2.3 Biogeochemical Cycles of the Green World (Planet Earth)
43
Increased nitrogen availability often leads to a change in carbon storage,
thus influencing processes. Within agricultural systems, fertilizers are utilized
extensively for increasing plant production while available nitrogen may undergo
leaching and get into rivers and streams (Gruber and Galloway 2008). High
nitrogen concentration in water streams can result in anoxia, altered biodiversity,
and degradation of habitats. A typical result of increased nitrogen is the proliferation
of harmful algal blooms that contributes to a high mortality rate in fish. Some of
the hazardous impacts of nitrogen on aquatic ecosystems are water acidification,
eutrophication, and toxicity of the water. Eutrophication results typically in low
levels of dissolved oxygen within the column of water, which can lead to the demise
of aquatic fauna. An example of the effects of eutrophication is the oceanic dead
zones found close to the mouth of Mississippi within the Mexican Gulf (McIsaac
et al. 2001). Other visible effects that result from the deposition of nitric acid rain
are Hudson Highlands, Catskills, and the New York Adirondack Lakes. They result
in the death of fish and numerous aquatic species.
Even in the absence of such economically catastrophic impacts, the addition
of nitrogen may result in biodiversity changes and composition of species, thus
negatively affecting the overall functioning of the ecosystem. Aerosols and nitrogen
gases can be directly poisonous to some plant species, and negatively affect
the growth of plants close to large sources of nitrogen pollution. There could
also be alterations in plant species interactions as the accumulation of nitrogen
compounds heightens its availability within a particular ecosystem (Canfield et al.
2010). Ammonia can also result in higher toxicity towards sensitive plant species,
especially ones that use nitrate as the nitrogen source, leading to poor shoot and
root development. Higher nitrogen deposition also results in soil acidification that
increases base leaching within the soil. Changes that result from high nitrogen
deposition can result in environmental vulnerabilities to ecological disturbance and
stress. This makes the environment less resilient to processes or situations that
would have had little effect on its prolonged vitality. Some suggest that changes to
the nitrogen cycle can result in a heightened susceptibility to infectious and parasitic
diseases among wildlife and humans.
What are the negative impacts of the nitrogen cycle? Explain two major roles
of the nitrogen cycle in life sustenance.
2.3.4 Sulfur Cycle
Sulfur is among the components that constitute vitamins and proteins. Proteins
are made up of amino acids, of which some are made up of sulfur atoms. It is
beneficial for both plants and animals and is a crucial element for living things’
43
Increased nitrogen availability often leads to a change in carbon storage,
thus influencing processes. Within agricultural systems, fertilizers are utilized
extensively for increasing plant production while available nitrogen may undergo
leaching and get into rivers and streams (Gruber and Galloway 2008). High
nitrogen concentration in water streams can result in anoxia, altered biodiversity,
and degradation of habitats. A typical result of increased nitrogen is the proliferation
of harmful algal blooms that contributes to a high mortality rate in fish. Some of
the hazardous impacts of nitrogen on aquatic ecosystems are water acidification,
eutrophication, and toxicity of the water. Eutrophication results typically in low
levels of dissolved oxygen within the column of water, which can lead to the demise
of aquatic fauna. An example of the effects of eutrophication is the oceanic dead
zones found close to the mouth of Mississippi within the Mexican Gulf (McIsaac
et al. 2001). Other visible effects that result from the deposition of nitric acid rain
are Hudson Highlands, Catskills, and the New York Adirondack Lakes. They result
in the death of fish and numerous aquatic species.
Even in the absence of such economically catastrophic impacts, the addition
of nitrogen may result in biodiversity changes and composition of species, thus
negatively affecting the overall functioning of the ecosystem. Aerosols and nitrogen
gases can be directly poisonous to some plant species, and negatively affect
the growth of plants close to large sources of nitrogen pollution. There could
also be alterations in plant species interactions as the accumulation of nitrogen
compounds heightens its availability within a particular ecosystem (Canfield et al.
2010). Ammonia can also result in higher toxicity towards sensitive plant species,
especially ones that use nitrate as the nitrogen source, leading to poor shoot and
root development. Higher nitrogen deposition also results in soil acidification that
increases base leaching within the soil. Changes that result from high nitrogen
deposition can result in environmental vulnerabilities to ecological disturbance and
stress. This makes the environment less resilient to processes or situations that
would have had little effect on its prolonged vitality. Some suggest that changes to
the nitrogen cycle can result in a heightened susceptibility to infectious and parasitic
diseases among wildlife and humans.
What are the negative impacts of the nitrogen cycle? Explain two major roles
of the nitrogen cycle in life sustenance.
2.3.4 Sulfur Cycle
Sulfur is among the components that constitute vitamins and proteins. Proteins
are made up of amino acids, of which some are made up of sulfur atoms. It is
beneficial for both plants and animals and is a crucial element for living things’