Comprehensive Carbon, Nitrogen, and Phosphorus Cycles in Ecology

the carbon cycle includes the movement of molecules that contain

carbon (CO2, gluecose, CH4) between sources and sinks

fossil fuel combustion is

quick and rapid

sedementation and burial are very

slow

burial

over long periods of time pressure of water compress carbon and that contains sediments on ocean floor to sedimentary rock (limestone and sandstone)

is burial a carbon sink or reservoir

a carbon sink bc it takes much longer than extraction and combustion

sedimentation

Calcium carbonate precipitates out on sediment and sits on the ocean floor

direct exchange

co2 moves between atmosphere and the ocean by dissolving into and out of the ocean water at the surface

ocean acidification

happens because currently net into the ocean because of an increase in atmospheric co2

algae and phytoplankton

take co2 out of the ocean using photosynthesis

what organisms make calcium carbonate exoskeletons

coral mollusks, an some zooplankton and also take co2 in order to make calcium carbonate exoskeletons

carbon sink

take in more carbon than it actually releases

examples of carbon sinks

the ocean (algae and sediments) plants and soil

carbon source

release more carbon that it takes in

examples of carbon sources

fossil fuel combustion, animal agriculture, deforestation (releases co2 from releasing gas)

fossil fuels

formed in fossilized remains of organic matter into coal or oil, and their decomposition produces natural gas

photosynthesis

removes co2 from the atmosphere and converts it into glucose and is a co2 sink

cellular respiration

uses o2 to break gluecose down and release energy and releases co2 into the atmosphere

atmosphere in the nitrogen cycle

this is the main nitrogen reservoir

biotic fixation

bacteria that live in the soil and rhizobacteria in root nodules convert N2 into nh3 (ammonia) and is converted into ammoniam (nh4) in soil

rhizobacteria

live in root nodules of legumes (peas, beans) & fix N for them in return for amino acids from the plant

abiotic fixation

lightning converts n2 gas into nitrate (no3) synthetic fixation via fossil fuel combustion converts n2 gas into ammonia (nh3)

how to convert nh3 to nh4

nh3 is put into the soil in order to convert it from nh3 into nh4

assimiliation

plants roots take in nh4 or no3 and incorporate into a new biomass

ammonification

soil microbes decomposers convert organic n (waste biomass) into ammonium (nh4) soil

nitrification

aerobic bacteria convert nh4 into nitrite (no2) and then nitrate (no3)

denitrificaiton

bacteria in anaerobic conditions convert nitrate (no3) into n2 gas which returns to the atmosphere

leaching and eutrophication

synthetic fertelizer use leafs to nitrates (no3), leaching, or being carried out of soil by water

phosphorus sources

rocks and ocean sediments are the biggest reservoirs

major natural source of P

weathering of phosphorous containing rocks by wind and rain

assimilation and excretion/decomposition

p is absorbed by plant roots and assimilates into tissues and animals assimilate P by eating plants and other animals

decomposition of P

animal waste, pplant matter, and other biomass is broken down by bacteria/soil decomposers that return P to the soil

geological uplift of P

tectonic plate collision forcing up rock layers that form mountains

huamn sources of P

mining phosphate minerals and adding to products like synthetic fertelizers and detergent/cleaners

step one of eutrohpication (nitrogen and phosphorous)

algae bloom covers the surface of the water and blocks sunlight which ends up killing plants below the surface

step two of eutrohpication (nitrogen and phosphorous)

algae eventually will die off and bacteria that break down dead algae use up o2 in the water (because decomposition is an anaerobic process)

step three of eutrohpication (nitrogen and phosphorous)

levels of dissolved oxygen in water kills aquatic animals especially fish

step four of eutrohpication (nitrogen and phosphorous)

because use up even more o2 to decompose dead aquatic animals