Næringskretsløp

Næringskretsløp, often translated as nutrient cycle or biogeochemical cycle, refers to the pathways by which essential nutrients move through the Earth's biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) components. These cycles are fundamental to life on Earth, ensuring the continuous availability of elements like carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and water.

In a nutrient cycle, elements are exchanged between the atmosphere, lithosphere (earth's crust), hydrosphere (water bodies), and biosphere (living organisms). For example, the carbon cycle involves the exchange of carbon between the atmosphere as carbon dioxide, plants through photosynthesis, animals through consumption, and decomposers through respiration and decomposition. Similarly, the nitrogen cycle involves the conversion of atmospheric nitrogen gas into usable forms by microorganisms, its uptake by plants, and its return to the atmosphere.

These cycles are vital for maintaining ecosystem health and productivity. Disruptions to nutrient cycles, often caused by human activities such as pollution and deforestation, can lead to imbalances, affecting plant growth, water quality, and biodiversity. Understanding nutrient cycles is crucial for environmental management and conservation efforts.