Ecology Unit 10
When nitrogen is mixed with oxygen or hydrogen, it has to go through the process of...
nitrogen fixation
Forms of Carbon
- Carbon in living Organisms - used to make biomolecules - Carbon in the environment - CO2 in atmosphere and in seawater - Carbon in rocks and minerals - Fossil Fuels (ex. coal)
how nitrogen is removed from ecosystems
-excess NO3- and NH4+ that are not taken up by plants mix with rainwater and washed into groundwater and streams -unused nitrogen may settle to ocean, lake or river bottoms in sediments and eventually it will form rock
human activities in the carbon cycle
-land clearing -agriculture -urban expansion -mining -industry -motorized transport -so much carbon is released so quickly into the atmosphere from these activities that the natural carbon cycle can no longer move all of it to the other stores -most carbon stored in the atmosphere is a greenhouse gas and greenhouse gases contribute to global climate change
nitrogen cycle
-nitrogen is an important component of DNA and proteins which are essential for life processes -in animals proteins are essential for muscle function -in plants nitrogen is important for growth
Four important organisms in the Nitrogen Cycle
1) Bacteria 2) Plants 3) Animals 4) Decomposers
Two ways that nitrogen can be fixated...
1) Lightning 2) Bacteria in the sol or bacteria found in nodules of legumes
Human interactions that disrupt the balance of proper CO2 levels in the world
1. Burning fossil fuels 2. Deforestation 3. increased respiration
Nitrogen found in the environment
1. Living organisms - used to make proteins and DNA 2. makes up to 78% of air 3. Gas form of nitrogen isn't usable by most organisms
Parts of the Nitrogen Cycle
1. Nitrogen Fixation 2. Ammonification 3. Nitrification 4. Denitrification
Macro ecology
1. Organism 2.population 3.community 4.ecosystem 5.biome 6.biosphere
Processes in the Carbon Cycle
1. Photosynthesis 2. Cellular respiration 3. Decomposition
8 characteristics of life
1. made of cells 2. Universal Genetic Code (DNA) 3. Use energy and materials (metabolism) 4. grow and develop 5. reproduction (sexually and asexually and divide) 6.respond to their environment 7. Maintains homeostasis (maintain stable condition) 8. change over time
Nitrification Equation
2 NH3 + 3 O2 → 2 NO2 + 2 H+ + 2 H2O 2 NO2 - + O2 → 2 NO3 -
how nitrogen is cycled
3 PROCESSES -nitrogen fixation -nitrification -uptake NITROGEN FIXATION -nitrogen gas (N2) is converted into nitrate (NO3-) or ammonium (NH4+) -occurs in 3 ways 1. atmosphere 2. soil 3.water bodies 1. atmosphere -N2 is converted to NO3- by lightning 2. soil -N2 is converted to NH4+ by decomposing bacteria ->nitrogen-fixing bacteria (Rhizobium) 3. water bodies -cyanobacteria in aquatic ecosystems fix nitrogen into NH4+ -cyanobacteria is blue-green bacteria that manufacture their own food during photosynthesis -nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria make nitrogen compounds available to plants in the surface of the waters
Decomposition
A chemical reaction that breaks down compounds into simpler products.
What is the problem if too much nitrogen enters an aquatic ecosystem?
A lot of algae will start to grow and when they die, it decomposes and it uses oxygen to decompose the algae and it was eventually use up all of the oxygen in that ecosystem and might case fish or other aquatic organisms to die
Abiotic
A non-living thing --> doesn't have anyone of the 8 characteristics of life
When will decomposition occur faster, when it happens in a warmer area, or a colder area?
A warmer area
What happens in Nitrification?
Aerobic bacteria use oxygen to convert ammonia and ammonium.
Why is nitrogen so important to living things?
All living things need nitrogen to build proteins and other important body chemicals.
How do animals obtain usable nitrogen?
Animals eat plants or other animals that eat plants.
the majority of fixed nitrogen comes from what?
