The Nitrogen Cycle



More Cycles

(adapted from )

Ecology Vocab:

Producer:______________________________________________________________________

Herbivore:_____________________________________________________________________

Carnivore:_____________________________________________________________________

Decomposer:___________________________________________________________________

Decomposition:_________________________________________________________________

Use the diagram below to answer the following questions:

[pic]

1. Why do you think nitrogen is important for living things?_____________________________

2. Bacteria in root nodules change nitrogen gas into what form?__________________________

3. What is the role of decomposers in the nitrogen cycle?________________________________

4. How do plants obtain the nitrogen they need?_______________________________________

5. How do you think herbivores obtain the nitrogen they need?___________________________

6. How do you think other animals obtain the nitrogen they need?_________________________

7. According to the picture, how is nitrogen returned to the atmosphere? ______________________________________________________________________________

8. What would be the impact on the nitrogen cycle if there were a decrease in decomposition in a given ecosystem?_______________________________________________________________

9. What would be the impact on the nitrogen cycle if plants/producers were destroyed?

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

Review:

1. How does atmospheric nitrogen become usable on Earth?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. What organisms are involved in the movement of nitrogen between the air and soil, and back to the air?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. How do nitrogen-fixing bacteria on root nodules function in the nitrogen cycle?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4. What would be the effect on the nitrogen cycle if a large volume of nitrogen rich fertilizer ran off the land and into surface water? (algae, which lives in water, producer) ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5. Consider these roles: algae – producers; fish – primary consumers; bacteria – decomposers. Now consider what these organisms need in terms of photosynthesis and respiration. What may end up happening if your answer to #4 happened?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

6. How do you think animals contribute to the nitrogen cycle?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

7. What are some ways that we use or store nitrogen in our bodies?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Label the diagram below using the definitions:

[pic]

Accumulation - the process in which water pools in large bodies (like oceans, seas and lakes).

Condensation - the process in which water vapor (a gas) in the air turns into liquid water. Condensing water forms clouds in the sky. Water drops that form on the outside of a glass of icy water are condensed water. (This term appears twice in the diagram.)

Evaporation - the process in which liquid water becomes water vapor (a gas). Water vaporizes from the surfaces of oceans and lakes, from the surface of the land, and from melts in snow fields.

Precipitation - the process in which water (in the form of rain, snow, sleet, or hail) falls from clouds in the sky.

Subsurface Runoff - rain, snow melt, or other water that flows in underground streams, drains, or sewers.

Surface Runoff - rain, snow melt, or other water that flows in surface streams, rivers, or canals.

Transpiration - the process in which some water within plants evaporates into the atmosphere. Water is first absorbed by the plant's roots, then later exits by evaporating through pores in the plant.

[pic]

(from )

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