Biomes and Biochemical Cycles

Biome or Ecosystem An ecosystem is the interaction of living and nonliving things in an environment. A biome is a specific geographic area notable for the species living there. A biome can be made up of many ecosystems. For example, an aquatic biome can contain ecosystems such as coral reefs and kelp forests.

Biomes There are 6 major biomes in the world. Desert – In the U.S. desert’s are very hot and dry. Animals include bighorn sheep, desert cottontail, roadrunners, reptiles, fox. Plants include cacti, desert holly, Joshua tree, juniper. Tundra - extremely low temperatures, little precipitation, poor nutrients, and short growing seasons. Plants and animals include short root plants, artic fox, wolves, polar bears.

Tropical rainforest – home to the. largest number of species of plants Tropical rainforest – home to the largest number of species of plants and animals and large amounts of rainfall. Taiga – The largest of the 6 biomes this biome is also known as the coniferous biome. Home to coniferous trees which are also known as evergreens trees. Animals include elk, bears, eagles, wolves…etc.

Grassland –flat areas with very fertile soil, Grassland –flat areas with very fertile soil, so home to large farmlands that grow corn, wheat, and barley. There are more than 80 species of animals and 300 species of birds, and hundreds of species of plants. Deciduous Forest – only biome to have 4 seasons, fertile soil, many hardwood trees, some farms growing different crops including corn. Animals include white tail deer, squirrels, rabbits, bobcats, and many birds.

Important Terms Biomes = A large community of plants and animals that occupies a distinct region. Ecosystem = a group of organisms and how they interact with their living and nonliving environment Biotic = living things of an ecosystem. Abiotic = nonliving things of an ecosystem.

Biotic and abiotic factors work together for an ecosystem to survive and grow.

Carbon Cycle Carbon is a biochemical cycle where carbon is exchanged, or "cycled" from living to non-living things between Earth and its atmosphere. All living organisms are made of carbon compounds. Carbon is necessary for survival. It is an important component of many chemical processes.

The cycling process… When animals breath in oxygen (O2) and exhale carbon dioxide (CO2) it’s called respiration. Plants take in carbon dioxide to make food in the process know as photosynthesis (which is a chemical process).

Carbon is not just taking in or letting out Carbon is not just taking in or letting out. Carbon is a part of our bodies and plants as well. When a living thing dies, decomposers breaks it down, and releases the nutrients back into the soil. Carbon that was in the plant or animal is then released. Some of the carbon stays in the soil and some is released back into the atmosphere.

After millions of years the carbon that stayed in the ground can turn into fossil fuels (oil and coal). When we burn these fossil fuels, carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere.

Nitrogen Cycle The nitrogen cycle is the biochemical cycle by which nitrogen is converted into various chemical forms as it recycles nitrogen from living things to nonliving things between Earth, and its atmosphere.

Nitrogen is a component of many organic molecules Nitrogen  is a component of many organic molecules. It forms an essential part of amino acids (which make up proteins) such as the proteins in your hair, muscles, skin and other important tissues. Nitrogen is essential for all living cells. Nitrogen enters the food chain by means of nitrogen-fixing bacteria in the soil.

Bacteria in plants and the soil change nitrogen gas into nitrates. Plants and animals use nitrates to make the proteins they need to grow. Bacteria change nitrates from waste and dead plants and animals back into nitrogen gas.

Humans cannot use nitrogen in gas form so how does it end up in the body to use? Nitrogen gets back into the Earth through decomposers (bacteria). Bacteria is one of the key components of the nitrogen cycle. By eating plants