Bio Nutrients Test

carbon sinks

reservoirs on Earth that store carbon (ex. limestone)

role of photosynthesis in carbon cycle

plants, algae, and some bacteria that convert carbon dioxide obtained from the atmosphere into carbohydrates (glucose)

nitrogen fixing bacteria

these bacteria live on the nodules on roots of plants called legumes; they fix nitrogen into usable chemical compounds

decomposing bacteria

breaks down wastes and the bodies of dead animals that returns nitrogen to the soil in the form of ammonium salts

nitrates

they are converted by nitrogen-fixing bacteria, or lightning; can be absorbed by plants through their roots

lightning

Converts atmospheric nitrogen into nitrates that organisms can use

fossil fuels in nitrogen cycle

when humans burn fossil fuels like coal, gas, and oil, nitric oxide (a harmful gas) is released into the air

acid rain

forms when nitric oxide combines with oxygen and water vapor to form nitric acid.

effects of acid rain

it can dissolve in rain and snow which can cause death to aquatic animals and decreased plant growth

nitrogen rich fertilizers

provide nutrients to help crops grow better

role of carbon dioxide

a main greenhouse gas in the atmosphere that is used for photosynthesis, cellular respiration, and fossil fuels

decomposition in carbon cycle

the process of decaying that permits carbon to be released into the soil

combustion

the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere caused by the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation

cellular respiration

the process where organisms exhale carbon dioxide while breathing

types of fossil fuels

coal, oil, natural gas

human impact on carbon cycle

humans burn fossil fuels and deforestation (combustion) which releases large amounts of C02 into the atmosphere which undermines the natural process of removing it

nitrifying bacteria

bacteria that convert ammonium salts into nitrates that can be absorbed by plants

denitrifying bacteria

converts nitrates in the soil into gaseous nitrogen in the atmosphere

legume plants

plants including beans, peas, and clover plants that have nitrogen provided directly to them from nitrogen-fixing bacteria

where is nitrogen found in living organisms

within amino acids, proteins, and DNA

algal bloom

when an increase of nitrate levels that can cause rapid growth of algae; they can block sunlight from reaching other plants and animals

eutrophication

when there is excess richness of nutrients in a lake or other body of water, not enough oxygen

effects of eutrophication

increase of nitrate levels can cause rapid growth of aquatic plants / decreases the amount of oxygen available to those organisms

human impact on nitrogen cycle

When humans burn fossil fuels, nitric oxide (a harmful gas) is released into the air

plants in water cycle

plants absorb water through their stomata; Water in the soil can be absorbed by plants and is then transferred to the atmosphere

oceans

holds of 97% of the planets water; one of the main components of the water cycle

aquifer

A permeable underground rock layer which is capable of storing, transmitting, and supplying significant amounts of water

infiltration

when water moves into the ground from the surface and begins to soak into the soil and rock layers underneath

precipitation

any liquid or frozen water that forms in the atmosphere and falls back to the earth; Water vapor turns into precipitation and falls as rain, snow, sleet, or hail

condensation

-is the process by which water vapor in the air is changed into liquid water
-water vapor rises and condenses into tiny droplets which cling to dust particles-these droplets form clouds

run-off in water cycle

some precipitations that cannot be absorbed by land becomes surface runoff which gradually flows into gullies, streams, lakes, or rivers

Oligiotropication

when a lake or other body of water is low in nutrients and abundant in oxygen

Human impact on water cycle

-erosion created by deforestation and construction create deltas
-farmers excess use of fertilizers
-sewage which carries lots of nitrogen and phosphorous

Transpiration

when plants take in water through their stomata, that water from the soil can either be absorbed by plants or evaporated into the atmosphere

Evaporation

the process where liquid turns into gas caused by the Sun

Percolation

water in the soil seeps downward into a zone of porous rock which contains groundwater