Describe the harmful effects of: (a) water pollution by untreated sewage and nitrogen-containing fertilisers leading to eutrophication, limited to: (i) increased availability of nitrate and other ions (ii) increased growth of producers (iii) increased decomposition after death of producers (iv) increased aerobic respiration by decomposers (v) reduction in dissolved oxygen (vi) death of organisms requiring dissolved oxygen in water (b) air pollution by greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide and methane), contributing to global warming and its likely effects (c) pollution due to insecticides and herbicides (d) non-biodegradable plastics in the environment, in both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems
Explain the importance of nitrate ions for making amino acids, required for the production of proteins
Outline the nitrogen cycle in making nitrogen available for plant and animal protein, limited to: (a) decomposition of plant and animal protein to ammonium ions (b) nitrification (c) nitrogen fixation by lightning and bacteria (d) absorption of nitrate ions by plants (e) production of amino acids and protein (f) feeding and digestion of proteins (g) denitrification (the names of individual bacteria are not required)