Question

If the number of nitrifying bacteria decreased, what effect would this have on the nitrogen cycle and what type of compounds would accumulate as a result

Answer 1

The nitrites and ammonia will accumulate as a result.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nitrifying bacteria are the responsible to change ammonia and nitrites into nitrates.

As the nitrogen cycle, is a path in which the compounds go in certain direction, if you don´t have a point, or is stop, the flow can not pass. As the nitrates are salts, that need to return to the atmosphere as free nitrogen, but if we can not obtain nitrates from this process, the nitrogen into air can not be release.

Answer 2

If the number of nitrifying bacteria decreased, the nitrogen cycle would be stopped and the ammonia compounds would accumulate.

To add, the nitrogen cycle is the biogeochemical cycle by which nitrogen is converted into various chemical forms as it circulates among the atmosphere and terrestrial and marine ecosystems.