Cycling of Matter By Diana Bivens
Water Makes up around70-80% of human body Covers app 75% of planet remains a liquid over a wide range of temps solid state is less dense than the liquid state (ice floats)
Water Cycle Life depends on water Water is continually cycled through the environment through Precipitation Evaporation Transpiration Condensation
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Carbon is an element found in all living things is a structural component of nutrients proteins, carbohydrates, lipids is released when consumers exhale (CO2) is stored in fossil fuels, buried in earth is found in some rock formations Largest quantity is found in the ocean
Carbon Cycle All living organisms are made up of carbon molecules Autotrophs use energy from the sun to convert CO2 (carbon dioxide)and water to C6H12O6 (glucose)and oxygen Autotrophs use these molecules for energy and growth Heterotrophs also use these molecules for energy and growth
Carbon Cycle Carbon returns to the atmosphere through Respiration Decay pollution
Excessive Carbon Dioxide The industrial revolution has increased atmospheric CO2 CO2 is a greenhouse gas Increased CO2 leads to over-insulation of the Earth’s atmosphere (global warming)
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Nitrogen Cycle Earth’s atmosphere is approximately 78% nitrogen Proteins, DNA, and RNA contain nitrogen It is an essential element of life
Nitrogen Fixation Atmospheric nitrogen is in a form that is not useable by living organisms (N2) Nitrogen-fixing bacteria convert atmospheric nitrogen to a useable form Some nitrogen is fixed during electrical storms
Nitrogen in Food Web Plants absorb Nitrogen from soil Consumers gain Nitrogen by eating
Nitrogen Cycle Nitrogen is returned to soil through….. Animal urination Decay of animals Proteins are converted to ammonia Ammonia is then converted to form usable by plants
Denitrification Bacteria works on nitrogen in the soil to release it back to the atmosphere
Pollution by Fertilizers Runoff from the agricultural use of fertilizers can cause an increase in Nitrogen levels in water sources. May result in algal blooms which can deplete water of oxygen Increased nitrates in fresh water can lead to health problems (especially in infants)
Phosphorus Essential element for growth and development. Amount of P present in an ecosystem is a limiting factor for growth of organisms.
Phosphorus Cycle
Phosphorus Cycle Includes 2 cycles Long-term: weathering of rocks introduces P to the ecosystem. Short-term: Phosphates are cycled through soil to producers, from producers to consumers, and back to soil through decomposition.
Water Pollution Eutrophication (a type of water pollution) can occur when too much Phosphorus contaminates water. This occurs by run-off from use of fertilizers or household detergents.
Eutrophication An increase in P will lead to the algal blooms which can lead to the death of other organisms in a water source.