Biochemical cycles and Energy Flow

Biochemical cycle

The process through which essential compounds for life move through the biosphere

Carbon cycle

The movement of carbon through the biosphere

Anthropogenic Disruptors

Human caused interferences in natural processes

Ocean acidification

The result of excess carbon being absorbed by the ocean and reacting with sea water to release ions

Nitrogen Fixation

The process by which gaseous Nitrogen becomes usable by organisms

Diazotrophs

Organisms that live on root nodes and convert gaseous nitrogen into useable forms

Rhizobium

A genus of diazotrophs

Assimilation

The process in which nitrogen is used in the creation of organic compounds and enters the flow through trophic levels

Ammonification

The reintroduction of nitrogen into the soil by organic waste

Nitrification

Ammonia is oxidized into Nitrate ions

Denitrification

The reintroduction of nitrogen into the atmosphere by deoxidation

Nitrosomonas

Ammonia oxidizing bacteria

Nitrobacter

Nitrite oxidizing bacteria

Eutrophication

The oversaturation of water with nutrients results in dense algal booms. Hoards oxygen from the water ecosystem in algal decomposition

Anoxic environments

Environments with low levels of oxygen

Methemoglobinemia

A birth defect caused by nitrogen pollution in drinking waters

Phosphorus cycle

The process through which phosphorus moves through the biosphere

Sulfur cycle

The process through which sulfur moves through the biosphere

Keystone species

Species highly critical to the survival of an ecosystem because of its ecological function

Gross Primary Production

The total amount of chemical energy produced by autotrophs in an ecosystem

Net Primary Production

The total amount of chemical energy produced by autotrophs in an ecosystem after being used for self-sustention