Cycling of Matter in Ecosystems Biogeochemical Cycle: the movement of matter through the biotic & abiotic environment Nature has always been the best recycler.

Cycling of Matter in Ecosystems Water Cycle: the series of processes that cycle water through the environment

Cycling of Matter in Ecosystems water in clouds

Cycling of Matter in Ecosystems precipitation

Cycling of Matter in Ecosystems water drains into rivers & soil

Cycling of Matter in Ecosystems water taken up by plants & animals

Cycling of Matter in Ecosystems water loss by transpiration

Transpiration: evaporation of water through plant leaves

Cycling of Matter in Ecosystems water loss by respiration

Cycling of Matter in Ecosystems evaporation

Cycling of Matter in Ecosystems- Carbon Carbon Cycle: the movement of carbon between the lithosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere, & biosphere

Cycling of Matter in Ecosystems atmospheric pool of carbon dioxide

Cycling of Matter in Ecosystems plants take up carbon dioxide for photosynthesis

Cycling of Matter in Ecosystems animals eat plants

Cycling of Matter in Ecosystems carbon dioxide released by respiration

Cycling of Matter in Ecosystems fossil fuels

Cycling of Matter in Ecosystems carbon dioxide released by combustion

Cycling of Matter in Ecosystems death of organisms & decay by bacteria

Carbon in the Atmosphere 1. What are human activities that are increasing the amount of carbon in the atmosphere?

Carbon in the Atmosphere Human Activities… Transportation Driving cars Boats Planes Operating huge industrial processing plants Burning fossil fuels (oil, coal, natural gas) Deforestation Creating electricity

Carbon in our Spheres 2. How is the increase in the amount of carbon in the atmosphere and hydrosphere affecting the ecosystem?

Carbon in our Spheres Too much carbon in the atmosphere is causing global climatic change (global warming) Altering temperature and water availability in ecosystems Too much carbon in the hydrosphere makes the water too acidic, altering ideal living conditions for marine life

The Nitrogen Cycle

Nitrogen Cycle. Nitrogen is used for making proteins. But even though the atmosphere is 78% nitrogen gas, we can’t use it in that form.

The Nitrogen Cycle 1. Nitrogen gas in the atmosphere (N2) Nitrogen Fixation: the process where bacteria change nitrogen gas into nitrogen-containing compounds useable for plants Lightening can also break this N2 bond but most fixation happens in the soil

2. Certain soil bacteria convert Nitrogen gas (N2) into ammonia (NH4+) 3. Nitrifying bacteria transform ammonia (NH4+) into Nitrate (NO3-) which can then be used by plants Plants absorb nitrate from the soil to create essential proteins Nitrogen fixing bacteria can live in the nodules of legumes

4. Herbivores and omnivores absorb these proteins from the plants 5. The waste products from these animals contain unused proteins, which are broken down via decomposers 6. Ammonia is formed by the decomposers and nitrogen is returned to the soil.

7. Denitrifying bacteria release nitrogen gas (N2) back into the atmosphere from the soil Process called Denitrification

How have humans altered the nitrogen cycle?

Add nitrogen into the soil by fertilizer and sewage Heavy rains generate water run off which carries fertilizers into near by water supplies Adding nitrous oxide gas into the atmosphere. Too much nitrous oxide causes acid rain.

Fertilizer What are the main 3 ingredients in fertilizers?

“Without nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, the plant simply cannot grow because it cannot make the pieces it needs. It's like a car factory running out of steel or a road crew running out of asphalt”

What’s the big deal about too much nitrogen in bodies of water? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-eaUihTvwyI - David Suzuki’s Save My Lake! - Lake Winnipeg