Nitrogen Cycle Vocabulary

The movement of nitrogen through the food chain from simple inorganic (not made from living things) compounds into complex organic (made from living things) compounds.

• Nitrogen

• Nitrogen Fixation

• Nitrogen Cycle

• Decomposers

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

The process of converting nitrogen gas from the atmosphere into ammonia or organic nitrogen compounds.

• Nitrogen Fixation

• Nitrogen Fixing Bacteria

• Nitrification

• Nitrogen Cycle

Microbes that convert nitrogen from the atmosphere into compounds that plants can use.

• Eutrophication

• Nitrogen Fixing Bacteria

• Nitrogen Fixation

• Nitrogen Cycle

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

A process that occurs when there is an excess of nutrients, particularly nitrogen, in bodies of water like lakes, rivers, and oceans.

• Eutrophication

• Ammonification

• Nitrification

• Denitrification

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

An important element in ecosystems.  It makes up almost 80% of Earth’s atmosphere and is required by organisms to make proteins.

• Nitrogen Cycle

• Nitrogen

• Decomposers

• Nitrification

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

The process of converting ammonia into the easily absorbable form of nitrogen that is nitrate and nitrites

• Ammonification

• Nitrification

• Eutrophication

• Denitrification

The process by which denitrifying bacteria convert nitrate into gaseous forms of nitrogen, such as nitrous oxide (N2O) or nitrogen gas (N2). This process can happen quickly, causing large amounts of N2 to be lost from the soil and end up in the atmosphere.

• Denitrification

• Nitrogen Fixation

• Decomposers

• Nitrogen Fixing Bacteria

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

The process by which microbes convert nitrogen waste into forms that plants can use. During ammonification, bacteria help break down decomposing plant and animal matter, which can help clean up the environment naturally.

• Nitrogen Fixing Bacteria

• Eutrophication

• Ammonification

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

The process of returning nitrogen to the atmosphere by the activity of organisms.

• Eutrophication

• Nitrification

• Decomposers

• Denitrification

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-3