BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLES are pathways by which chemicals move through both biotic and abiotic components of an ecosystem following a cycling flow
BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLES are classified based on the main reservoir of the chemicals
the 5 biogeochemical cycles are CARBON, NITROGEN, PHOSPHORUS, SULFUR, WATER
CARBON is the main element in organic compounds such as carbohydrates lipids proteins and nucleic acid
CARBON is used by plants to build leaves and stems which are then digested by animals and used for cellular growth
PHOTOSYNTHESIS is the conversion of carbon dioxide into carbohydrates
RESPIRATION is the release of carbon dioxide into atmosphere
DECOMPOSITION is the breakdown of carbohydrates into carbon and some other compound byproducts
FOSSILIZATION is the formation of the remains of organism into fossil fuel
NITROGEN is a crucial component of life as it is in all amino acids which are incorporated into protein and is present in the bases that make up nucleic acid such as DNA and RNA
CHLOROPHYLL MOLECULES are essential for photosynthesis and further growth
NITROGEN FIXATION is the fixation of nitrogen gas into usable form either through lightning or bacteria in plants
ASSIMILATION is the absorption of ammonium ions from the soil via their root hairs to synthesize protein
AMMONIFICATION is the release of ammonia from organic nitrogen such as the remains of organisms excreta
NITRIFICATION is the conversion of ammonia into nitrites by nitrifying bacteria and subsequently into nitrates
DENITRIFICATION is the reduction of nitrites nitrates into largelt inert nitrogen gas
PHOSPHATES are components of nucleic acids and energy transfer molecules
PHOSPHATES are major component of vertebrate bones and teeth
GEOLOGICAL UPLIFTING is the release of phosphate rocks from the lithosphere
WEATHERING OF ROCKS is the release of phosphate into the ground and or water
ASSIMILATION is the incorporation of phosphate ions into plants such as nucleic acid
DECOMPOSITION is the release of phosphate into the soil water from decaying organic matter
SEDIMENTATION is the formation of new phosphate rocks
SULFUR is a component of amino acid such as protein
SULFUR CYCLE is important for the functioning of proteins and enzymes in plants and in animals that depend upon plants for sulfur
VOLCANIC ERUPTION is the release of sulfur from the lithosphere
WEATHERING OF ROCKS is the release of sulfur into the ground and or water
ASSIMILATION is the incorporation of sulfur into plants such as vitamins and proteins
DECOMPOSITION is the release of sulfur into the soil water from decaying organic matter
SEDIMENTATION is the formation of new sulfur locks
WATER makes up 70% to 95% of most organisms
CONDENSATION is the transformation of water vapor to liquid water droplets in the air producing clouds and fog
PRECIPITATION is the movement of water from the atmosphere to the lithosphere or hydrosphere
EVAPORATION is the transformation of water from liquid to gas phases as it moves from the ground or bodies of water into the overlying atmosphere
INFILTRATION is the flow of water from the ground surface into the ground
EUTROPHICATION is the gradual increase in the concentration of phosphorous nitrogen and other plant nutrients in an aging aquatic ecosystem
ACID RAIN is any form of precipitation with acidic components such as sulfuric acid or nitric carbonic acid that fall to the ground from the atmosphere in wet or dry forms such as rain snow hog hail or even acidic dust