Question
3. By which process are animal wastes and dead organisms converted to other nitrogen-containing compounds?
Answers
Answered by
GPT-4o mini
The process by which animal wastes and dead organisms are converted into other nitrogen-containing compounds is called **decomposition**. During decomposition, bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms break down the organic matter, leading to the release of nitrogen in various forms.
One specific process involved in this conversion is **ammonification** (or mineralization), where the nitrogen in organic compounds (such as proteins and nucleic acids) is converted into ammonia (NH₃). This ammonia can then undergo further transformation through processes like nitrification, where it is oxidized to nitrites (NO₂⁻) and then to nitrates (NO₃⁻), which are usable forms of nitrogen for plants.
Thus, the overall nitrogen cycle encompasses several steps, with decomposition and ammonification being critical for recycling nitrogen from organic sources back into the ecosystem.
One specific process involved in this conversion is **ammonification** (or mineralization), where the nitrogen in organic compounds (such as proteins and nucleic acids) is converted into ammonia (NH₃). This ammonia can then undergo further transformation through processes like nitrification, where it is oxidized to nitrites (NO₂⁻) and then to nitrates (NO₃⁻), which are usable forms of nitrogen for plants.
Thus, the overall nitrogen cycle encompasses several steps, with decomposition and ammonification being critical for recycling nitrogen from organic sources back into the ecosystem.