Nutrients and Biogeochemical Cycles

Terms:
biogeochemical cycles, carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus and sulfur cycles, peat bogs, Sphagnum, carbon sinks, nitrification, denitrification, ammonification, Rhizobium, eutrophication, chlorinated hydrocarbons, biomagnification

ammonification: Process in a nutrient cycle where decay breaks down dead organic matter to release ammonia (NH₃) into the soil.

biogeochemical cycles: nutrient cycles that are caused by biological and well as geological and chemical processes, or movement from living to nonliving components, of most ecosystems.

biomagnification: Concentration of a substance up the food chain usually associated with pesticides or other chemicals that are stored in fat and do not metabolize. 

carbon cycle: The movement of carbon from living to nonliving components in an ecosystem.

carbon sink:  A type of nutrient reservoir (e.g., ocean, soil) where the amount of carbon added is greater than the amount cycled out. 

chlorinated hydrocarbons: synthetic compounds containing chlorine and carbon used in pesticides that  break down very slowly in nature.

denitrification: Process in nitrogen cycle where soil bacteria convert nitrates (NO₃) to nitrogen (N₂) or nitrogen oxide (N₂O) gas.

eutrophication: Process in an aquatic system where decay of excess dead organic matter from nutrient enrichment uses all the dissolved oxygen and kills other organisms dependent on that oxygen.

nitrification:   Process in nitrogen cycle where soil bacteria convert NH₃ to nitrites (NO₂) and then to nitrates (NO₃).

nitrogen cycle: The movement of nitrogen from living to nonliving components in an ecosystem.

peat bogs: Bogs formed by peat, or an accumulation of partly decomposed plant matter when growth > decomposition rates.

phosphorus cycle: The movement of phosphorus from living to nonliving components in an ecosystem.

Rhizobium: A genus of bacteria that  fixes nitrogen from the atmosphere.

Sphagnum: A genus of moss that absorbs cations from rainwater and releases high levels of hydrogen ions thereby increasing the acidity of the water and soil surrounding it.

sulfur cycle: The movement of sulfur from living to nonliving components in an ecosystem.