Biogeochemical Cycles and Their Importance

This set of flashcards covers key concepts related to biogeochemical cycles, including nitrogen, phosphorus, carbon, and water cycles, along with processes, human impacts, and importance in ecosystems.

What is a Bio-nutrient cycle?

The process where nutrients are recycled in an ecosystem.

What does it mean to be Egested?

The process of expelling waste from the body.

What are Abiotic components?

Non-living components of an ecosystem.

What are Biotic components?

Living components of an ecosystem.

What are Decomposers?

Organisms that break down organic material, such as bacteria and fungi.

What are Detritivores?

Animals that feed on dead organic material, like worms and vultures.

What is the Nitrogen Cycle?

The biogeochemical process describing how nitrogen moves through the atmosphere, soil, and living organisms.

What is Nitrogen fixation?

The process of converting atmospheric nitrogen (N2) into ammonia (NH3) and ammonium (NH_4).

What is Nitrification?

The two-step process where ammonium is converted to nitrite and then to nitrate.

What is Assimilation?

The process of plants absorbing nitrates and turning them into amino acids and nucleotides.

What is Ammonification?

The process where decomposers break down organic waste and return ammonium to the soil.

What is Denitrification?

The process by which anaerobic bacteria convert nitrates back into nitrogen gas or nitrous oxide.

What is Eutrophication?

An increase in nutrients, commonly due to runoff, leading to algal blooms.

What is the Phosphorus Cycle?

The biogeochemical cycle that describes how phosphorus moves through the environment.

What are Phosphates?

Ions that are released from rocks and are essential for plants and animals.

What is Weathering?

The breaking down of rocks through rain, wind, and chemical reactions.

What is Sedimentation?

The process by which phosphate binds to sediments over time.

What is Geological Uplift?

The tectonic activity that exposes phosphate-rich rocks.

What is the Carbon Cycle?

The biogeochemical cycle that describes how carbon moves between the atmosphere, biosphere, and geosphere.

What is Photosynthesis?

The process where plants convert CO_2 into glucose using sunlight.

What is Respiration?

The process by which organisms break down glucose, releasing CO_2.

What is Combustion?

The burning of organic matter or fossil fuels that releases carbon into the atmosphere.

What is Ocean–Atmosphere Exchange?

The process where CO_2 dissolves into ocean water and is used by marine organisms.

What is Fossil Fuel Formation?

The process of converting buried organic matter into coal, oil, and gas.

What is the Hydrologic Cycle?

The continuous circulation of water among Earth’s reservoirs.

What is Evaporation?

The process where liquid water turns into water vapor.

What is Transpiration?

The release of water vapor from plants into the atmosphere.

What is Sublimation?

The process where ice or snow changes directly into vapor.

What is Condensation?

When water vapor cools and forms tiny droplets.

What is Precipitation?

Water droplets that fall from clouds in the form of rain, snow, sleet, or hail.

What is Infiltration?

The process where water seeps into the soil.

What is Percolation?

The downward movement of water through soil layers and rock pores.

What is Runoff?

Water that flows over land into rivers, lakes, and oceans.

What is Groundwater Movement?

The slow movement of water stored in aquifers.

What are Nitrogen-fixing bacteria?

Bacteria that convert nitrogen gas into ammonia.

What is Rhizobium?

A type of nitrogen-fixing bacteria found in legumes.

What is Azotobacter?

Free-living soil bacteria involved in nitrogen fixation.

What are Cyanobacteria?

Aquatic bacteria that contribute to nitrogen fixation.

What is Nitrosomonas?

Bacteria that convert ammonium into nitrite.

What is Nitrobacter?

Bacteria that convert nitrite into nitrate.

What are Nucleotides?

The building blocks of nucleic acids like DNA and RNA.

What is Organic waste?

The remains of dead organisms that decomposers break down.

What are Human impacts (on biogeochemical cycles)?

Effects of human activities on biogeochemical cycles.

What is Agricultural runoff?

Excess water from fields that carries nutrients into water bodies.

What are Atmospheric nitrogen levels?

The amount of nitrogen gas present in the atmosphere.

What are Essential nutrients?

Nutrients that are vital for the life and growth of organisms.

What are Greenhouse gases?

Gases that trap heat in the atmosphere, such as CO2 and CH4.

What are Carbon skeletons?

Frameworks of carbon atoms found in biological molecules.

What are Diatoms?

Algae that use dissolved carbonates to build their shells.

What is a Limiting nutrient?

A nutrient that limits the growth of organisms in an ecosystem.

What is Ecosystem productivity?

The rate at which plants and animals produce biomass.

What are Dead zones?

Areas in water bodies with low oxygen levels where life is unsustainable.

What is Heat distribution?

How heat is spread across the globe through water circulation.

What is the Biosphere?

The global sum of all ecosystems, where life exists.

What is Nutrient cycling?

The movement of nutrients through ecosystems.

What is Soil fertility?

The ability of soil to support plant growth, determined by nutrient availability.

What are Organic molecules?

Compounds that contain carbon and are found in living organisms.

What are Carbonates?

Minerals that contain the carbonate ion, crucial for aquatic life.

What are Photosynthetic organisms?

Organisms that perform photosynthesis to convert sunlight into energy.

What is Nutrient depletion?

The reduction of essential nutrients from soils.

What is Acid rain?

Rainfall that is significantly more acidic than natural, usually due to pollutants.

What are Algal blooms?

Rapid increase in algae in water due to excess nutrients.

What is Water vapor?

The gaseous state of water, present in the atmosphere.

What is Glacial melting?

The process where glaciers lose mass, contributing to sea-level rise.

What is Ecosystem health?

A measure of the vitality of an ecosystem's function and balance.

What is Climate change?

Long-term alterations in temperature and typical weather patterns.

What is Soil sediment?

Particulates that settle to the bottom of water bodies, affecting water quality.

What are Chemical reactions?

Processes that lead to the transformation of substances.

What is Nutrient availability?

The presence of nutrients in forms that can be utilized by organisms.

What are Organismic interactions?

The relationships between living organisms within ecosystems.

What is the Oxygen cycle?

The process by which oxygen is exchanged between the earth and its atmosphere.

What is a Carbon footprint?

The total amount of greenhouse gases emitted directly or indirectly.

What is Microbial activity?

The actions of microscopic organisms affecting nutrient cycles.

What are Trophic levels?

Hierarchical levels in an ecosystem, defined by energy flow.

What are Biochemical processes?

Chemical processes that occur within living organisms.

What is an Aquifer?

A geological formation that can store and transmit groundwater.

What are Biomes?

Large areas characterized by specific climatic conditions and ecosystems.

What is Nutrient runoff?

Nutrients washed off the land into water bodies, often leading to pollution.

What is Climate regulation?

Controlling factors that maintain Earth's climate balance.

What is Fertilizer application?

The addition of nutrients to soil to enhance crop production.

What is Nitrogen dioxide?

A gas formed from nitrogen and oxygen that can contribute to air pollution.

What is Human-induced change?

Changes in ecosystems caused by human activities.

What is Pesticide use?

The application of chemical substances to kill pests, affecting biodiversity.

What is Soil erosion?

The wearing away of the topsoil layer, affecting fertility.

What is Water conservation?

The practice of using water efficiently to reduce waste.

Ecosystem resilience

The capacity of ecosystems to recover from disturbances.