Environmental Impact of Nitrogen and Phosphorus

Study Notes

Nitrogen fixation is the process by which atmospheric nitrogen is converted into compounds that can be used by living organisms.
Human activities like excessive use of fertilizers, burning fossil fuels, and livestock farming can increase the amount of reactive nitrogen and phosphorus in the environment.

Eutrophication is the excessive nutrient enrichment in water bodies, causing algal blooms that deplete oxygen and harm aquatic life.
It is a result of human activities like excessive use of fertilizers, burning fossil fuels, and livestock farming.

Biomagnification is the increasing concentration of toxic substances like pesticides or heavy metals in organisms at higher levels of the food chain.
Bioaccumulation is the gradual accumulation of substances in an organism at a rate faster than the organism can eliminate them.
Both processes can lead to harmful effects on organisms, including reproductive problems, disease, and death, especially for top predators with high toxin levels.

Photosynthesis is the process by which plants and some other organisms convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose (food) and oxygen, using sunlight as an energy source.
The chemical equation for photosynthesis is: 6CO2 + 6H2O + sunlight energy → C6H12O6 + 6O2
Cellular respiration is the process by which organisms break down glucose and other nutrients to produce energy (ATP) for cellular functions, releasing carbon dioxide and water as byproducts.
The chemical equation for cellular respiration is: C6H12O6 + 6O2 → 6CO2 + 6H2O + energy (ATP)

Ecology is the study of the interactions between organisms and their environment.
Ants interact with the spheres by burrowing (lithosphere), obtaining water (hydrosphere), being part of food webs (biosphere), and contributing to soil aeration (atmosphere).

The hierarchy in ecology includes: organisms, populations, communities, ecosystems, and biomes.
Organisms are individual living beings.
Populations are groups of organisms of the same species in a given area.
Communities are populations of different species interacting in a specific area.
Ecosystems are communities and their abiotic (non-living) environment, including air, water, and soil.
Biomes are major regional ecosystems with similar climate, soil, and organisms.

Biotic factors are the living components of an ecosystem, such as plants, animals, and microorganisms.
Abiotic factors are the non-living physical and chemical components of an ecosystem, such as air, water, sunlight, temperature, and soil.

The water cycle is the continuous movement of water between the Earth's surface, atmosphere, and underground through various processes.
The processes include: evaporation, transpiration, condensation, precipitation, surface runoff, and infiltration.

The carbon cycle is the continuous exchange of carbon between the Earth's atmosphere, biosphere, lithosphere, and hydrosphere.
Human activities like burning fossil fuels and deforestation have disrupted the natural balance, leading to increased atmospheric carbon dioxide levels and contributing to climate change.

Access to clean water is recognized as a fundamental human right by the United Nations.
Water scarcity and lack of access to safe drinking water and sanitation disproportionately affect marginalized communities and can lead to health issues, poverty, and conflicts.

Common problems associated with climate change include: rising sea levels, increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, disruption of ecosystems and loss of biodiversity, and impacts on agriculture and food security.
The greenhouse effect is a natural process where greenhouse gases in the atmosphere (like carbon dioxide and methane) trap some of the Sun's heat, making the Earth warm enough to sustain life.
However, human activities have increased greenhouse gas levels, intensifying the greenhouse effect and causing global temperatures to rise.