nutrient cycling

atmostpheric carbon

present as carbon dioxide, key form of carbon involved in cycle, in air

photosynthesis

plans, algae absrob Co2 from atmostphere and convert it into organic comppounds using energy from sun, main way carbon enerters ecosystem

decomposition

when organisms die, decomposers break down organic matter, releasing carbon into atmostphere

methan or co2

form of carbon released from decomposition

respiration

all living things release co2 back into atmostphere as they break down organic compounds for energy

burnning of fossil fuels

human activities release large amounts of CO2, significantly impacting the carbon cycle

ocean atmostphere exchange

ocean acts as carbon skin, absorbing CO2 from atmphere, phytoplanketon fixation of it

carbon in soil

organic carbon is stored in soil as decaying plant and animal matter

fluxes

refers to movement of carbon between different components of the cycle

positve feedback loops

change in carbon cycle triggers processes that increase amount of carbon in atmostphere, speeding up climate change

forest and deforestation

example of positive feedback loop, more forests cleared causing mroe carbon to be released, accelerates global warming

negative feedback loops

change in carbon cycle triggers processes that help reduce atmospheric carbon and slow down climate change

ocean fertilization

example of positive feedback loop, higher atmostphereic CO2 increases grwoth of phytoplankton, die and sink to floor sotring carbon acting as sink

organic c compounds

compounds in living organisms (sugars, starch, proteins DNA and cellulose)

detritus

carbon in dead organic layer

humus

detritus in soils

peat

detritus in water saturated sites

CH4

sometimes a product of decomposition, greenhouse gase

DOC

dissolved in organic carbon, organic carbon source

fossil fuels

organic carbon source, petroleum and natrual gas

inorganic carbon compounds

bicarbonate in water, cabonate in water, carbonic acid in water

high rates of change

the problem humans have caused with increased flux is ......

nitrogen fixation

process of converting atmostpheric nitrogen into ammonia or ammonium which plants can use

nitrogen fixing bacteria

form symbiotic relationships with llegume plants

N2

abundant but inert, needs to be fixed by bacteria

nitrification

conversion of ammonia to ntirite to nitrate

nitrifying bacteria

Bacteria that change dissolved ammonia into nitrite compounds or nitrites into nitrate compounds.

assimilation

process by which plants absorb nitrates or ammonium from soil and incorporate them into proteins and nucleic acids

ammonification

decomposition, conversion of organic nitrogen from dead organisms and waste products into ammonia

bacteria and fungi

decomposers, make nitrogen available again for plant use

denitrifcation

process by which nitrates are converted into nitrogen gas and released back into atmostphere

denitrifying baceria

found in anaerobic enviornments, return nitrogen to atmostphere

cyanobacteria and legumes

nitrogen fixing organisms

rocks and plants

phosphorous sources are in _____ and uptake by ____

runoff

phosphates can enter water bodies through _______, can be taken up by aquatic plants and algea

limiting nutrient

phosphorous is an example of a

sediments

phosphorous in water bodies settle to bottom and form _____, remain for millions of years

eutrophication

excessive phoshourous, cause harmful algal bloos and hypoxia, sinks to bottom in dead cells

gulf of mexico hypoxic zone

caused by eutrophication, nutrient pollution from runoff, harmful to marine life