Objectives:

Upon completion of this unit students should be able to: Discuss the components of the nitrogen cycle. Identify geochemical environments that favor reactions in the nitrogen cycle. Understand rate limiting reactions in the nitrogen cycle. Identify sources and sinks in the nitrogen cycle.

 

Reading Assignments:

1) Jones and Mulholland:  pp. 197-216   2) Chapelle, F. H., 2001, Nitrogen cycling (chapter 9), in, Ground-Water  Microbiology and Geochemistry, 2nd ed., John Wiley and Sons, New York, pp. 261-270.   Chapelle   3) Wetzel, R. G., 2001, Nitrogen budgets (chaper 6), in, Limnology Lake and River Ecosystems, Academic Press, San Francisco, pp. 227- 237.   Wetzel

 

Presentations:

Tim's summary of Jones and Mulholland, pp. 197-216:   Nitrogen cycling     Shannon's discussion question (Chappelle chapter):   Why is it important to understand the nitrogen cycle when analyzing groundwater composition? What are some of the limiting factors of the nitrogen cycle within groundwater systems? Chapelle summary   Jane's discussion question (Wetzel chapter):    Is nitrogen considered a' non-conservative' substance?  How might nitrogen be considered a limiting factor in an ecosystem and what role do humans play in the cycle?   Wetzel summary