BIO373H5 Lecture Notes - Lecture 9: Hypha, Soil Structure, Nitrogen Cycle
Document Summary
The prokaryotic biosphere is the majority of the planet it"s involved in the carbon cycle (prokaryotes remove. Co2 and return it to the atmosphere) and nitrogen cycle (fixes n into ammonia so plants can use it) Lives in aquatic habitats, ocean subsurface, soils and terrestrial. Most of prokaryotes are in oceanic subsurface. Microorganisms only occupy a small surface area of soils, but it"s impossible to fully describe the chemical composition of soil. Soil is an open system; it"s a matrix of solids, gases, water, minerals, biota soil is always in chemical disequilibrium (it"s always transforming, things are always being added or broken down) The upper layer of soil has more organic matter and roots. Structure of soil depends on how particles are arranged. Soil structure determines number + size of spaces. Soil has low levels of toxic compounds and filters water + air for microorganisms. With naked eye: you can see the solids and pores of soil.
