Ecology: Abiotic Cycles

water cycle

process in which water continually moves from Earth's surface to the atmosphere and back to the surface again

carbon cycle

process in which carbon moves between living things (plants, animals) and the non-living environment (air, soil, water)

nitrogen cycle

process in which nitrogen continually moves from the atmosphere to the soil, to plants and animals, and back to the atmosphere

carbon source

process that releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere

carbon sink

process that absorbs carbon dioxide, removing it from the atmosphere

combustion

burning of fossil fuels

fossil fuels

coal, oil or gas, formed from the remains of dead plants or animals

nitrogen fixation

process in which the nitrogen-fixing bacteria attached to a plant's roots combine gaseous nitrogen with other elements, creating nitrogen compounds that plants can use

evaporation

water turning from a liquid to a gas

transpiration

when plants release water vapor from their leaves

precipitation

water falling from the clouds in different forms

groundwater

water deep underground that is the source of wells and springs

infiltration

when water soaks into the soil and ends up as groundwater

photosynthesis

process in which plants use the energy from sunlight to turn water and CO2 into sugar and oxygen

respiration

process done by all cells, which combines sugar and oxygen & releases chemical energy, water and CO2

combustion & respiration

2 carbon sources

photosynthesis; carbon in ocean shells & coral; CO2 dissolved in ocean water

3 carbon sinks

excretion

process of releasing waste (peeing & pooping)

ingestion

eating

absorption

taking in

decomposition

when decomposing bacteria break down waste & dead matter

hydrogen, oxygen

2 elements that are combined with nitrogen to form nitrates