Plants and animals are super important for the nitrogen cycle, which is crucial for life on Earth. Let’s break down their roles:
Nitrogen Fixation: Some plants, like legumes (think beans and peas), team up with tiny bacteria. These bacteria change nitrogen from the air into ammonia, which plants can use.
Assimilation: Once nitrogen is changed, plants take it in through their roots as nitrates and ammonium. This is how nitrogen gets into the food chain!
Consumption: Animals get nitrogen by eating plants or other animals. This helps put nitrogen into their bodies as proteins and other important substances.
Decomposition: When animals and plants die, tiny organisms like fungi and bacteria break down their bodies. This process releases nitrogen back into the soil in ways that plants can use again. This is called mineralization.
In short, plants help fix and add nitrogen to our environment. At the same time, animals move and recycle nitrogen by eating and decomposing. This cycle keeps our ecosystem healthy and balanced!
Plants and animals are super important for the nitrogen cycle, which is crucial for life on Earth. Let’s break down their roles:
Nitrogen Fixation: Some plants, like legumes (think beans and peas), team up with tiny bacteria. These bacteria change nitrogen from the air into ammonia, which plants can use.
Assimilation: Once nitrogen is changed, plants take it in through their roots as nitrates and ammonium. This is how nitrogen gets into the food chain!
Consumption: Animals get nitrogen by eating plants or other animals. This helps put nitrogen into their bodies as proteins and other important substances.
Decomposition: When animals and plants die, tiny organisms like fungi and bacteria break down their bodies. This process releases nitrogen back into the soil in ways that plants can use again. This is called mineralization.
In short, plants help fix and add nitrogen to our environment. At the same time, animals move and recycle nitrogen by eating and decomposing. This cycle keeps our ecosystem healthy and balanced!