1
Q

Nutrient cycles

A

natural processes that involve the flow of nutrients from the nonliving
environment (air, water, soil, rock) to living organisms (biota)
& back again.

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2
Q

three major types

A

Hydrologic
Atmospheric
Sedimentary

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3
Q

Hydrologic

A

involving flows through the hydrosphere,
in the form of liquid water, compounds dissolved in
water, & sediments carried by water

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4
Q

Atmospheric

A

involving flows through the
atmosphere, as gases or airborne particles
(particulates)

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5
Q

Sedimentary

A

involving flows through the lithosphere

(Earth’s crust = soil & rock), as solid minerals

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6
Q

Nutrient cycles involve

A 
one–way
flow of high–
quality energy
from the sun
through the
environment &
recycling of
crucial elements.
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7
Q

Carbon main nonliving storehouse

A

Atmospheric carbon dioxide

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8
Q

Carbon main forms in living organisms

A

Carbohydrates and all other organic molecules

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9
Q

Carbon other nonliving storehouse

A

Hydrologic dissolved carbonate/ bicarbonate

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10
Q

Nitrogen main nonliving storehouse

A

Atmospheric: nitrogen gas

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11
Q

Nitrogen main forms in living organisms

A

Proteins & other nitrogen-containing organic molecules

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12
Q

Nitrogen other nonliving storehouse

A

Hydrologic : dissolved ammonium, nitrate, nitrite in water & soils

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13
Q

Phosphorus main nonliving storehouse

A

Sedimentary phosphate containing minerals in rocks

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14
Q

Phosphorus main forms in living organisms

A

DNA, other nucleic acids- ATP -& phospholipids

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15
Q

Phosphorus other nonliving storehouse

A

Hydrologic dissolved phosphate

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16
Q

Sulfur main nonliving storehouse

A

Sedimentary rocks -iron disulfide & pyrite - and mineral - sulfate

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17
Q

Sulfur main forms in living organisms

A

Sulfur-containing amino acids in most proteins, some vitamins

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18
Q

Sulfur other nonliving storehouse

A

Atmospheric hydrogen sulfide, sulfur dioxide, sulfur trioxide, sulfuric acid
Hydrologic sulfate & sulfuric acid

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19
Q

Role of water

A

• terrestrial ecosystems – major factor determining
distribution of organisms;
• aquatic ecosystems – literally matrix that surrounds &
serves as environment of aquatic organisms;
• flows of water are major means of material & energy
transport;
• water is critical for human activities – agriculture,
industry, & municipal use

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20
Q

Main processes in water cycle?

A 
Evaporation
Transpiration
Movement in atmosphere
Condensation
Precipitation
Infiltration
Percolation
Flow in aquifers
Runoff
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21
Q

Evaporation

A

conversion from liquid to vapor form (surface

to atmosphere)

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22
Q

Transpiration

A

evaporation from leaves of water extracted
from soil by roots & transported through the plant (surface to
atmosphere)

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23
Q

Movement in atmosphere

A

transport as vapor

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24
Q

Condensation

A

conversion of vapor to liquid droplets

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25
Q

Precipitation

A

movement as rain, sleet, hail, & snow

atmosphere to surface

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26
Q

Infiltration

A

movement into soil

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27
Q

Percolation

A

downward flow through soil to aquifers

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28
Q

Flow in aquifers

A

belowground flow of water.

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29
Q

Runoff

A

surface flow downslope to ocean.

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30
Q

Human Influences on water cycles?

A

• withdraw large quantities of fresh water – water
diversion, groundwater depletion, wetland drainage
• clear vegetation – increase runoff, decrease infiltration
& groundwater recharge, increase flooding & soil
erosion;
• modify water quality – add nutrients (P, N…) & pollutants

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31
Q

Role of carbon

A

• building block of organic molecules (carbohydrates,
fats, proteins, & nucleic acid) – essential to life;
• currency of energy exchange – chemical energy for
life stored as bonds in organic compounds;
• carbon dioxide (CO
2) greenhouse gas – traps heat
near Earth’s surface & plays a key role as “nature’s
thermostat”.

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32
Q

How is Carbon Cycled?

