(4.10-4.11B) Carbon + Nitrogen cycles

How is carbon taken out of the atmosphere?

Photosynthesis- plants use it to make glucose

How is carbon transferred between living organisms?

Passed when animals feed-

plants → animals

animals → animals

How is carbon released into the atmosphere?

respiration- plants and animals

decomposition- microorganisms using waste material to respire

combustion- burning of fossil fuels- that come from fossilised animals

How is nitrogen taken up by living organisms?

taken up by plants to build plant proteins

How is nitrogen transferred?

animals feed on plants and digest proteins

using it to build animal proteins

How is nitrogen released from tissues?

decomposers: nitrogen returned to soil as ammonia

nitrifying bacteria: ammonia → nitrates

(nitrification)

How is nitrogen released to the atmosphere?

denitrification by denitrifying bacteria

• nitrates in soil → nitrogen