(855) 4-ESSAYS

Type a new keyword(s) and press Enter to search

Nutrient Cycling

            
             Nutrient cycling is the first basic principle of ecosystem sustainability. It is the repeated pathway of particular nutrients or elements from the environment through one or more organisms back to the environment. Some examples include carbon cycle, the nitrogen cycle, and the phosphorus cycle; which are driven directly or indirectly by incoming solar energy and gravity. The earth's chemical cycles also connect past, present, and future forms of life. The nutrient cycle is important in two ways. First is that it prevents waste and the second reason is it assures that the ecosystem will not run out of essential elements. An these two lead to what is know as the first basic principle of ecosystem sustainability, which is the ecosystems dispose of waste and replenish nutrients by recycling all elements.
             The hydrologic cycle or water cycle that collects, purifies, and distributes the earth's water supply is in the ecosystem. The water cycle is powered by energy from the sun and by gravity. The carbon cycle is based on carbon dioxide gas. Carbon Dioxide is a key component of nature's thermostat. Lighting and certain bacteria convert gaseous nitrogen gas into compounds that can enter food webs as part of the nitrogen cycle. In the Phosphorus cycle, phosphorus moves slowly from phosphate deposits on land and in shallow ocean sediments to living organisms, and then much more slowly backs to the land and ocean. Bacteria are less important here to the nitrogen cycle. Sunlight as a source of energy is fundamental to sustainability because it is both nonpolluting and non-depletable.
            


Essays Related to Nutrient Cycling

1. Healthier Lifestyle

... lungs and are the second component of the fitness routine. Examples of good aerobic exercises include: walking, running, jogging, swimming, cross-country skiing, rowing, rope skipping, dancing, racquet sports, and cycling. Begin gradually (perhaps with brisk walking) and don't expect to "get into shape" overnight. With consistent effort, your fitness should start to improve within three months. You should work hard ... should contain foods low in fat, and rich in complex carbohydrates. Also, eat a variety of foods, don't try to fill your nutrient requirements by eating the same foods da...

  • Word Count: 800
  • Approx Pages: 3
  • Grade Level: High School

2. The Rights of Invasive Species

... it? There is little evidence that the species ever warranted such intensive management - it does not substantially change the fundamental character of its environment by, say, reducing biodiversity or altering nutrient cycling. The Devils Claw did not alter its environment in a negative way, just because it is an invasive species it has a negative bias surrounding it. There is more than one way ... ...

  • Word Count: 1480
  • Approx Pages: 6
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

3. Biodiversity of Life

... its relative abundance or total biomass in the environment FACT: Bees are Keystone Species because they pollinate the environment. Keystone Species Predators allow coexistence of competing prey Functions - Energy and nutrient cycling. - Recovery from disturbance - More diverse ecosystems, better efficiency...

  • Word Count: 856
  • Approx Pages: 3
  • Grade Level: High School

4. World Water Supply and Conservation

... to flush human waste and breakdown occurs anaerobically, which produces methane and other foul smelling gasses. Sewage systems pump water underground hundreds of miles and use costly treatment processes when nutrient rich fertilizer could instead be produced. Composting takes close to one year to fully decompose, so rotational composting bins are useful to allow for cyclical decomposition. Newer composting technology, allows ... river life of any kind. Also, water temperatures in dam reservoirs can differ greatly between the surface and depths, further complicating survival for marine l...

  • Word Count: 2430
  • Approx Pages: 10
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

5. Relationship Between Low Socio-Economic Areas and Obesity Rates

... urban sprawl, where metropolitan areas extend over a large geographic region. The distance between cities and towns, or even land marks within a city can make physical activity such as walking and cycling impossible. Evidence from two American studies suggests that urban sprawl and obesity is high in adolescents in particular (Lee, 2008). There is a reliance on automobiles to get to one destination ... proven that immigrants have healthier eating habits, better physical activity routines and have yet to become adapted to the American western diet, which mostly consists of processed food...

  • Word Count: 2952
  • Approx Pages: 12
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

6. Parks And Protected Areas

... during their visit (Wang, 1997). Having an increased amount of tourists in an area can change the average body size of organisms to a smaller form. A highly impacted area can cause nutrient cycling and losses. There can be a decrease in the rate of decomposition as well as the number of decomposing organisms and their activity rate. Species diversity or species richness abatement can ... ...

  • Word Count: 2503
  • Approx Pages: 10
  • Has Bibliography

7. Impacts Of Tourism On Protected Areas

... during their visit (Wang, 1997). Having an increased amount of tourists in an area can change the average body size of organisms to a smaller form. A highly impacted area can cause nutrient cycling and losses. There can be a decrease in the rate of decomposition as well as the number of decomposing organisms and their activity rate. Species diversity or species richness abatement can ... ...

  • Word Count: 2503
  • Approx Pages: 10
  • Has Bibliography

8. African Grasslands

... in all their above ground parts. Oftentimes trees in the savanna have corky bark which is fire resistant. On the ground's surface is left a layer of powdery black ash. This nutrient rich ash encourages new growth. The annual fire seasons cause very acidic soil conditions. Precipitates from the burning of the biomass include nitric acid and sulfuric acid (the components of ... burning in the world, most of which is associated with human population pressures on regional ecosystems. These changes in climate and ecosystem processes combine to effect changes in the biogeochemical cycling of ...

  • Word Count: 2357
  • Approx Pages: 9
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

Got a writing question? Ask our professional writer!
Submit My Question