5 Biogeochemical Cycles Free Online FlashCards

What does a biogeochemical cycle describe?

A biogeochemical cycle describes how an element or compound moves between living organisms and nonliving parts of Earth, such as the atmosphere, water, soil, and rocks.

What is a reservoir in a biogeochemical cycle?

Reservoirs are places where matter is stored, such as oceans, soil, or the atmosphere.

What is a flux in a biogeochemical cycle?

Fluxes are processes that move matter between reservoirs.

How does matter’s movement through ecosystems differ from energy’s?

Matter is continually recycled through ecosystems, while energy flows through them and is eventually released as heat.

What two processes make up evapotranspiration?

Evapotranspiration is the combined movement of water vapor from evaporation and plant transpiration.

What happens when water infiltrates soil?

Infiltration lets water enter soil and recharge groundwater.

How do plants and algae take carbon from the atmosphere into living matter?

During photosynthesis, plants and algae take in carbon dioxide and build carbon-containing molecules.

How do respiration and decomposition return carbon to the environment?

Cellular respiration and decomposition return much carbon to the atmosphere or water as carbon dioxide. Decomposition in oxygen-poor environments can also produce methane.

What happens during nitrogen fixation?

Nitrogen fixation converts atmospheric nitrogen gas into usable compounds. Certain bacteria perform it; lightning and industrial processes also contribute to a lesser extent.

What is ammonification?

Ammonification is the conversion of nitrogen in wastes and dead organisms into ammonium by decomposers.

What is nitrification?

Nitrification is the bacterial conversion of ammonium to nitrite and then nitrate.

What do denitrifying bacteria do?

Denitrifying bacteria convert nitrate into nitrogen gas, returning nitrogen to the atmosphere.