Without microbes (primarily bacteria), what would most likely happen to the world's natural nitrogen cycle? A) Cycling would stop; most nitrogen would remain in the atmosphere as N₂ gas. B) The cycle would continue unchanged; chemical reactions would take over bacterial actions. C) Nitrogen cycling in the oceans, which does not involve bacteria, would become dominant. D) The cycle would continue unchanged; bacterial activity is not needed now that humans can fix nitrogen. E) Nitrogen fixation would not occur, but nitrification and denitrification would remain unchanged.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Bacteria play a crucial role in most steps of the nitrogen cycle, including nitrogen fixation, nitrification, and denitrification. Without bacteria, the majority of nitrogen in the environment would not be converted into usable forms for plants and animals, and would instead remain in the atmosphere as nitrogen gas. This would lead to a depletion of available nitrogen and a significant impact on ecological processes.

Without Microbes (Primarily Bacteria), What Would Most Likely Happen to the World's