Cycles

The Carbon Cycle - Terrestrial secondary consumers dead waste respiration primary decomposers dead waste Atmosphere O2 & CO2 producers (plants) carbon photosynthesis Carbon dioxide (CO2) Oxygen (O2)

Carbon Cycle - terrestrial Decomposers take in O2 to digest dead waste from consumers and producers and give off CO2 Consumers take in O2 and give off CO2 Producers take in O2 and give off CO2 (respiration) Producers take in CO2 and give off O2 (photosynthesis)

The Carbon Cycle - Aquatic consumers decomposers dead waste producers photosynthesis respiration Carbon in shells of animals Carbon in sediments CO2 dissolved in solution (carbonic acid) CO2 in the atmosphere The Carbon Cycle - Aquatic

Carbon Cycle - Aquatic Producers give off CO2 during cellular respiration Producers take in CO2 during photosynthesis Consumers give off CO2 during cellular respiration CO2 in the atmosphere is absorbed by water in the form of carbonic acid. Animals use carbon to make shells Decomposers give off CO2 when digesting waste

Nitrogen (N) HONC Nitrogen is a main component of proteins and DNA The most common elements found in living things are Hydrogen, Oxygen, Nitrogen, and Carbon Nitrogen is a main component of proteins and DNA Nitrogen (N) along with potassium (K) and phosphorus (P) are the main ingredients of fertilizers. While fertilizer is good for a plant, too much can kill or damage the plant.

Lake Winnipeg

Nitrogen (N) helps plants turn green Phosphorus (P) helps plants to flower Potassium (K) is important for overall growth Too much nitrogen can “burn” or kill a crop as in the case when an animal urinates on your lawn

The Nitrogen Cycle - Terrestrial Nitrogen in atmosphere Producers Consumers Nitrogen in tissues Decomposers Nitrogen fixing bacteria Nitrifying bacteria Denitrifying bacteria Nitrates Ammonia

*Organisms can’t absorb nitrogen gas (N2) directly* Nitrogen atoms must first be pulled out of the air and “fixed”(bonded) to other elements to form new compounds (such as ammonia) with the help of nitrogen fixing bacteria. This process is called nitrogen fixation. Nitrifying bacteria convert this ammonia into nitrates. Nitrates can be then used by plants for a source of nitrogen. They can also do this from the ammonia from decomposing organisms. Denitrifying bacteria convert nitrates back into nitrogen gas by a process called denitrification. NOTE: Animals can only obtain nitrogen from eating other organisms!