| A | B |
|---|
| biogeochemical cycles | when chemical compounds and othe forms of matter are passed from one organism to another |
| evaporation | process by which water changes from liquid form to an atmospheric gas |
| transpiration | when water enters the atmosphere by evaporating from leaves of plants |
| nutrient | chemical substances that an organism requires to live |
| nitrogen fixation | bacteria converts nitrogen gas to ammonia |
| denitrification | soil bacteria converts nitrates into nitrogen gas |
| primary productivity | the rate which organic matter is created by producers |
| limiting nutrient | when an ecosystem is limited by a single nutrient that is scarce or cycles slowly |
| algal bloom | when an aquatic ecosystem receives a large input of a limiting nutrient resulting in an increase of algae |