A 
Carbon cycling
between the
atmosphere &
terrestrial
ecosystems.
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33
Q

Natural & synthetic admission of carbon

A

Volcanoes & wildfires

Burning of fossil fuels

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34
Q

Role of ocean in carbon cycle

A 
Large amounts of
carbon are buried
in sediments in the
form of calcium
carbonate (CaCO3)
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35
Q

Main processes in carbon cycle

A 
Movement in atmosphere
Primary production
Movement through food web
Aerobic respiration
Combustion dissolving in oceans
Movement to sediments
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36
Q

Movement in atmosphere

A

atmospheric C as CO2 (0.036%

of troposphere)

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37
Q

Primary production

A

photosynthesis (= carbon fixation)

moves C from atmosphere to organic molecules in organisms;

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38
Q

Movement through food web

A

C movement in organic form

from organism to organism;

39
Q

Aerobic respiration

A

organic molecules broken down to

release CO2 back to atmosphere;

40
Q

Combustion

A

organic molecules broken by burning down to

release CO2 back to atmosphere;

41
Q

Dissolving in oceans

A

: C enters as to form carbonate (CO32–)

& bicarbonate (HCO3–);

42
Q

Movement to sediments

A 
C enters sediments, primarily as
calcium carbonate (CaCO3);
43
Q

Human Influences on Carbon cycle?

A

• removal of vegetation – decreases primary production
(decreases carbon fixation);
• burning fossil fuels & biomass (wood) – increase
movement of carbon into the atmosphere;
• the resulting increased concentration of
atmospheric CO2 is believed to be sufficient to
modify world climate through global warming

44
Q

Role of nitrogen

A

• building block of various essential organic
molecules – especially proteins & nucleic acids;
• limiting nutrient in many ecosystems – typically,
addition of N leads to increased productivity.

45
Q

How is Nitrogen Cycled?

A

Atmosphere
Ecosystem
Soil

46
Q

Main processes in nitrogen cycles

A 
Nitrogen fixation
Nitrification
uptake
Ammonification
Denitrification
47
Q

Nitrogen fixation

A

conversion of N
2 (nitrogen gas) to NH
4+(ammonium), atmospheric by lightning, biological by
bacteria & blue-green algae (anaerobic), e.g., Rhizobium in
legumes;

48
Q

Nitrification

A

conversion of NH

4+ to NO3- (nitrite) to NO3- (nitrate) by microbes

49
Q

Uptake

A

by plants, forms proteins and other N containing

organic compounds, enters food chain;

50
Q

Ammonification

A

returned to NH
4+ inorganic forms by
saprophytes and decomposers;

51
Q

Denitrification

A

conversion of NH
4+ to N2 by combustion or
microbes

52
Q

Human Influences on nitrogen cycle?

A

• emit nitric oxide (NO), which leads to acid rain – huge quantities of nitric oxide emitted; contributes to photochemical smog; forms nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in atmosphere, which can react with water to form nitric acid(HNO3) & cause acid deposition (“acid rain”)
• emit nitrous oxide into the atmosphere – nitrous oxide (N2O) is a potent greenhouse gas & also depletes ozone in stratosphere
• mine nitrogen–containing fertilizers, deplete nitrogen
from croplands, & leach nitrate from soil by irrigation
– leads to modification of nitrogen distribution in soils;
• remove N from soil by burning grasslands & cutting
forest – leads to decreased N in soils;
• add excess N to aquatic systems – runoff of nitrates &
other soluble N–containing compounds stimulates algal blooms, depletes oxygen, & decreases biodiversity;
• add excess N to terrestrial systems – atmospheric
deposition increases growth of some species (especially weeds) & can decrease biodiversity

53
Q

Role of Phosphorus?

A
  • essential nutrient for plants & animals

* limiting nutrient in many ecosystems

54
Q

Essential nutrient for plants & animals

A

especially building block for DNA, other nucleic acids
(including ATP; ATP stores chemical energy), various
fats in cell membranes (phospholipids), & hard calcium–
phosphate compounds (in bones, teeth, & shells);

55
Q

limiting nutrient in many ecosystems

A

typically,
addition of P leads to increased productivity, especially
for fresh water aquatic systems.

56
Q

How is Phosphorus Cycled?

A

Hydrospheric

Ecosystem

57
Q

Main processes in phosphorus cycle?

A 
Weathering
Uptake
Movement through food web
Breakdown of organic forms
Leaching
Burial in ocean sediments
58
Q

Weathering

A

P slowly released from rock or soil minerals
as phosphate (P04
3-), which dissolves in H20 & is readily
leached;

59
Q

Uptake

A

by plants to form organic phosphates;

60
Q

Movement through food web

A

nucleic acids (including
DNA & ATP), certain fats in cell membranes (phospholipids),
bones/teeth/shells (calcium–phosphate);

61
Q

Breakdown of organic forms

A

to phosphate (P043-) by decomposers

62
Q

Leaching

A

P043- from soil

63
Q

Burial in ocean sediments

A

not cycled in short time scale, only over geologic time

64
Q

Human Influences on phosphorus cycles?

