Nutrient Cycling

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What is nutrient cycling?

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Nutrient cycling is the process by which nutrients are transferred between the biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) components of an ecosystem.

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What are the main nutrient cycles?

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The main nutrient cycles include the nitrogen cycle, carbon cycle, phosphorus cycle, and water cycle.

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What is the nitrogen cycle?

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The nitrogen cycle is the process by which nitrogen is converted between its various chemical forms, including atmospheric nitrogen, organic nitrogen, and inorganic nitrogen.

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What role do decomposers play in nutrient cycling?

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Decomposers break down dead organic matter, returning nutrients to the soil and making them available for plants.

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What are fossil fuels?

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Fossil fuels are organic materials, such as coal and oil, formed from the remains of dead organisms over millions of years.

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What is percolation?

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Percolation is the process of water slowly filtering through soil and rock layers.

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What is respiration in the context of nutrient cycling?

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Respiration is the chemical process by which animals and plants convert glucose and oxygen into energy, releasing carbon dioxide and water.

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What is photosynthesis?

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Photosynthesis is the process by which plants use sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water to produce glucose and oxygen.

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What is denitrification?

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Denitrification is the process by which bacteria convert nitrates in the soil back into nitrogen gas, returning it to the atmosphere.

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What is the role of plants in the nitrogen cycle?

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Plants absorb nitrogen from the soil in the form of nitrates and use it to synthesize proteins and nucleic acids.