Biochemical Cycles Flashcards
(39 cards)
Biochemical cycles.
The movement of a particular chemical through the biological and geographical or living and non living parts of the ecosystem.
The elements important to life that are recycled are.
Water oxygen carbon nitrogen and phosphorus.
The carbon cycle.
Biological processes such as photosynthesis respiration and decomposition take up and release carbon and oxygen during the carbon cycle.
Biosphere
Life
Lithosphere
Rock & Soil
Hydrosphere
Water
Atmosphere
Air
Cellular respiration.
Movement of carbon from living things to the atmosphere
Photosynthesis
Movement of carbon from the atmosphere to the biosphere.
Combustion
Movement of carbon from coal (lithosphere) to the atmosphere.
Decomposition
Carbon from piving things breaking down down into the soil (lithosphere)
What do all organisms require to make proteins
Nitrogen (to make amino acids, then make protein)
What do all organisms require to make amino acids
Nitrogen
Our atmosphere is ____% nitrogen gas
78
What form is nitrogen most commonly found in
N
2
In the nitrogen cycle what process allows N2 to be directly used by plants
Nitrogen fixation
Bacteria and lightning are responsible for
Nitrogen fixation
Nitrification
Nitrogen in the soil is converted to nitrates/nitrites by nitrifing bacteria
Assimilation
Plants use the nitrates/nitrites from nitrification
Denitrification
Turns the soil nitrates back to N2 gas
In the nitrogen cycle, decomposition turns nitrogen into _______ (and the name)
Ammonia, ammonification
Why is phosphorus important?
It helps form important molecules like DNA and RNA.
Where is phosphorus found?
Biosphere cycles among the land ocean settlements and living organisms.
What is the rate of the phosphorus cycle (fast or slow?)
Slow