Ecological Cycles

Vocabulary words

Ammonification

Ammonification: Bacteria decomposers break down amino acids from dead animals and wastes into nitrogen ammonium.

Ammonium

Ammonium •Form of nitrogen contained in fertilizer•generated in soil by breakdown of organic matter

Atmosphere

Atmosphere - layer of gasses around the earth

Carbon

carbon - A non-metallic element found in coal, petroleum and natural gas. Major component of life.

Carbon Cycle

Carbon cycle - Circulation of carbon through ecosystems

Cellular respiration

Cellular respiration Process by which organisms create energy from sugar

Glucose+ Oxygenà CO2+ H20+ Energy (ATP)

Condensation

Condensation This is where warm and cold air collide and form ice crystals that condense and form droplets of water.

Creates clouds in the air or fog on the ground.

Condense

condense -to change from a gas to a liquid

Decomposition

Decomposition - breakdown of matter by bacteria and fungi

Denitrification

Denitrification converts nitrates (NO3) in the soil to atmospheric nitrogen (N2) replenishing the atmosphere.

- removal of nitrogen or nitrogen compounds –Conversion of nitrogen to gaseous form

Evaporate

Evaporate -to change from a liquid to a gas

Evaporation

Evaporation - This is a process where the water is heated and turned into a water vapor. The sun is the main heat source for this process.

Fossil Fuels

Fossil fuels - Carbon-rich fuel from ancient animals and plants

examples: coal, gas, oil

Nitrates

Nitrates - different form of nitrogen•Found in plant nutrient and fertilizer •Animal feed, manures, and sewage Nitrification:

Nitrification

Nitrification - Nitrifying bacteria in the ground first combine ammonia with oxygen to form nitrites. Then another group of nitrifying bacteria convert nitrites to nitrates which green plants can absorb and use!

Nitrogen

nitrogen -Nitrogen is a non-metal, gaseous element

Nitrogen Fixation

Nitrogen Fixation - is when the nitrogen gets “fixed” and combines with oxygen or hydrogen

Photosynthesis

Photosynthesis -

Process by which plants make sugarEnergy (sun)+ Water+ Carbon dioxide Carbohydrates+ Oxygen

Precipitation

Precipitation -When water droplets in clouds become to heavy and begin to fall

Precipitation can be rain, hail, sleet or snow depending on the temperature and wind conditions

Respiration and decay -: •Mechanisms in which animal life and bacteria consume oxygen and release carbon dioxide

Percolation

percolation - When water seeps through the soil and ends up in the water table. It then flows into the streams, lakes, oceans, and other bodies of water. The process is then repeated again and again.

Transpiration

Transpiration -the process by which plants lose water through the stomata of their leaves

Weathering

Weathering - Physical and chemical process in which solid rock exposed at earths surface is changed to separate solid particles and dissolved materials