APES 1.6 & 1.7: Phosphorus Cycle & Hydrologic (Water) Cycle

phosphorus cycle

movement of phosphate atoms & molecules between sources & sinks/reservoirs

synthetic

(human) sources of phosphorus: mining minerals

natural

weathering of rocks that contain phosphorus naturally

assimilation

absorbed by plant roots and then plant eaten by other organisms

excretion/decomposition

animal waste, plant matter, and other biomass is broken down by bacteria/soil decomposers that return phosphate to soil

sedimentation

phosphate forms solid bits that fall to the bottom as a sediment

geo. uplift

tectonic plate collisions that force rock layers up

eutrophication

excess nutrients that fuel algae growth

transpiration

process plants use to draw groundwater from roots up to their leaves

evapotranspiration

amount of H₂O that enters atmosphere from transpiration & evaporates combined