tápanyagkörforgást

Tápanyagkörforgás, often translated as nutrient cycling, refers to the biochemical and physical processes through which essential elements are exchanged between the living (biotic) and non-living (abiotic) components of an ecosystem. This continuous movement and transformation of nutrients are fundamental to the sustainability and functioning of all life. Key nutrients involved include carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur, and water, among others.

In terrestrial ecosystems, nutrient cycling typically involves uptake by plants from the soil, consumption by herbivores, decomposition by microorganisms, and return of nutrients to the soil. For instance, nitrogen, a crucial component of proteins and nucleic acids, undergoes a complex cycle involving fixation from the atmosphere, nitrification, assimilation by plants, ammonification during decomposition, and denitrification back to the atmosphere. Aquatic ecosystems have similar cycles, with dissolved nutrients in water bodies being utilized by phytoplankton and other aquatic organisms.

Disruptions to nutrient cycling can have significant ecological consequences. Pollution, deforestation, and intensive agriculture can alter the natural rates of nutrient availability and loss, leading to eutrophication in water bodies or soil degradation. Understanding and maintaining the integrity of these cycles is therefore vital for environmental health and the provision of ecosystem services. These cycles ensure that essential elements are continuously available for the growth and reproduction of organisms.