Environmental Science Chapter 5 Section 2
What happens after decomposers return Nitrogen to the soil?
After decomposers return nitrogen to the soil, bacteria transform a small amount of the nitrogen into nitrogen gas, which then returns to the atmosphere to complete the nitrogen cycle.
How does Nitrogen help build new cells?
All organisms need nitrogen to build proteins, which are used to build new cells.
Describe the function of decomposers.
Decomposers break down decaying plants and animals, as well as plant and animal wastes.
During which process is Carbon released into the atmosphere as Carbon Dioxide?
During cellular respiration, some of the carbon is released back into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide.
What is global warming?
Global warming is an increase in the temperature of the Earth.
How do humans contribute to global warming?
Humans burn fossil fuels, releasing carbon into the atmosphere. Increased levels of carbon dioxide may contribute to global warming.
How much of our atmosphere is made up of Nitrogen?
Nitrogen makes up 78% of the gases in the atmosphere.
How are phosphates formed and what happens to them after they are formed?
Phosphorus may enter soil and water when rocks erode small amounts of phosphorus dissolve as phosphate, which makes into the soil.
How do plants and animals get Phosphorus?
Plants get the phosphorus they need from soil and water, while animals get their phosphorus by eating plants or other animals that have eaten plants.
What role do producers and consumers play in the Carbon Cycle?
Producers convert carbon dioxide in the atmosphere into carbohydrates during photosynthesis. Consumers obtain carbon from the carbohydrates in the producers they eat.
How are Carbon sinks formed?
Some carbon is stored in limestone, forming one of the largest "carbon sinks" on Earth
Define the Nitrogen Cycle.
The Nitrogen Cycle is the process in which nitrogen circulates among the air, soil, water, plants, and animals in an ecosystem.
Define the Phosphorus Cycle.
The Phosphorus cycle is the cyclic movement of phosphorus in different chemical forms from the environment to organisms and then back to the environment.
Describe how nitrogen-fixing bacteria do to fix Nitrogen?
The bacteria use sugar provided by the legumes to produce nitrogen containing compounds such as nitrates.
Define the Carbon Cycle.
The movement of carbon from the nonliving environment into living things and back
How is Acid Rain formed?
When fuel is burned, large amounts of nitric oxide is released into the atmosphere. In the air, nitric oxide can combine with oxygen and water vapor to form nitric acid. Dissolved in rain or snow, the nitric acid falls as acid precipitation.
How do fertilizers contribute to the rapid and unwanted growth of algae in water?
Why is such rapid algal growth dangerous? The excess nitrogen and phosphorus speeds up the growth of algae, and it depletes the nutrients such as oxygen that fish and other organisms depend on.