Cycles

• decomposers- microorganisms that break down carbon compounds in animal waste or dead organisms
• combustion- releasing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere through burning fossil fuels
• carbon cycle- movement of carbon through biotic and abiotic components of the environment
• carbon is returned to the cycle through: animal waste, plants and animals die, combustion, respiration
• combustion= fuel+oxygen--carbon dioxide+water
• photosynthesis= carbon dioxide + water -->glucose + oxygen
• aerobic respiration= glucose+oxygen-- carbon dioxide+water
• nitrogen cycle- nitrogen moves between living things and nonliving parts of ecosystems
• nitrogen makes proteins for plants and animals
• nitrogen has to be converted to nitrates in the soil fr plants to absorb it
• nitrogen is needed in plants for: growth, DNA, protein
• decomposers- break down proteins in dead plant and animal matter and waste into ammonia
• nitrifying bacteria- converts ammonia into nitrites then into nitrates
• nitrogen fixing bacteria- found in the root of legumes or the soil and converts atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia
• denitrifying bacteria- converts nitrates back to nitrogen gas
• nitrogen cycle 1: nitrogen in soil is absorbed by plants which is eaten by animals
• nitrogen cycle 2: animals release nitrogen through processes
• nitrogen cycle 3: animal waste and dead animals are broken down by bacteria which returns nitrogen back into the soil
• surface run-off- water can no longer be absorbed by the soil so runs off
• evaporation- water turning a liquid to gas
• transpiration- plants absorb water to evaporate as water vapor