Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated August 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated August 2025
Definition
Nutrient cycling refers to the movement and exchange of essential nutrients (such as carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus) between living organisms and their environment.
The process by which organic matter is broken down into simpler substances by decomposers (like bacteria and fungi), releasing nutrients back into the environment.
Nitrogen Fixation: The conversion of atmospheric nitrogen gas into forms that can be used by plants through biological or industrial processes.
Biogeochemical Cycles: The pathways through which elements such as carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and water are circulated between biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) components of ecosystems.