A Brief note on Role of Nutrient Cycling in Forest Ecosystems

One of the most critical processes in an ecosystem is nutrient cycling. The nutrient cycle describes how nutrients are used, moved, and recycled in the environment. Carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, phosphorus, and nitrogen are all vital elements for life and must be regenerated for organisms to exist. Nutrient cycles involve biological, geological, and chemical processes and include both living and nonliving components. These nutrient circuits are referred to as biogeochemical cycles because of this forest disturbances shape nutrient availability and stoichiometry (i.e., ratios of accessible nutrients) immediately after disturbance, as well as the species composition of the post-disturbance landscape, influencing nutrient cycle. While much attention has been paid to the immediate consequences of disturbances on nutrient cycling, less has been paid to the basic function of disturbances in nutrient cycling in the long run, as a component of the overall ecosystem (Kranabetter et al., 2016).

Nutrient Cycle and Energy Flow

The energy flow in the food chain and food web refers to the transmission of energy from one trophic level to the next. It is unidirectional, and energy is wasted as heat from one trophic level to the next. The ultimate energy source is sunlight.

The flow of nutrients from the physical environment to living organisms and back to the environment is referred to as nutrient cycling. Nutrients are found all throughout the world, where they are recycled, altered, and repurposed.

Examples of Nutrient Cycles

Both biotic and abiotic components are involved in nutrient recycling. Air, water, and soil are the primary abiotic components.

Carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, and oxygen are recycled in water, air, and soil, but calcium, phosphorus, potassium, and other elements are recycled mostly in soil and are locally available.

The four major nutrition cycles are as follows:

Carbon cycle –  Carbon is the most abundant element in all living cells. Carbon is found in all organic stuff and biomolecules.

• Carbon is mostly found in the atmosphere as carbon dioxide and methane.
• Photosynthesis and respiration provide a constant flow of carbon between biotic and abiotic components.
• Plants repair atmospheric carbon dioxide during the photosynthesis process.
• During respiration, all living creatures emit carbon dioxide.
• The burning of fossil fuels and automobile emissions release carbon into the atmosphere.
• After decomposition, organic carbon from dead and decaying organisms and waste products is released into the atmosphere.

Nitrogen Cycle – Nitrogen is also necessary for life to exist. Living organisms cannot use nitrogen directly and must convert it to another form.

• Nitrogen-fixing bacteria convert atmospheric nitrogen to ammonia, while nitrifying bacteria convert ammonia to nitrate through the nitrogen fixation process. Plants absorb it after that.
• Lightning converts atmospheric nitrogen to nitrates, which are then ingested by plants.
• Proteins and amino acids from dead and decaying organic matter and waste products are broken down by decomposers.
• Denitrifying bacteria use the process of denitrification to convert ammonia and nitrates to nitrogen and nitrous oxide. Nitrogen is returned to the atmosphere in this manner.

Oxygen cycle – Life cannot exist without oxygen. Aquatic species rely on oxygen dissolved in water to survive. Decomposition of biodegradable waste materials requires oxygen.

• The main source of oxygen in the atmosphere is photosynthesis.
• Living organisms absorb atmospheric oxygen through respiration and release carbon dioxide, which is utilised by plants for photosynthesis.

Water Cycle, Hydrologic – Water is required for life to exist on this planet.

• Evaporation and transpiration from the surface of plants transfer water from oceans, lakes, rivers, and other reservoirs to vapour on a constant basis.
• Water vapour condenses and returns to the atmosphere as precipitation, continuing the cycle.
• Waterfalls on the earth are absorbed, resulting in groundwater.

Nutrient Cycling’s Importance

All biological beings, biomolecules, and cells are made up of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, sulphur, and phosphorus. These elements are required for survival. Recycling and replacing nutrients in the environment on a regular basis is important for life to exist.

Cycling nutrients is important for:

• It is required for the conversion of nutrients from one form to another so that they can be used by various organisms. Plants, for example, cannot absorb ambient nitrogen and must fix it by converting it to ammonium and nitrate before using it
• Nutrient transfer from one location to another for use, such as from air to soil or water.
• By conserving nutrients for future use, nutrient cycles assist to keep the ecosystem in balance.
• Through nutrient cycling, living species interact with the abiotic components of their environment.

Conclusion

Nutrients are chemicals that are necessary for the normal functioning of organisms and ecosystems. If they are not available in sufficient quantities, ecological productivity will be lower than it may be. Nutrients can also be present in excess, resulting in toxicity and other issues that can harm the environment. Within ecosystems, nutrients cycle between inorganic and organic forms on a regular basis. The carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulphur cycles demonstrate key aspects of nutrient cycles.