BIOL 1004 Lecture Notes - Lecture 20: Solution, Nitrification, C3 Carbon Fixation
8 Dec 2017
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Document Summary
Biogeochemical cycles: nutrient cycles in ecosystems involved biotic and abiotic components. Gaseous carbon, oxygen, sulphur, and nitrogen occur in atmosphere and cycle globally. The less mobile elements are phosphorous, potassium and calcium (cycle locally in terrestrial systems) All elements cycle between organic and inorganic reservoirs. Photosynthetic org. converts co2 to organic molecules used by heterothops. One pressing problem caused by human activities is rising level of atmospheric co2. Due to burning of fossil fules and other human activities, the concentration of atmospheric co2 has been steadily increasing. Most plants grow faster as co2 is increasing. C3 plants (soybeans) more limited by co2 and c4 plants (corn) Greenhouse effect: co2, water vapour, other greenhouse gases reflect infrared radiation back toward earth. Is important for keeping earth"s surfa(cid:272)e at a ha(cid:271)ita(cid:271)le temp. Climatologists can make inferences about past environments and their climates. Co2 levels inferred from bubbles trapped in glacial ice. Co2 reacts with h2o and forms h2co3 (carbonic acid)
