3-3 Cycles of Matter

I. Biogeochemical cycle – A. Process where non-living and living things are recycled and reused. 1. Examples - carbon, nitrogen, water, phosphorus . B. Minerals and elements travel from the non living portion of the environment, into living portion and back again and so do the same molecules. Abiotic - Non living things Abiotic Factors – Physical or non-living, factors that shape an ecosystem. Biotic – living things Biotic Factors – Biological influences on organism within an ecosystem. .

2. Water Cycle A. Movement of water between various reservoirs. 1. Examples – lakes, streams, river, oceans, and under ground B. 4 water cycles: 1. Evaporation–loss of water through heat . 2. Transpiration – loss of water through heat only in plants.

3. Condensation – cool air rises and condenses into droplets that form clouds. 4. Precipitation – water leaving the atmosphere – returns as snow or rain. a. On land much of the water returns through streams and rivers to the oceans.

3. Carbon cycle – carbon is a key ingredient in living tissue, found in bones, and several kinds of rocks Travels through photosynthesis cycle, cellular respiration cycle and decomposition cycle. Other events such as Volcanic activity, Mining, cutting, burning forest, burning fossils fuels release CO2.

4. Nitrogen Cycle A. Complex pathway that nitrogen follows within an ecosystem. Since Nitrogen is part of what makes up ammonia NH3, different cycle break unusable nitrogen down into usable ammonia through many different cycles. B. All organisms need nitrogen to make amino acids in turn form proteins and nucleic acids. 1. Nitrogen gas makes up 78% of the Earths atmosphere. 2. Only certain types of bacteria can use nitrogen directly but others have to convert it to usable forms. C. Nitrogen is used in the form of usable ammonia, (nitrites and nitrates.) 1. Nitrogen Fixation - Process of converting nitrogen gas from the air to suitable ammonia. 2. Nitrogen-fixing bacteria - Bacteria’s in soil or on the roots of plants convert nitrogen into usable ammonia for plants.

Recycling nitrogen D. Ammonification - Another type of conversion is taking the nitrogen found in corpses and waste and return it to the environment in the form of usable ammonia. E. Denitrification- Another bacteria converts nitrates back into nitrogen gas (free nitrogen) to return to the atmosphere. F. Nitrification - