The Carbon,Nitrogen Cycle & Gaseous Exchange Flashcards
What is the Carbon Cycle
The carbon cycle is nature’s way of reusing carbon atoms, which travel from the atmosphere into organisms in the Earth and then back into the atmosphere over and over again
What is the Nitrogen Cycle
The nitrogen cycle is a repeating cycle of processes during which nitrogen moves through both living and non-living things: the atmosphere, soil, water, plants, animals and bacteria
What are the steps of the CO2 Cycle
> Animals consume the photosynthetic organisms and acquire the carbon stored within the producers by feeding.
> when living organisms (plants, animals and decomposers) respire they release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
> CO2 is returned to the atmosphere by respiration in all living organisms.
> Decomposers break down dead and decaying organic matter and release CO2.
[ If conditions are not favourable for the process of decomposition, dead organisms decay slowly or not at all. These organisms build up and, if
compressed over millions of years, can form fossil fuels (coal, oil or gas).this process is called Fossilization ]
> The burning of fossil fuels releases stored carbon dioxide into
the atmosphere this process is called Combustion
What are the steps of the nitrogen cycle
Nitrogen Fixing Bacteria > Nitrogen Fixing Bacteria in Root Nodules of Legumes will Convert Nitrogen Gas into Nitrates (NO3-) for Use. This replenishes the soil
Lightning > Lightning will Convert Nitrogen Gas into Nitrates (NO3-)
Absorption by plants > Plants will Absorb Nitrates through the Roots by Active Transport .Nitrate Ions Help Produce Amino Acids which will become Protein, Becoming Part of Plants Biomass
Feeding > Animals will Eat Plants, and Nitrogen from the Plant’s Protein will become Protein in the Animal .Nitrogen is also Passed from One Animal to Another by Feeding.
Death > Decomposers (Bacteria )will Break Down urea, Egested Material and Dead Bodies and Nitrogen Compounds will be Returned to the Soil as Ammonium Ions (NH4+)
Denitrification > Denitrifying Bacteria in the Soil will Break down nitrates in soil to nitrogen gas thus releasing Nitrogen back into the atmosphere.
This Occurs in Waterlogged Soil so can be Prevented by Reducing Drainage.
What is gaseous exchange?
Gaseous exchange is the diffusion of oxygen from alveolar air into the blood and the diffusion of carbon dioxide from the blood into the air
What are alveoli
Tiny air sacs at the end of the bronchioles (tiny branches of air tubes in the lungs). The alveoli are where the lungs and the blood exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide during the process of breathing in and breathing out.
