AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -The decomposers consume the organic matter, and the nitrogen contained in the dead organism is converted to ammonium ions. The ammonium is then converted to nitrates by the nitrifying bacteria.

Detailed explanation-2: -Nitrification. Nitrification is the process that converts ammonia to nitrite and then to nitrate and is another important step in the global nitrogen cycle. Most nitrification occurs aerobically and is carried out exclusively by prokaryotes.

Detailed explanation-3: -Stage 2: Mineralization Nitrogen moves from organic materials, such as manure or plant materials to an inorganic form of nitrogen that plants can use. Eventually, the plant’s nutrients are used up and the plant dies and decomposes. This becomes important in the second stage of the nitrogen cycle.

Detailed explanation-4: -Ammonification is the last step of the nitrogen cycle involving an organic compound, and is the intermediary step between the depolymerization of large organic molecules and the nitrification step (Fig. 1).

Detailed explanation-5: -Overview: The nitrogen cycle involves three major steps: nitrogen fixation, nitrification, and denitrification.