Predict: Where the water on the leaves came from? Where the water on the leaves is going to go next?

Carbon Nitrogen Phosphorus Water Cycles of Matter Carbon Nitrogen Phosphorus Water

Make a T chart Left Label: Observations Right Label: Questions

Energy Flow Versus Matter Flow Energy = One Way Flow Matter = Recycled

Processes That Cycle Matter Explain that there are many ways in which the processes involved in biogeochemical cycles can be classified. Click to reveal and discuss each. You may also wish to have students describe why each photo is a good representation of the type of process it is showing. Biological processes consist of any activities performed by living organisms. These processes include eating, breathing, “burning” food, and eliminating waste products. Geological processes include volcanic eruptions, the formation and breakdown of rock, and major movements of matter within and below the surface of Earth. Chemical and physical processes include the formation of clouds and precipitation, the flow of running water, and the action of lightning. Human activities that affect cycles of matter on a global scale include the mining and burning of fossil fuels, the clearing of land for building and farming, the burning of forests, and the manufacture and use of fertilizers. Explain that these processes pass the same atoms and molecules around again and again. Ask: Why would the breakdown of rock by ocean waves be considered a geological process, but the breakdown of rock by tree roots be considered a biological process? Answer: because the latter involves a living organism Ask: Why might human activities be considered a separate category from other biological processes involving living organisms? Answer: because human activities have such a large impact on the ecosystem beyond the simple acts of eating, respiring, and eliminating wastes

Major Cycles Water Nitrogen Phosphorus Carbon

Key Terms Source: where matter enters the cycle Ex: Respiration releasing CO2 into the atmosphere Sink: where matter is exiting the cycle into a reservoir Ex: Ocean removing CO2 into the atmosphere

Key Terms Flux: the movement of material from one place to another Ex: Photosynthesis moving carbon from atmosphere to plant tissue Reservoir: a place where matter is stored Also referred to as a “Pool” Ex: Fossil fuel or rocks

Water Cycle

Water Cycle Evaporation/Transpiration Condensation Precipitation Evaporation – water vapor from water Transpiration – water vapor from plants Condensation Cloud formation Precipitation Water vapor to liquid Percolation Movement through soil to groundwater

Find a partner Draw the water cycle on the back of your half sheet. List ways humans can interfere/pollute with this cycle.

Nitrogen Cycle Importance: Major component of amino acids & nucleic acids Major Reservoir: Atmosphere 78% of the atmosphere Unusable in free form Nitrogen fixation needed for biological uptake

Nitrogen Cycle

Nitrogen Fixation Changing free atmospheric nitrogen into usable compound forms Done by bacteria Also done by lightning strikes

Other notes about the N cycle Removal of N from atmosphere Nitrogen fixation Decomposition Animal waste Returning N to the atmosphere Denitrification by bacteria Converting compound N to free N

Phosphorus Importance: Major component of nucleic acids Major Reservoir: Rocks Only cycle with no atmospheric component!

Anthropogenic Affects on N & P Anthropogenic – originating from human activity N & P are typically limiting nutrients Humans have increased availability through: Fertilizers Industrial farming Sewage Burning fossil fuels (N only) Mining (P only)

Eutrophication Increased nutrient availability (N & P) that lead to algal growth resulting in animal death due to lack of oxygen Lack of oxygen due to increased decomposition rates (therefore increased respiration by decomposers) Results in Red tides Dead zones Shallowing

Carbon Cycle Importance: Major component of organic compounds (carbs, nucleic acids, etc.) Major Reservoir: Ocean Other Reservoirs: Biological: organic matter Hydrosphere: dissolved in water Atmosphere: gas (CO2, Methane) Geosphere: rocks & sediments Video in Carbon symbol

Carbon Cycle

Carbon Cycle - Biological Photosynthesis Remove CO2 from atmosphere Cellular Respiration Adds CO2 to atmosphere Decomposition Adds carbon to soil Evidently fossil fuels (ex. Oil)

Carbon Cycle – Hydrological & Geological Wave Action Ocean Mixing Shell formation Geological Sediments forming sedimentary rock Fossil Fuel formation

Ocean Acidification

Carbon Cycle – Human Activity Removal of fossil fuels from ground Combustion of fossil fuels Deforestation Wood products Land use change

Carbon Cycle

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