NITROGEN CYCLE!

1. NITROGEN CYCLE! Wherever there is an empty box, label it with one of the following: Nitrogen in the atmosphere Lightning makes nitrates Eaten by animals Nitrogen in plant protein Decay by decomposers Death Nitrogen in animal protein Nitrogen-fixing bacteria in soil and on root nodules Other soil bacteria Nitrates in soil

2. nitrogen in the atmosphere lightning makes nitrates Nitrogen in animal protein eaten by animals Nitrogen in plant protein Other soil bacteria Nitrogen-fixing bacteria in soil and on root nodules death decay by decomposers nitrates in the soil NITROGEN CYCLE!

3. Answers! Nitrogenis an abundant element, making up about 78% of the air around us. Nitrogen is necessary for making proteins. From your diagram and with the help of your textbook, answer these questions: How do animals get their nitrogen? By eating other animals or plants. The protein in their food is broken down to be re-used. How do plants get their nitrogen? From nitrates, in the water in the soil, absorbed through their roots Nitratesare formed from the decayof dead organisms. Decomposersbreak down the proteins in the cells of dead organisms into amino acids and then into nitrates. What are nitrogen-fixing bacteria? Special bacteria that turn atmospheric oxygen into nitrates. Found in the soil and on root nodules of some plants. Nitrogen is returned to the air through the action of other bacteriain the soil.

4. POSTER! • Make a poster (in pairs) of the “A-Z” of communities • Can draw them all, or write, or do all animals, but you must have communities vocab! e.g. A – Atmosphere B – Bacteria in soil C – Carnivores D – Decomposers E – Elephant (herbivore) F – Fern (producer)