Explain nutrient cycling and their processes, Biology

Assignment Help:

Explain Nutrient Cycling and their processes?

Two major processes are common to all ecosystems: nutrient cycling and the flow of energy. These two functions are carried out by the organisms that comprise the communities within an ecosystem. Nutrient cycles are sometimes referred to as biogeochemical cycles, reflecting the fact that chemicals are cycled between biological organisms, and between organisms and the geologic (physical) environment. Nutrient cycling involves the conversion of inorganic compounds into organic compounds through the metabolism of organisms, and then back to the inorganic forms through other metabolic pathways of organisms.

Although nutrients can be continuously recycled, energy cannot. Sunlight energy is captured and converted into a usable form by photosynthetic autotrophs, and then passed to heterotrophs within the food chain. At each conversion, some energy is lost to the system as heat energy. Therefore, an ecosystem requires a constant input of energy from an outside source, such as the sun.

Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen make up most of the biological molecules found in living organisms. These elements are passed from organism to organism by chemical conversion processes, which occur in the food web, otherwise known as the food chain. They are also converted from non-living forms to living forms by photosynthesis, and from living forms to non-living forms through cellular respiration. The non-living forms of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen form huge reservoirs in the physical environment. For instance, nitrogen makes up 78% of the atmosphere as N2, and hydrogen comes from water.

 


Related Discussions:- Explain nutrient cycling and their processes

Copies of a single chromosome, A haploid cell contains: A.one half of a com...

A haploid cell contains: A.one half of a complete set of chromosomes B.several complete sets of chromosomes C.the correct number of chromosomes D.two complete sets of chromosomes E

How the average number of offspring raised to adulthood, Researchers (Helle...

Researchers (Helle et al., 2004) analyzed rates of twin births in the Sami population of Northern Scandinavia during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. They found that (1) a

Female reproductive system - vagina, V AGIN A - Median, elastic, musc...

V AGIN A - Median, elastic, muscular tube 7.5 cm long. Open into vestibule by vaginal orffice. The lining forms vaginal rugae. Space between vaginal wall & cervix is forn

Explain functional property of gelation/viscosity, Explain Functional prope...

Explain Functional property of Gelation/Viscosity  Mode of action  Protein-protein interactions produce matrix formations and setting Food system Salad dressings,

What is the difference between amnion and chorion, Q. What is the differenc...

Q. What is the difference between amnion and chorion? Amnion is the membrane that covers the embryo and Chorion is the membrane that covers the amnion the allantois and the yol

The glomerular filtrate in comparison to the blood, What is the main transf...

What is the main transformation presented by the glomerular filtrate in comparison to the blood? Glomerular filtrate is the name given to the plasma after it has passed the glo

Ratios of different samples of nucleic acid, Ratios of the bases in differe...

Ratios of the bases in different samples of nucleic acid yielded the following results: a.  A + C    =   0.6         b.     A  +  C    =  1            c.       A  + G    =  1.2

How is the cooling of tissues and organs, Q. How is the cooling of tissues ...

Q. How is the cooling of tissues and organs for medical transplants associated with the effect of temperature upon enzymatic reactions? The molecular degradation during the dec

What is the prothallus of pteridophytes, Q. What is the prothallus of pteri...

Q. What is the prothallus of pteridophytes? The gametophyte develops by mitosis from a spore and Prothallus is the pteridophyte gametophyte (the haploid individual that forms g

Write Your Message!

Captcha
Free Assignment Quote

Assured A++ Grade

Get guaranteed satisfaction & time on delivery in every assignment order you paid with us! We ensure premium quality solution document along with free turntin report!

All rights reserved! Copyrights ©2019-2020 ExpertsMind IT Educational Pvt Ltd