What is the term used for the nitrogen found in the air around us?

Atmospheric nitrogen

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What name is given to the process that converts atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia?

Nitrogen-fixation

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Which group of microorganisms are involved in converting ammonia/ammonium ions into nitrites, and then nitrates?

Nitrifying bacteria

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Where are nitrogen-fixing bacteria found?

In the soil and in the roots of some plants.

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What are the two steps of nitrification?

  1. Conversion of ammonia to nitrites.
  2. Conversion of nitrites to nitrates.

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Within the context of the nitrogen cycle, what is assimilation?

Assimilation is the process by which plants use the nitrates and ammonium ions they absorb from the soil in order to create biological molecules like proteins and DNA. These biological molecules are then assimilated into the tissue of plant.

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Within the nitrogen cycle, which category of microorganisms converts proteins and urea into ammonia?

Decomposers convert urea and proteins into ammonia. The ammonia then forms ammonium ions in the soil.

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In the nitrogen cycle, what name is given to the process by which nitrates are converted back to atmospheric nitrogen?

Denitrification

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Which two nitrogen-containing compounds can plants absorb from the soil?

Nitrates and ammonium ions

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Where do carnivores get the nitrogen they need to survive?

By eating and digesting the bodies of other animals. The cells and tissues of carnivore's prey will be made up of nitrogen-containing biological molecules, such as DNA and proteins. The carnivore digests and assimilates those nitrogen-containing biological molecules into their own body.

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What is the consequence of denitrification for plants?

It reduces the amount of nitrates in the soil, limiting the nitrogen available to plants.

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List the four different types of microorganism involved throughout the nitrogen cycle.

  1. Nitrogen-fixing bacteria
  2. Nitrifying bacteria
  3. Decomposers
  4. Denitrifying bacteria

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