Carbon, Nitrogen, and Water Cycles
nitrogen makes up how much of the atmosphere
3/4
important molecules of carbon
CO2, sugars, fats proteins
animals plants and bacteria play what role in the nitrogen cycle
animals eat the plants plants get it from the soil and water bacteria fixes the nitrogen into a gas that the plants can use (fixation)
example of symbiosis
bacteria and plants - nitrogen cycle
processes of the nitrogen cycle
bacteria/ lightning fixes the nitrogen so plants can use it plants use it, animals eat the plants and they die so the stored nitrogen is releases from their bodies and their waste
fossil fuels
build up of dead plants and animals over time , coal oil and natural gas
combustion
burning of a fuel
carbon cycle includes the release of CO2 in
burning of fossil fuels, eruption of volcanos, weathering of rocks, respiration of organisms
how do humans impact the carbon cycle
burning too many fossil fuels, deforestation, more carbon, more greenhouse gases in the air, warmer climate
what allows the bodies of plants and animals to decay in the soil
decomposers
parts of the water cycle
evaporation condensation transpiration precipitation runoff percolation
Eutrophication
fertilizer runoff from fields pollutes water, leads to overgrowth of algae, blocks sunlight to underwater organisms
how much of fresh water is available to use
less than .01%
legumes in the nitrogen cycle
natural fixers with nodules containing bacteria (symbiotic)
all animals and plants need what
nitrogen
what is one of the most common elements in the air
nitrogen
carbon is used in what processes
photosynthesis, respiration, food chains, weathering
how do plants consumers and decomposers use carbon
plants use it for photosynthesis, comsumers use it for energy (eat the carbohydrates), decomposers break down the dead organisms and release the carbon back into the cycle
sybiosis
process of two animals/ plants working together to get something done, not harming and both get what they need
nitrogen molecules
proteins, N2 and fixed nitrogen
types of water
saltwater fresh water glaciers ground water water vap
how can farmers help the nitrogen cycle
swap plants out with legumes, rotate crops
what is the water cycle
the continuous movement of water to the atmosphere from the land and vice versa
denitrification
the process of bacteria converting usable forms of nitrogen into unusable forms and are released back into the atmosphere
respiration
the process of living organisms taking in oxygen and giving off carbon dioxide
energy from the water cycle comes from
the sun
humans affect the water cycle
too many water needs pollution of runoff - acid rain/ percipitation
how can humans affect the nitrogen cycle
too much waste and fertilizers used, too much nitrogen in the soil, exhaust from cars, eutrophication
transpiration
water gived off from plants during photosynthesis
nitrification
when ammonia is converted to nitrates