Biochemical Cycles

Biome or Ecosystem An ecosystem is the interaction of living and nonliving things in an environment. A biome is a specific geographic area notable for the species living there. A biome can be made up of many ecosystems. For example, an aquatic biome can contain ecosystems such as coral reefs and kelp forests.

Important Terms Biomes = A large community of plants and animals that occupies a distinct region. Ecosystem = a group of organisms and how they interact with their living and nonliving environment Biotic = living things of an ecosystem. Abiotic = nonliving things of an ecosystem.

Carbon Cycle Carbon is exchanged, or "cycled" among Earth's oceans, atmosphere, and ecosystems . All living organisms are built of carbon compounds. It is necessary for life and an important component of many chemical processes.

Nitrogen Cycle The nitrogen cycle is the biochemical cycle by which nitrogen is converted into various chemical forms as it recycles nitrogen from living things to nonliving things between Earth, the atmosphere, and oceans.

Nitrogen is a component of many organic molecules Nitrogen  is a component of many organic molecules. It forms an essential part of amino acids (which make up proteins) such as the proteins in your hair, muscles, skin and other important tissues. Nitrogen is essential for all living cells. Nitrogen enters the food chain by means of nitrogen-fixing bacteria in the soil.

Bacteria in plants and the soil change nitrogen gas into nitrates. Plants and animals use nitrates to make the proteins they need to grow. Bacteria change nitrates from waste and dead plants and animals back into nitrogen gas.

Humans cannot use nitrogen in gas form so how does it end up in the body to use? Nitrogen gets back into the Earth through decomposers (bacteria). Bacteria is one of the key components of the nitrogen cycle. By eating plants