APES 1: Biogeochemical Cycles

Movement of atoms

________ and molecules containing the element carbon between sources and sinks.

movement of matter

Involve the ________ via biological, chemical, and geological processes.

Decomposition

________: storage of carbon over millions of years.

Phosphorus

________ is naturally scarce in aquatic & terrestrial ecosystems- limiting factor.

Movement of atoms

________ and molecules containing nitrogen between sources and sinks.

Movement of atoms

________ and molecules containing phosphorus between sources and sinks.

decomposition

storage of carbon over millions of years

nitrogen fixation

the process in which atmospheric nitrogen is converted into a form of N (usually ammonia) that is available for uptake by plants

phosphorus is naturally scarce in aquatic & terrestrial ecosystems

limiting factor

hydrologic (water) cycle

movement of water between sources and sinks

biogeochemical cycles

involve the movement of matter via biological, chemical, and geological processes

carbon cycle

movement of atoms and molecules containing the element carbon between sources and sinks

nitrogen cycle

movement of atoms and molecules containing the element nitrogen between sources and sinks

phosphorus cycle

movement of atoms and molecules containing phosphorus between sources and sinks

7 processes that drive the carbon cycle

photosynthesis, respiration, exchange, sedimentation, burial, extraction, and combustion

processes that drive the water cycle

precipitation, evapotranspiration, runoff, percolation, absorption, groundwater flow

processes that drive the nitrogen cycle

nitrogen fixation, nitrification, denitrification, decomposition

processes that drive the phosphorus cycle

phosphatizing bacteria, decomposition, bone deposits, weathering

sink

anything that absorbs more of the biogeochemical substance than it releases (ex. for the carbon cycle: plants, ocean, soil)

source

anything that releases more of the biogeochemical substance than it absorbs (ex. burning fossil fuels, volcanic eruptions)