Monday, February 14, 2011

Nitrogen cycle

Nitrogen Cycle
Overview
Nitrogen is a component of proteins and nucleic acids and so a supply of nitrogen is essential to all living things
Nitrogen is available to living things in a variety of forms, the source used depending on the species:
Heterotrophs (such as animals) can only use organic nitrogen i.e. nitrogen already incorporated into organic molecules
Plants use the inorganic nitrogen-containing ions nitrate (NO3-) and ammonium (NH4+)
Some bacteria are able to use atmospheric nitrogen (N2 gas) as a nitrogen supply
Other bacteria are involved in the interconversion of the inorganic nitrogen ions; ammonium, nitrite (NO2-) and nitrate
Some bacteria and fungi decompose dead organisms converting organic nitrogen to inorganic nitrogen in the process
The movement of nitrogen between different groups of organisms and between the different molecular types is known as the nitrogen cycle
The Players and their roles
A number of different groups of organism play important roles in the nitrogen cycle. These include:
Nitrogen-fixing bacteria
These fix atmospheric nitrogen gas (N2) to ammonia (NH3) in a reduction reaction.
The equation for this reaction is: N2 + 3H2 ----> 2NH3
Some nitrogen-fixing bacteria are free-living in the soil e.g. Azotobacter
Some, e.g. Rhizobium, form a mutualistic (symbiotic) relationship with legumes (peas, beans, clover etc. These are members of the Papilionaceae) in which the bacteria live in nodules on the plant's roots. The bacteria provide the plant with fixed nitrogen, the plant provide the bacteria with carbohydrates. More details of this relationship is available on this site here. The diagram below shows root nodules in a member of the Papilionaceae

Image from http://database.sunsite.ualberta.ca/pls/biod1/ditrl.display.detail?p_mno=135
Decomposers
These are bacteria and fungi that decompose dead animals and plants and, in the process, convert their organic nitrogen (that found in proteins and nucleic acids) into inorganic ammonium (NH4+)
Nitrifying Bacteria
These are bacteria that interconvert inorganic nitrogen molecules:
Nitrosomonas converts ammonium (NH4+) into nitrites (NO2-)
Nitrobacter converts nitrites (NO2-) into nitrates (NO3-)
Collectively these processes are known as nitrification
Nitrification only occurs when the soil conditions are appropriate i.e. not waterlogged, too cold or too acidic. If the soil conditions are not appropriate ammonium accumulates
Denitrifying Bacteria
These are bacteria that convert nitrates (NO3-) to nitrites (NO2-) and then to nitrogen gas (N2)
These bacteria thus bring about the conversion of inorganic nitrogen into atmospheric nitrogen; a process known as denitrification
The denitrifying bacteria include:
Pseudomonas
Thiobacillus 
These are anaerobic bacteria so denitrification only occurs under anaerobic conditions (e.g. when the soil is waterlogged

Some physical processes also have a role in the cycle:
Lightning: the high energy available from lightning is sufficient to fix atmospheric nitrogen to nitrates
The Haber-Bosch process : this is an entirely artificial process that is used in the manufacture of ammonium for fertilizer - but since it contributes  to the total fixation of atmospheric nitrogen it is often included
Leaching : the loss of nitrates from the soil as a result of heavy rain fall. Nitrates leach into bodies of water (e.g. lakes) enriching them and making them more fertile. This process is known as eutrophication. 

Diagrams of the whole Nitrogen Cycle
There are many different ways of representing the nitrogen cycle - some more visual than others, some more detailed.
I have included a few - find one that works for you either among these or elsewhere - BUT DO KNOW AT LEAST ONE
You must also know the names of all of the species listed on this page as taking part in the cycle

This straightforward diagram illustrating the key points (but not giving details of, for example, nitrogen fixation) is from http://helios.bto.ed.ac.uk/bto/microbes/nitrogen.htm

THE FUNCTION OF EACH PART OF THE NEURONE

1. Axon - The long fibre that conducts impulse away from the cell body.

2. Dendron - The short fibre that conducts impulses towards the cell body.

3. Dendrites - The terminal branches found at the end of the axon and the dendrons which receive or transmit impulse.

4. Myelin sheath - The layer of fatty substances surrounding the axon or dendron that serves as an insulting layer.

5. Neurilemma - The thin membrane that provides nourishment for the nerve fibre.

6. Node of ranvier -The part of the axon not covered by the myelin sheath; helps to speed up the transmission of impulses.

BODY COORDINATION (THE NEURONE ) FORM 4



1. The human nervous system is made up of nerve cells called neurones.
2. A neurone is specialised to transmit impulse from receptors to effectors.

          stimulus                          transmitted by neurones
          -----> impulses from receptors -------> effectors

    3. Each neurone consists of a cell body with a nucleus and fine cytoplasmic processes called nerve    
      terminals .