This document defines key vocabulary terms related to ecological cycles. It describes processes like ammonification, where bacteria break down amino acids into ammonium; cellular respiration, where organisms create energy from glucose; decomposition, the breakdown of matter by bacteria and fungi; nitrification, where nitrifying bacteria convert ammonia to nitrites and nitrates; nitrogen fixation, where nitrogen gets "fixed" and combines with oxygen or hydrogen; photosynthesis, where plants make sugar from carbon dioxide and water; precipitation, when water droplets in clouds become too heavy and fall; respiration and decay, where animal life and bacteria consume oxygen and release carbon dioxide; transpiration, where plants lose water through their leaves; and weathering, the physical and chemical breakdown of

1. Ecological Cycles
Vocabulary words

2. Ammonification
Ammonification: Bacteria decomposers break
down amino acids from dead animals and
wastes into nitrogen ammonium.

3. Ammonium
Ammonium
•Form of nitrogen contained in fertilizer
•generated in soil by breakdown of organic
matter

4. Atmosphere
Atmosphere layer of gasses around the earth

5. Carbon
carbon A non-metallic element found in coal, petroleum
and natural gas. Major component of life.

6. Carbon Cycle
Carbon cycle Circulation of carbon through ecosystems

7. Cellular respiration
Cellular respiration
Process by which organisms create energy from
sugar
Glucose+ Oxygenà CO2+ H20+ Energy (ATP)

8. Condensation
Condensation
This is where warm and cold air collide and form
ice crystals that condense and form droplets of
water.
Creates clouds in the air or fog on the ground.

9. Condense
condense to change from a gas to a liquid

10. Decomposition
Decomposition breakdown of matter by bacteria and fungi

11. Denitrification
Denitrification converts nitrates (NO3) in the soil
to atmospheric nitrogen (N2) replenishing the
atmosphere.
- removal of nitrogen or nitrogen compounds
–Conversion of nitrogen to gaseous form

12. Evaporate
Evaporate to change from a liquid to a gas

13. Evaporation
Evaporation This is a process where the water is heated and
turned into a water vapor. The sun is the main
heat source for this process.

14. Fossil Fuels
Fossil fuels Carbon-rich fuel from ancient animals and
plants
examples: coal, gas, oil

15. Nitrates
Nitrates different form of nitrogen
•Found in plant nutrient and fertilizer
•Animal feed, manures, and sewage
Nitrification:

16. Nitrification
Nitrification Nitrifying bacteria in the ground first combine
ammonia with oxygen to form nitrites. Then
another group of nitrifying bacteria convert
nitrites to nitrates which green plants can
absorb and use!

17. Nitrogen
nitrogen Nitrogen is a non-metal, gaseous element

18. Nitrogen Fixation
Nitrogen Fixation is when the nitrogen gets “fixed” and combines
with oxygen or hydrogen

19. Photosynthesis
Photosynthesis Process by which plants make sugar
Energy (sun)+ Water+ Carbon
dioxide Carbohydrates+ Oxygen

20. Precipitation
Precipitation When water droplets in clouds become to heavy
and begin to fall
Precipitation can be rain, hail, sleet or snow
depending on the temperature and wind
conditions

21. Respiration and decay -:
•Mechanisms in which animal life and bacteria
consume oxygen and release carbon dioxide

22. Percolation
percolation When water seeps through the soil and ends up
in the water table. It then flows into the
streams, lakes, oceans, and other bodies of
water. The process is then repeated again and
again.

23. Transpiration
Transpiration the process by which plants lose water through
the stomata of their leaves

24. Weathering
Weathering Physical and chemical process in which solid
rock exposed at earths surface is changed to
separate solid particles and dissolved materials