ERT-1.E—Explain the steps and reservoir interactions in the nitrogen cycle

Explain the steps and reservoir interactions in the nitrogen cycle.

• The nitrogen cycle is the movement of atoms and molecules containing the element nitrogen between sources and sinks.
• Most of the reservoirs in which nitrogen compounds occur in the nitrogen cycle hold those compounds for relatively short periods of time.
• Nitrogen fixation is the process in which atmospheric nitrogen is converted into a form of nitrogen (primarily ammonia) that is available for uptake by plants and that can be synthesized into plant tissue.
• The atmosphere is the major reservoir of nitrogen.
• Enduring understanding ERT-1: Ecosystems are the result of biotic and abiotic interactions.