The Phosphorus Cycle

Phosphorus

A major component of DNA, RNA, and ATP, essential for biological processes in plants and animals.

Limiting Nutrient

A nutrient that is scarce and restricts biological productivity, particularly phosphorus in aquatic environments.

Phosphorus Cycle

The movement of phosphorus through the biosphere among various sources and sinks, primarily between land and water.

Major Reservoir

Collection of rocks and sediments that contain phosphorus-containing minerals.

Phosphate (PO4-3)

The typical form in which phosphorus is found in the environment.

Assimilation

The process by which plants and animals take up inorganic phosphorus and convert it into organic forms.

Mineralization

The decomposition of organic phosphorus back into inorganic phosphorus by fungi and bacteria.

Sedimentation

The process where phosphorus precipitates out as sediment in the ocean due to poor solubility.

Geological Uplift

The process by which geological forces lift ocean sediment layers to form mountains, affecting phosphorus availability.

Weathering

The breakdown or dissolution of rocks and minerals that brings phosphorus to terrestrial and aquatic habitats.

Algal Bloom

A rapid increase in algal population due to excess phosphorus, which can produce harmful toxins.

Dead Zone

An area in aquatic environments where oxygen levels are too low for survival, often caused by algal decomposition.

Human Impact

Mining of phosphate rock for fertilizers, reducing available phosphate in soils, and disrupting aquatic systems through runoff.

Consequences of Human Effects

Acid mine drainage, habitat destruction, loss of nutrient availability, and increase in hypoxic zones.