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Nitrogen Cycle
By Bronwyn, Kevin, will, and Dayna
Why is nitrogen important?
Nitrogen is key building blocks for proteins, which all cells need.
Nitrogen is a major part of fertilizers, combustion of fossil fuels, and the
clearing of forests and the grasslands.
Farmers and gardeners use fertilizer to enhance the growth of their plants.
In a human body, you can find nitrogen in the DNA and proteins
How does it move?
Nitrogen moves in a cycle from the atmosphere to the biosphere and back.
Simulation
Nitrogen starts in the atmosphere, but organisms cannot use pure nitrogen, it
must be broken down. It can be broken down by lightning, soil, root nodules,
and bacteria. The nitrogen, now NO₃⁻, is absorbed into a plant, and the plant
uses it to create other compounds. Animals, like humans, eat the plants to get
the nitrogen for ourselves. After a plant decomposes, other bacteria in the soil
returns the nitrogen to its pure form, and it’s released into the air again.
How do organisms obtain nitrogen?
Producers:
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Producers obtain nitrogen from the soil by absorbing it
through their roots.
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The nitrogen in the soil is changed into a useable form
by nitrogen-fixing bacteria
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These forms include ammonium, nitrite, and nitrate
Consumers:
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Consumers obtain nitrogen by eating other organisms
Human impact on the nitrogen cycle
Fertilizers:
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Farmers use fertilizers which have nitrogen in
them to enhance the growth of their plants
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Excess nitrogen that is not absorbed by the
plants stays in the soil
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When it rains, this leftover nitrogen is carried
into aquatic ecosystems
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The nitrogen causes an overgrowth of algal
What is Algal Bloom?
Algal bloom: is caused when it rains, or when the fields are watered.
Nitrogen is carried into aquatic systems.
The excess nitrogen can cause an overgrowth of algae.
This can kill several aquatic animals by the dangerous toxins in the water.