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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 sugar
Energy (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