Bacteria breaking down dead matter and feces
Combustion
Burned fuels release carbon into the atmosphere
Forest Fires
Burning wood and plants
Photosynthesis
Carbon enters the biotic part of the ecosystem
Uses for Fossil Fuels
Cars, trains, power plants
What organisms are responsible for producing nitrogen compounds?
Certain types of bacteria.
What are some plants that are nitrogen fixers?
Clovers, peas, beans, alfalfa, and peanuts.
What form must the nitrogen be in?
Compound form.
how nitrogen is returned to the atmosphere
DENITRIFICATION -involves denitrifying bacteria -denifitrying bacteria converts NO3- back into nitrogen gas (N2) -it is also returned to the atmosphere as ammonia NH3 in volcanic ash etc
Atmosphere
Earth's major reservoir of carbon in the form of carbon dioxide.
Denitrification
Extra nitrogen in the soil gets put back into the air. There are special bacteria that perform this task as well.
What are the steps in the nitrogen cycle?
Free nitrogen is fixed by bacteria or lightning. Plants take in nitrogen. The animals eat the plants. Bacteria breaks down the waste/dead organisms and release nitrogen back into the system.
Who was Fritz Haber?
German scientist who developed an efficient way of producing ammonia from hydrogen and atmospheric nitrogen
Fossil Fuel
High pressure and high heat transform carbon matter into coal, oil, and natural gas
Respiration in plants
It returns the carbon dioxide into the atmosphere
The speed of decomposition is the key to what?
Keeping the cycle moving consistently
how nitrogen is stored
LARGEST STORE -found in the atmosphere as nitrogen gas (N2) OTHER MAJOR STORES -oceans -organic matter in soil SMALLER STORES -terrestrial ecosystems -organisms -lakes and marshes
What are three ways in which nitrogen can be fixated so plants can use it to grow?
Lightening, bacteria in soil, and bacteria in roots (legumes)
What are three ways that nitrogen can be 'fixed' for plants to use?
Lightning fixation, nitrogen fixation, Nitrogen fixing bacteria, breaking the N2 bond to add hydrogen (requires lots of energy)
Why is free nitrogen a problem for many organisms?
Many organisms can't get free nitrogen.
nitrification and uptake
NITRIFICATION -NH4+ is converted to NO3- -takes place in 2 stages -involves soil bacteria -(nitrifying bacteria) 1. first stage -certain species of nitrifying bacteria converts NH4+ to NO2- (nitrite) 2. second stage -different species of nitrifying bacteria converts NO2- into NO3- -once nitrates are made available, the nitrates can enter plant roots and eventually be incorporated into plant proteins -the uptake of nitrates is only important not only for the plants but also for other organisms -when organisms eat plants they incorporate nitrogen into the proteins of their tissues
What molecule is the most abundant in the environment?
Nitrogen
What is the process called where bacteria produces nitrogen compounds?
Nitrogen fixation.
What are decomposers?
Organisms that breakdown waste or dead animals.
how carbon is cycled
PHOTOSYNTHESIS -chemical reaction that converts solar energy into chemical energy and produces carbohydrate energy and oxygen *energy (sunlight) + 6CO2 + 6H20 -> C6H1206 + 6O2* CELLULAR RESPIRATION -both plants and animals release carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere by converting carbohydrates and oxygen into carbon dioxide and water *C6H1206 (carbohydrates) + 6O2 -> 6CO2 + 6H2O* DECOMPOSITION -breaking down of dead organic material by decomposers -bacteria and fungi convert organic molecules such a cellulose back into carbon dioxide and is then released into the atmosphere OTHER WAYS CARBON IS CYCLED -ocean mixing moves carbon throughout the worlds oceans. -CO2 is released to tropical atmospheres as ocean currents carry the warmer water to polar areas -some CO2 is released from volcanic eruptions, decomposing trees and forest fires
Primary Consumer
Plants
Forest Plants
Plants take the carbon and fix it in organic compounds
Nitrogen Fixation
Process of converting nitrogen gas into ammonia
how carbon is stored
SHORT TERM STORES -vegetation on land -plants in the ocean -in land-based and marine animals -found in the atmosphere as carbon dioxide gas (CO2) -stored in its dissolved form in top layers of the ocean LONG TERM STORES -middle and deep ocean waters as dissolved carbon dioxide ->in cold ocean waters the dissolved carbon will sink to the bottom and remain for 500 years, eventually it may be used by bacteria and released again -coal, oil and gas deposits ->these are fossil fuels that are formed from dead plants and animals -largest long term stores are found in marine sediments and sedimentary rock
Detritus Feeder
Small animals or micro organisms that eat decaying matter. (ex. earthworms)
What is Denitrification?
