Biogeochemical Cycles (Nutrient Cycles)

Front

What does the Law of Conservation of Mass state?

Back

Matter is neither created nor destroyed.

Front

Where is carbon stored in the environment?

Back

Carbon is stored in fossil fuels, wood of trees, and calcium carbonate (shells and bones).

Front

What cycle are fossil fuels part of?

Back

Fossil fuels are part of the carbon cycle.

Front

What are greenhouse gases?

Back

Gases such as carbon dioxide that trap heat in the Earth's atmosphere, causing global warming.

Front

What is nitrogen fixation?

Back

The process in which certain bacteria convert nitrogen gas into ammonia.

Front

What is the carbon cycle?

Back

The biogeochemical cycle that describes the movement of carbon among the atmosphere, land, water, and living organisms.

Front

What role do decomposers play in nutrient cycles?

Back

Decomposers break down dead organic matter, returning nutrients to the soil.

Front

What is the nitrogen cycle?

Back

The process by which nitrogen is converted between its various chemical forms, including nitrogen fixation and denitrification.

Front

What is the role of photosynthesis in the carbon cycle?

Back

Photosynthesis allows plants to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and convert it into organic matter.

Front

What is the significance of phosphorus in ecosystems?

Back

Phosphorus is essential for DNA, RNA, and ATP, and is a key nutrient for plant growth.