CYCLES OF MATTER AND SUCCESSION 100 100 100 100 100 200 200 200 200 200 300 300 300 300 300 400 400 400 400 400 500 500 500 500 500

What is the source of light energy that essential for photosynthesis?

The SUN!

In the carbon cycle, when we say “energy” what molecule are we referring to?

Adensosine Triphosphate Better known as… ATP

How do animals get the carbon that they need? What molecules are required for cells to undergo cellular respiration (what are the reactants)? How do animals get the carbon that they need?

O2=Oxygen & C6H12O6=Glucose Animals get carbon as glucose by Eating Plants (or eating animals that eat plants).

How does nitrogen get back into the atmosphere from the biotic world?

Denitrification: Organisms die or excrete waste, and certain bacteria break this stuff down. The nitrogen is released as free N2.

_________is the process in which bacteria known as nitrosomonas and nitrobacter convert ammonia to nitrites and nitrates.

Nitrification

What is succession (generally speaking)?

The gradual development of an ecosystem over time

What is primary succession?

The process by which a barren area (just bare rock…NO SOIL) develops a community over time starting with the formation of soil.

What is a pioneer species? What is a climax species?

Pioneer: Organisms that are the first to inhabit a previously uninhabitable area. Lichen is one example. Climax: Slow growing and well-adapted. Hardwood Trees (oaks, maples) are examples.

How is secondary succession different than primary succession?

Secondary succession occurs in an area where some event (natural or human…like a fire maybe?) has destroyed the pre-existing community. Also…there is already soil present where secondary succession occurs…not so for primary succession.

Earth’s atmosphere is 78% Earth’s atmosphere is 78%. What happens to the nitrogen that you breathe?

Nothing!! You can’t use free nitrogen (N2) and neither can other animals or plants. Plants and animals need fixed nitrogen (hence nitrogen fixation).

What is fixed nitrogen and where does it come from?

Well…FIXED Nitrogen is nitrogen that has been attached to other elements by bacteria. -Free nitrogen is absorbed by plants and then nitrogen fixing bacteria in plant roots convert it to a form that’s usable for plants and animals. Nitrogen fixing bacteria also exist in soil and in water. Lightning can also fix nitrogen.

Why is nitrogen important to living things?

Nitrogen is an important element in many biomolecules such as amino acids (for making proteins) and nucleotides (in DNA and RNA).

What are some of the stages in the water cycle?

Evaporation: Liquid to gas Condensation: gas to liquid Precipitation: atmosphere to Earth Transpiration: ground to plants/animals to atmosphere Run-off: precip. That travels overland back into bodies of water. Percolation-filtering through the soil into aquifers

Why are these cycles (nitrogen, carbon, phosphorus, and water) called cycles anyway?

They involve the continuous movement of substances from the biotic (living) world to the abiotic (non-living) world.

Where in cells do photosynthesis and cellular respiration mostly occur?

Photosynthesis: Chloroplasts Cellular Respiration: Mitochondria

What types of organisms can undergo photosynthesis?

Plants, algae, & some bacteria (cyanobacteria).

When too much nitrogen or phosphorus builds up in aquatic environments, too many plant grow…die…and decompose. This depletes the_______ levels, kills fish and inverts, and it’s called__________.

Oxygen Eutrophication

What is happening during photosynthesis…generally speaking?

FOOD FROM ENERGY Glucose from Sunlight (carbon dioxide and water are also necessary).

What is the formula for photosynthesis?

6CO2 + 6H2O C6H12O6 + 6O2 Reactants Products sunlight 6CO2 + 6H2O C6H12O6 + 6O2 Reactants Products

Why do heterotrophs (like us) depend upon photosynthesis to survive?

Photosynthetic autotrophs (plants and algae) are the base of almost all food webs and energy pyramids. They also produce oxygen, upon which we are dependent.

What is happening during cellular respiration, and where do the organisms doing this get the raw materials to make it happen?

ENERGY from FOOD ATP from glucose Animals get food from eating things Plants make their own food using photosynthesis. Animals take in the oxygen needed by breathing, and the plants take in oxygen through their leaves.

What is the equation for cellular respiration?

C6H12O6 + 6O2 6CO2 + 6H2O + Energy (Glucose) (ATP) Reactants Products

How are the equations for photosynthesis and respiration related?

They are opposites (not exact…but close) They are opposites (not exact…but close)! The reactants (raw materials) for one are the products of the other.

How is the phosphorus cycle similar to the carbon and nitrogen cycle How is the phosphorus cycle similar to the carbon and nitrogen cycle? How is it different?

Same: Substances continually moving from biotic to abiotic Same: Substances continually moving from biotic to abiotic. Animals get them all from plants…directly or indirectly. Different: Phosphorus is never in the atmosphere…it is in rocks (like granite) that weather releasing phosphate (PO43-).

Why is PHOSPHORUS important to living things?

It’s part of ATP (adenosine triphosphate) and of nucleic acids (DNA & RNA).