Which step in the nitrogen cycle is accelerated at the beginning of the eutrophication process?
denitrification***
nitrogen fixation
producer uptake of nitrogen
consumer decomposition
Which of the following is carried out by denitrifying bacteria?
break down large, nitrogen-rich molecules to simple molecules
build large, nitrogen-rich molecules from simple molecules
convert biologically useful nitrogen to gaseous nitrogen
convert gaseous nitrogen to biologically useful nitrogen
Which type of organism moves nitrogen from cells of producers back to the soil?
decomposers***
consumers
nitrogen-fixing bacteria
denitrifying bacteria
What would be the consequence of an ecosystem that had no nitrogen-fixing bacteria?
Nitrogen from decomposing animals would never be returned to the soil.
Decomposers would not be able to break down the nitrogen present in plants they feed on.
Plants would have to rely on biologically available nitrogen present in the soil.
Consumers would not survive since they would have no way to obtain the nitrogen they need.
Hey, my degree is in Physics :)
To find the answers to these questions, you will need to have a basic understanding of the nitrogen cycle and the different processes involved. The nitrogen cycle is the process by which nitrogen is converted between different forms in the environment.
1. The step in the nitrogen cycle that is accelerated at the beginning of the eutrophication process is denitrification. Eutrophication occurs when there is an excess of nutrients, particularly nitrogen and phosphorus, in a body of water. This excess nutrient input often leads to an increase in algal growth, which can have negative effects on the ecosystem.
2. The process carried out by denitrifying bacteria is the conversion of biologically useful nitrogen to gaseous nitrogen. Denitrifying bacteria convert nitrates (NO3-) into nitrogen gas (N2). This process occurs in oxygen-depleted environments, such as wetlands or waterlogged soils.
3. The type of organism that moves nitrogen from cells of producers back to the soil is decomposers. Decomposers, such as fungi and bacteria, break down organic matter, including dead plants and animals, and release nutrients, including nitrogen, back into the soil. This process is important in recycling nutrients and making them available to other organisms in the ecosystem.
4. The consequence of an ecosystem that had no nitrogen-fixing bacteria would be that plants would have to rely on biologically available nitrogen present in the soil. Nitrogen-fixing bacteria are able to convert atmospheric nitrogen (N2) into a biologically useful form, such as ammonia (NH3) or nitrate (NO3-), which can be taken up by plants. Without these bacteria, plants would not have a direct source of nitrogen and would need to rely on the nitrogen already present in the soil. This could lead to nitrogen depletion over time and affect the overall productivity of the ecosystem.