Nitrogen Cycle

omnivore

an animal that feeds on both animal and vegetable substances

herbivore

any animal that feeds mostly on grass and other plants

nutrient

any substance that can be metabolized to give energy

ecosystem

organisms interacting with their physical environment

symbiosis

the relation between two interdependent species of organisms

carnivore

a terrestrial or aquatic flesh-eating mammal

bacteria

single-celled organisms that can cause disease

organism

a living thing that can act or function independently

biological

pertaining to life and living things

legume

an erect or climbing bean or pea plant

runoff

the occurrence of surplus liquid exceeding capacity

precipitation

the falling to earth of any form of water

aquatic

operating or living or growing in water

fungus

a spore-producing organism that lacks chlorophyll

combustion

the act of burning something

scarcity

a small and inadequate amount

inaccessible

capable of being reached with great difficulty or not at all

acquire

to come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

nitrogen fixation

the assimilation of atmospheric nitrogen by soil bacteria and its release for plant use on the death of the bacteria

nitrification

the oxidation of ammonium compounds in dead organic material into nitrates and nitrites by soil bacteria (making nitrogen available to plants)

assimilation

the process of absorbing one cultural group into another