A

• mine large quantities of phosphate rock – used for
organic fertilizers & detergents; can cause local effects from
mining & releases more P into environment;
• sharply decrease P available in tropical forests &
other ecosystems where P is limiting – deforestation
& certain agricultural practices decrease available P;
• add excess P to aquatic ecosystems – leads to
excessive algal growth, depletion of oxygen, & decrease in
biodiversity; such eutrophication (“over nourishment”)

65
Q

Role of Sulfur?

A

• component of some proteins & vitamins
– essential for organisms;
• limiting nutrient in some ecosystems

66
Q

How is sulfur cycled?

A

Abiotically & Biotically

67
Q

Main processes in sulfur cycle

A

Storage in rocks
Atmospheric input from volcanoes, anaerobic decay, & sea spray
Combustion
Movement through food web

68
Q

storage in rocks

A

much of Earth’s S is in rock form (e.g.,

iron disulfides or pyrites) or minerals (sulfates);

69
Q

atmospheric input from volcanoes, anaerobic

decay, & sea spray

A

S enters atmosphere in form of
hydrogen sulfide (HS) & sulfur dioxide (SO2), & sulfates
(SO42–)

70
Q

combustion

A

sulfur compounds released to the

atmosphere by oil refining, burning of fossil fuels, smelting, & various industrial activities

71
Q

movement through food web

A

movement through food web & eventual release during decay

72
Q

Human Influences on sulfur cycles?

A 
contribute about one–third of atmospheric sulfur emissions
• burning S–containing oil & coal;
• refining petroleum;
• smelting;
• other industrial processes
73
Q

soil

A

complex mixture of inorganic material (clay,

silt, & sand), decaying organic matter, air, water, & living organisms

74
Q

Characteristics of soil

A

• rich in biological life, including bacteria, fungi, &
invertebrates;
• complex ecosystem;
• develop & mature slowly –– can take 200 to
1,00 years to develop 2.5 cm (1 inch) or topsoil
(A horizon);
• well developed soils display distinct horizons, or
soil profiles.

75
Q

Rock cycle

A 
transformations
of rock over
millions of
years.
Phosphorus cycle part of rock cycle
76
Q

Main processes in rock cycle

A 
Weathering
Erosion
Transportation
Deposition
Melting
Cooling
Heat & Pressure
77
Q

Weathering

A

g

78
Q

Erosion

A

g

79
Q

Transportation

A

g

80
Q

Deposition

A

g

81
Q

Melting

A

g

82
Q

Cooling

A

g

83
Q

Heat & Pressure

A

g

84
Q

Soil Profiles

A

Horizons, or layers, vary in number & composition,

depending upon soil type.

85
Q

Soils from different biomes display

A

different profiles.

86
Q

Soil texture is determined by

A

the particular mix of

clay, silt, & sand.

87
Q

Types of soil textures

A 
Clay
Sandy clay
silty clay
Silty clay loam
Clay loam
Sandy clay loam
Loam
Silty loam
Sandy loam
Loamy sand
Sand
silt
88
Q

The pH scale is used to measure

A

acidity & alkalinity of water solutions.

89
Q

pH is an

A

important soil property.

90
Q

Soil Food Webs

A

Complex

Many different organisms + organic debris

91
Q

Soil Nutrient Cycling

A

Nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium are among the major nutrients

92
Q

Are ecosystems self–contained?

A

• immature natural ecosystems tend to have major shifts in
energy flow & nutrient cycling;
• over time ecosystems tend to reach an equilibrium with
respect to energy flow & nutrient cycling, such that these
ecosystems appear self–contained;
• however, there is considerable exchange of water &
nutrients of ecosystems with adjacent ecosystems;
• human disturbance (clear cutting, clearing, etc.) can cause
major loss of nutrients.

93
Q

How does nutrient cycling relate to ecosystem

sustainability?

A

• the law of conservation of matter enables us to understand
major nutrient cycles, and observe that given time natural
ecosystems tend to come into a balance wherein nutrients are
recycled with relative efficiency;
• modification of major nutrient cycles may lead to shift in
ecosystems, such that current ecosystems are not sustainable;
• developing a better understanding of energy flow & nutrient
cycling is critical to understanding the depth of environmental
problems.

94
Q

Organisms found in soil food webs includes

A 
flatworms
Rove beetle
Ant
Centipede
Mite
Ground beetles
Fungi
Snail
Slug
Earthworm
Sowbug
Adult fly

APES (26 decks)

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