apes 1.5-1.6 nitrogen and phosphorus cycle

atmosphere

The ___ is the major reservoir of nitrogen

N

critical plant and animal nutrient

assimilation

plants and animals take nitrogen in and incorporate it into their biomass

ammonification

soil bacteria, microbes and decomposers converting waste and dead biomass or other animals and returning it to soil

nitrification

conversion of NH4 (ammonium) into nitrite (NO2-) and then nitrate (NO 3-) by soil bacteria

denitrification

conversion of soil N (nitrate) into nitrous oxide (NO2) gas which returns to the atmospohere

rocks and sediments

___ are major reservoirs for phosphorus

limiting nutrient

because phosphorus cycles so slowly, it is a ___

sedimentation

phosphate doesn’t dissolve very well into water, so much of it forms solid bits of phosphate that fall to the bottom

eutrophication

too much nitrogen and phosphorus which fuels algae growth

geological uplift

tectonic plate collision forcing up rock layers that form mountains, phosphorus cycle can start over again with weathering and release of phosphate from rock