PHOSPHORUS CYCLE
Question: Phosphorus cycles extremely slowly through ecosystems due to the afct that the major reserviors of this nutrient are contained largely in rock and other substrates. As a consequence, this nutrient often limits primary production
Discuss this statement in term sof the global phosphorus cycle, and outline the general patterns of the cycle. What human activities are considered to impact upon the phosphorus cycle?
Answer:
Introduction
In the ecosystems, nutrients continuously cycle through living-organisms and non-living environments in such a way that all organisms can access nutrients to maintain their growth. Phosphorus is one of the most essential nutrients to organisms. Phosphorus has an extremely slow cycle due to the fact that large quantity of this nutrient is stored in sedimentary rocks for considerable period. As a result, this nutrient often limits the primary production. In order to improve crop production, humans have tried to increase the phosphorus concentration in soils by adding phosphorus-based fertilisers and manures to agricultural lands. However, the excessive use of such fertilisers in agricultural lands and improper waste discharge into aquatic ecosystem lead to nutrient pollution in the
Importance of Phosphorus
Phosphorus is the essential element to fauna and flora in any ecosystem. Like nitrogen, it enhances major processes in plants such as photosynthesis, flowering, maturation, fruiting and seed production. In addition, phosphorus also stimulates root growth, strengthens structural tissues in straw or stalks and improves crop quality, especially in forages and vegetables (Brad& Weil 1999). Phosphorus is also the common element in structure of living organisms. According to Enger and Smith (1998), this element is present in many important biological molecules such as DNA and in membrane structure of cells. The bone and teeth of animals also contain significant quantities of phosphorus. Therefore, animals including human beings need to consume the phosphorus-contained food to...
More Environmental Science
essays:
AP Environmental Science HW Chp4
... connect, nutrient availability, and salinity. 6. A biotic component of an ecosystem is a living component such as plants, animals, and microorganisms, sometimes called biota. Living organisms in ecosystems usually ...
Primary and Secondary Succession
... Ecosystems are environments where biotic (living) organisms and abiotic (non-living) components interact together to create a functional, complex network of nutrient and energy cycling. These balanced environments take ...
Intro to Life Sciences: Protecting the Ozone Layer That Protects Life on Earth
... to living organisms in the ocean. Agriculture is disrupted by drought induced crop failures ...
Freshwater aquatic systems.
... living organisms. Source of nitrogen in aquatic communities include: runoff from soil (fertilizers), nitrogen fixation, death of plants and animals, and input from precipitation. Nitrogen is consumed through consumption of detritus, consumption of plants and animals, and dentrification. Phosphorus ...
Amazon rainforest, past, present and future uses.
... include cycling essential nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus, absorbing ...
Does the commonly used herbicide "2, 4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid" cause destruction of aquatic organisms, especially the Brown Planarian?
... soil organisms, such as nitrogen-fixing bacteria and mycorrhizae. Mycorrhizae are fungi that have evolved with the root systems of plants and facilitate the uptake of essential nutrients. Herbicides ...
Matter Cycles
... in production of proteins, nucleic aids, and chlorophyll. Just like the Carbon and the Nitrogen cycles, the phosphorus cycle has ... water cycle which is very important to fresh water ecosystems. In order to live the organisms must ...
The Gulf of Mexico Hypoxia, "The Dead Zone"
... the production rate and accumulation of carbon forms within the ecosystem. Some forms of eutrophication can be a natural process, but most likely will occur from a rise in nutrient levels, particularly nitrogen and phosphorus Nixon ... Hypoxia: Consequences for Living Resources and Ecosystems. Coastal ...