Soil bacteria convert nitrogen compounds into nitrogen gas to be released back into the atmosphere
Where can nitrogen fixing bacteria be found?
Soil, legumes
Exchange with Oceans
Some carbon dissolves in oceans and make shells.
Ecology
Study of organisms and their interactions between their environment and other organisums
Respiration
Takes place in the cells of primary and secondary consumers
Fossil Fuel Processing
Taking the resources out and using them
What is the difference between the Carbon Cycle and the geologic carbon cycle?
The carbon cycle happens faster with biotic factors in the environment
The Carbon Cycle
The carbon in CO2 is incorporated into plants by photosynthesis, then into animals by consuming organisms, and returned to the air as CO2 from respiration. Cellular carbon is returned to the soil through waste and dead organism decay.
Why are bacteria the most important part of the notrogen cycle?
The fix nitrogen into free nitrogen which is a usable form. They also bring nitrogen back into the system by decomposing dead organisms.
Cellular Respiration
The process by which cells use oxygen to produce energy from food
Deforestation
The removal of trees faster than forests can replace themselves.
What part do decomposers play in the nitrogen cycle?
They change complex nitrogen into free nitrogen and return it to the soil.
Where does free nitrogen produced by bacteria eventually go?
To the atmosphere or the soil.
Animal consumption
When the animals eat the primary consumer
Decay
When the secondary consumer dies and broken down by decomposes
Biotic
a living thing --> consisting of all the characteristics of life
Reservoir
a place on the planet where carbon is collected and a place where carbon can move in or out.
carbon cycle
all living things contain billions of carbon atoms in their cells
What are disruptions in the nitrogen cycle?
fertilizer run off causing algal blooms, to much nitrogen in on place at one time that kills the animals,
Plants can only use and absorb nitrogen when...
it is mixed with oxygen or hydrogen
Geologic Carbon Cycle
regulates the CO2 concentration in the earth's atmosphere along with biologic carbon cycle
Fixation
the first step in the process of making nitrogen usable by plants. In this phase, bacteria change nitrogen into ammonium
Biotic factors
the living components of the environment that effect a species and contain ALL 8 characteristics of life
Abiotic factors
the non-living chemical or physical components of the environment that effect a species and doesn't contain AT LEAST ONE of the 8 characteristics of life
Green house effect
the process in which heat from the sun is trapped in due to the presence of gasses in the atmosphere - it is good because it keeps the earth warm
What is Nitrification?
the process in which soil bacteria convert ammonium to a form that can be used by plants; nitrate
Assimilation
this is how plants get nitrogen, they absorb nitrates from the soil into their roots. Then the nitrogen gets used in amino acids, nucleic acids, and chlorophyll
Ammonification
this is part of he decaying process. When a plant of animal dies, decomposers like fungi and bacteria turn the nitrogen back in ammonium so it can reenter the nitrogen cycle
Nitrification
this is the process by which ammonium gets changed into nitrates by bacteria. nitrates are the type of nitrogen that plants are able to use
What do plants need nitrogen for?
to grow
What do animals need nitrogen for?
to help create DNA, RNA, and Proteins
Nitrogen bonds
triple bond --> requires lots of energy to break bonds apart
Respiration Feeders
Decomposes that return carbon to the atmosphere
Micro ecology
1.Atom 2.molecule 3.tissue 4.organs 5.organsystem 6.organism 7.population
Photosynthesis Equation
6CO2 + 6H2O + light --> C6H12O6 + 6O2
Nitrogen Fixing bacteria (90%)
N2 + 4H2 --> 2 NH4 +
