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NATURAL ECOSYSTEM
CHANGE

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The Nitrogen Cycle

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QUESTIONS:

oWhat is Nitrogen?
oWhat is Nitrogen Cycle?
oWhat are the processes involved in
nitrogen cycle?
oHow do humans affect the nitrogen cycle?
oAre there any solutions to this issue?

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is Nitrogen?

oNitrogen is the most abundant

element in the Earth’s atmosphere.
oNitrogen makes up 78% of the
troposphere.
oNitrogen cannot be absorbed
directly by the plants and animals
until it is converted into compounds
they can use. This process is called
the Nitrogen Cycle.
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What to is
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Nitrogen title style

oThe nitrogen cycle is the transformation

and movement of nitrogen between the
geosphere and biosphere.
o Although there is an abundance of nitrogen
in the atmosphere, most plants cannot use
this form of nitrogen.
oInstead, nitrogen must be in its “fixed”
form, or in a compound, for it to be usable
by plants .
oTo get to this “fixed” form, nitrogen must
first go through the cycle. 5
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Processes OfMaster title style
The Nitrogen Cycle

oNitrogen Fixation
oNitrification
oAssimilation
oAmmonification
oDenitrification

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LbBgPekjiyc
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Nitrogen Master title style

oNitrogen fixation is the process in which

nitrogen (N2 ) from the atmosphere is
converted to ammonia (NH3) and then to
ammonium (NH4+)
o Ammonia is an organic form of nitrogen, so it
can not be absorbed by plants
o Ammonium is created when ammonia
combines with a hydrogen ion (H+)
o Natural or industrial processes (such as
lightning and bacteria) cause free nitrogen to
combine with other elements to form these
nitrogen compounds . 8
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Nitrification
o Nitrification is the two-step process in which ammonia is
converted to nitrites (NO2-) and then to nitrates (NO3-).
o Two different species of bacteria that are present in the soil
oxidize the ammonia into inorganic forms of nitrogen.
o The rate of nitrification is determined by these factors:
1.temperature dependency: rapid changes in temperature do
not produce rapid changes in growth
2.oxygen intake: nitrifying bacteria are sensitive to low oxygen
concentrations
3.pH dependency: nitrification occurs the fastest when the
pH is between 8 and 9
4.prevention substances: many substances can prevent
nitrification reactions such as metals
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Assimilation
oAssimilation is the is the process by
which living organisms incorporate
NO3- and NH4+ ammonium
formed through nitrogen fixation and
nitrification.
o Plants take in this form of nitrogen
via the roots and incorporate them
into nucleic acids and plant protein.
o Animals are then able to receive and
utilize the nitrogen from plant tissues
through consumption.

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Ammonification
o Ammonification occurs when a plant or
animal dies or excretes waste.
oDecomposers, such as bacteria and fungi, first
break down the proteins in the organic matter.
o This releases ammonia, which dissolves with
the water in the soil.
oAmmonia then combines with a hydrogen ion
to create ammonium.

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Denitrification
oDenitrification is the process in which
microorganisms, such as bacteria, break
down nitrates to metabolize oxygen,
oThis releases nitrogen gas back into the
atmosphere completing the cycle.

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• LESS • TOO MUCH

o Root systems and plant growth o Acid rain formation.
are stunted.
o Acidification of soil and
o Older leaves turn Yellow.
lakes.
oDecrease in Crop Production.
o Increase of Death in plants.
o Soil Microorganisms life
become dangerous.

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humans title
affect thestyle
nitrogen cycle?

oHumans affect the nitrogen cycle

mainly in four different ways.
Nitrogen fertilizer, deforestation,
burning of fossil fuels, and the
growth of human population.

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Nitrogen Master title style
Fertilizer

oEach year, humans produce

approximately 80 teragrams of
nitrogen fertilizer. For scale, one
teragram is 2,204,622,621.85 lbs,
80 teragrams is 176,369,809,748
lbs.
oThis immense amount of nitrogen
enters the ecosystems of the planet
and as of now, it is the largest
contribution of new nitrogen. into
our planet by human race. 21
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Deforestation

oForests and the plants within them have the

ability to retain nitrogen. Therefore when the
trees are cut, the amount of nitrogen retained
decreases and the amount being put out into
the air increases.

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Burning Master
of Fossil Fuels title style

oTransportation vehicles, power

plants, industrial factories, and
other man-made
devices/buildings that rely on a
combustion process to function
increase the amount of nitrogen
because the burning of fossil fuels
sends back nitrogen that was
trapped inside, thus causing an
increase in the amount of
nitrogen. This affects the nitrogen
cycle..
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Humanto Population
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Growth

o Ultimately, with the growth of the

human population comes an
increase in demand.
oTherefore, more trees will be cut
down, more factories will be made,
more vehicles will be driven, and
more fertilizer will be used. -
Therefore, there will evidently be an
exponential increase in nitrogen as
the population on Earth continues to
grow.
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Are they Mastertotitle
any solutions style
this issue?

o Reduce your usage of fossil fuels in your

daily lives:
1.Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle
2.Carpool, walk, or bike to get around
places
3. Conserve power and electricity when
possible
oAnother possible solution to this problem is
to reduce the usage of nitrogen fertilizer for
agriculture.
oThis will then reduce eutrophication and
damage in our ecosystems.
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References

Websites
http://www.visionlearning.com/en/library/Earth-Science/6/The-NitrogenCycle/98
ohttp://www.nature.com/scitable/knowledge/library/the-nitrogen-cycleprocesses-players-
and-human-1564463
ohttp://archive.bio.ed.ac.uk/jdeacon/microbes/nitrogen.htm
ohttp://www.wisegeek.org/what-is-ammonification.htm
ohttp://www.fondriest.com/news/nitrogencycle.htm
https://www.google.com.ph/search?q=nitrogen+cycle&safe=strict&rlz=1C1GGRV_enPH76
2PH848&source=lnms&tbm=vid&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjnhenb4YviAhUN7GEKHS-
XCRgQ_AUIDygC&cshid=1557312950228567&biw=1366&bih=657
ohttps://www.khanacademy.org/science/high-school-biology/hs-ecology/hs-biogeochemical-
cycles/v/nitrogen-cycle

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Thank You so much!

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