Nutrient Cycles

• Nutrients are recycled within natural ecosystems. • Nitrogen and phosphorus cycles exemplify nutrient recycling. • Microorganisms help recycle chemical elements such as phosphorus and nitrogen. • Saprobionts aid in decomposition. • Mycorrhizae support plant uptake of water and inorganic ions. • Bacteria play a critical role in the nitrogen cycle including processes like saprobiotic nutrition, ammonification, nitrification, nitrogen fixation and denitrification. • It’s not necessary to know the names of individual species of bacteria involved.