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The Nitrogen Cycle

The Nitrogen Cycle

Nitrogen atoms, present in all proteins and DNA, are recycled between abiotic and biotic components of the ecosystem. However, the primary form of nitrogen on Earth is nitrogen gas, which cannot be used by most animals and plants. Thus, nitrogen gas must first be converted into a usable form by nitrogen-fixing bacteria before it can be cycled through other living organisms. The use of nitrogen-containing fertilizers and animal waste products in human agriculture has greatly influenced the...

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Nitrogen is a very important element for life because it is a major constituent of proteins and nucleic acids. It is a macronutrient, and in nature, it is recycled from organic compounds and stored in the form of ammonia, ammonium ions, nitrate, nitrite, or nitrogen gas by many metabolic processes. Many of these metabolic processes are carried out only by prokaryotes.
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Nov 10, 2025

Understanding Dissolved Organic Matter Biogeochemistry Through In Situ Nutrient Manipulations in Stream Ecosystems

Understanding Dissolved Organic Matter Biogeochemistry Through In Situ Nutrient Manipulations in Stream Ecosystems

Published on: October 29, 2016

Community change can buffer chronic nitrogen impacts, but multiple nutrients tip the scale.

Megan E Wilcots¹, W Stanley Harpole^2,3,4, Eric W Seabloom¹

¹Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior, University of Minnesota, 1987 Upper Buford Circle, St. Paul, Minnesota, 55108, USA.

|April 2, 2021

Summary

Anthropogenic nitrogen (N) deposition alters plant communities. Grasslands show functional group shifts but resist species changes, indicating redundancy. Concurrent nutrient additions amplify these impacts.

Keywords:

global change nitrogen deposition nutrient co-limitation plant functional group species turnover

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Last Updated: Nov 10, 2025

Understanding Dissolved Organic Matter Biogeochemistry Through In Situ Nutrient Manipulations in Stream Ecosystems

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Published on: October 29, 2016

Author Spotlight: Understanding Riverine Nitrogen Impacts and Primary Productivity for Effective Nutrient Management

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Continuous Instream Monitoring of Nutrients and Sediment in Agricultural Watersheds

Continuous Instream Monitoring of Nutrients and Sediment in Agricultural Watersheds

Published on: September 26, 2017

Area of Science:

Ecology
Environmental Science
Plant Biology

Background:

Anthropogenic nitrogen (N) deposition significantly impacts global ecosystems.
Previous studies often used N addition rates exceeding future projections.
Temperate grasslands are sensitive to nutrient enrichment.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the long-term effects of experimental nitrogen (N) addition on temperate grassland plant communities.
To assess the impact of varying N addition rates on plant functional groups and species composition.
To determine the influence of concurrent nutrient additions (P, K, micronutrients) alongside N.

Main Methods:

Experimental N addition gradient (0-10 g N·m⁻²) over a decade in a temperate grassland.
Monitoring changes in plant functional group composition and species abundance.
Comparative analysis of N-only addition versus combined N and other nutrient additions.

Main Results:

All levels of N addition altered plant functional group composition after 10 years.
N addition showed weak impacts on species composition, suggesting functional redundancy.
Combined N and other nutrient additions caused significantly greater changes in species and functional group abundance.

Conclusions:

Functional group shifts may buffer grasslands against N deposition impacts.
High functional redundancy exists within grassland plant communities.
Concurrent eutrophication with multiple nutrients exacerbates changes in grassland plant composition and biomass.