Sulfur cycle

Why do all organisms require sulfur

For vitamins and protein

How and why do plants use sulfur

They use it in the form of sulfate which dissolves in water. They incorporate sulfur into cells and tissue, when they die, decomposers return sulfur into soil and the atmosphere

What indicates that decomposers are hard at work

The smell of rotting eggs

Sulfate reducers

Convert sulfate to sulfide

Sulfur oxidizers

Convert sulfide to sulfur and sulfate

Waste generated by one type of bacteria is…

Required for another type of bacteria

What happens to the sulfur that is taken out of rapid cycling

Form sediments which become part of rocks

when is sulfur taken out of rapid cycling

When bacteria convert sulfur

What releases some of the sulfur trapped in rocks

Weathering and volcanic activity ( sulfur dioxide)

What happens when oxygen and water react with sulfur dioxide

Sulfurous/ sulfuric acid is formed which results in acid decomposition (acid rain, snow, sleet)

What does acid decomposition do

Returns sulfur to oceans and soil

Large amounts of acid deposition can…

Damage plants, acidify lakes and leach nutrients from soil

What happens when we burn fossil fuels

Sulfur is released. The amount released due to humans is far greater than the amount released naturally