The Tundra Ecosystem

Nitrosomonas and Nitrobacter

Ammonia gas is toxic for plants

Assimilation

<p>Ammonia, nitrite ions, nitrate ions, and ammonium ions</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>When primary consumers eat the plants</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Ammonification</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Denitrification</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Free nitrogen gas</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Helps plants to synthesize chlorophyll and provides usable nitrogen compounds</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Combustion of fuels and use of nitrogen fertilizers</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Some characteristics of the tundra biome include an extremely cold climate, low biotic diversity, simple vegetation structure, limitation of drainage, short season of growth and reproduction, energy and nutrients in the form of dead organic material, and large population oscillations.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Some indicator species of the tundra biome include willows, sedges, and grasses.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The Arctic fox is a keystone species in the tundra biome. It is important because it serves as food for polar bears, wolves, kittiwakes, and snowy owls.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>A tundra biome can be identified by its long, dark, and cold winters with mean temperatures below 0°C for six to 10 months of the year. It also has a layer of permanently frozen ground called permafrost.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The steps involved in the nitrogen cycle are nitrogen fixation, nitrification, assimilation, ammonification, and denitrification.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Nitrogen fixation is the process of converting inert atmospheric nitrogen into the usable form of ammonia. It occurs through symbiotic bacteria like Azotobacter and Rhizobium, which have nitrogenase enzymes that combine gaseous nitrogen with hydrogen to form ammonia.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Azotobacter and Rhizobium are bacteria that play a major role in nitrogen fixation. They have nitrogenase enzymes that can combine gaseous nitrogen with hydrogen to form ammonia.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Nitrogen fixation can also occur through industrial fixation, which involves manufacturing ammonia under high temperature and pressure conditions.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Nitrification is the process of converting ammonia into nitrate. It involves the presence of bacteria in the soil.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The main form of atmospheric nitrogen is inert. It is converted into ammonia through the process of nitrogen fixation, where symbiotic bacteria deposit the inert nitrogen gas into soils from the atmosphere and surface waters.</p> Signup and view all the answers