Nitrogen Cycle

• Name the only stage in the nitrogen cycle where nitrates are lost to the atmosphere.

  Denitrification.
• What conditions are required for denitrification to occur?

  Anaerobic conditions.
• What natural and artificial activities could lead to anaerobic conditions being created/made worse?

  Flooding and compressing soil.
• Which two processes out of the whole nitrogen cycle create sources of ammonia?

  Ammonification and Nitrogen Fixation.
• Which is the only process in the nitrogen cycle that takes nitrogen based molecules from the atmosphere?

  Nitrogen Fixation.
• Which is the only process in the nitrogen cycle that relies on fungi and not just bacteria?

  Ammonification.
• Besides amino acids/proteins, name as many biological molecules as you can that require nitrogen.

  DNA, RNA, ATP.
• Anaerobic denitrifying bacteria convert nitrate that plants require into gaseous nitrogen and nitrogen oxide.
• Why is nitrogen oxide harmful?

  Air pollution
• Flooding creates anaerobic conditions.
• Compressing soil creates anaerobic conditions.
• Ammonification is the process by which dead plants and animals are turned into ammonium ions through the use of microbial saprobionts.
• What is ammonification?

  Ammonification is the process by which dead plants and animals are turned into ammonium ions through the use of microbial saprobionts.
• Nitrogen fixation is the process by which N2 in the atmosphere is converted to ammonium ions through lightning and the Haber process through the use of nitrogen fixing bacteria in the roots of leguminous plants and free-living in the soil.
• What is nitrogen fixation?

  Nitrogen fixation is the process by which N2 in the atmosphere is converted to ammonium ions through lightning and the Haber process through the use of nitrogen fixing bacteria in the roots of leguminous plants and free-living in the soil.
• Nitrification is the process by which ammonium ions are converted to nitrite ions and then nitrate ions through nitrifying bacteria in an oxidation reaction.
• What is nitrification?

  Nitrification is the process by which ammonium ions are converted to nitrite ions and then nitrate ions through nitrifying bacteria in an oxidation reaction.
• Why do plants need a source of nitrate?

  Because they can't take in the nitrogen they need for growth from the atmosphere.
• Which stage in the nitrogen cycle provides a source of ammonia from the atmosphere?

  Nitrogen fixation.
• Which stage in the nitrogen cycle requires microbial saprobionts?

  Ammonification.
• What type of plant would have root nodules?

  Leguminous plants e.g. beans, peas, lentils.
• Which part of an amino acid requires nitrogen?

  Amine group.
• What happens to plants which are eaten by animals to produce dead plants and animals?

  Death.
• Ammonification is controlled by microbial saprobionts.
• Denitrification is done by denitrifying bacteria in anaerobic conditions.
• Nitrogen fixation is done through lightning and the Haber process.
• Nitrogen fixation is done through nitrogen fixing bacteria in roots of leguminous plants and free-living in the soil.
• Nitrification involves nitrifying bacteria in the soil converting ammonium ions into nitrate ions in an oxidation reaction.
• Farmland is not classed as a natural ecosystem as it is managed and changed from its natural state.
• What does eutrophication actually mean?

  Well-nourished.
• What language does eutrophication originate from?

  Greek.
• What biological molecules require phosphorous?

  ATP, DNA, RNA, ADP, Phospholipids.
• What is the correct term for mineral ions being washed through the soil and into waterways?

  Leaching.
• What is leaching?

  Leaching is when mineral ions are washed through soil and into waterways.
• Why do algae grow faster when mineral ions enter the water?

  They have access to more nitrate and phosphates to incorporate into biological molecules such as proteins for growth.
• When microbial saprobionts run out of dead plant material, they die due to lack of food.
• What is the opposite of eutrophic?

  Oligotrophic.
• How could grazing livestock on farmland lead to an increase in eutrophication?

  Livestock produce waste which leaches into waterways.
• What is the first step in eutrophication?

  Nitrates and phosphates are leached into waterways.
• What is the second step in eutrophication?

  Algae in the water grow faster and form algal bloom.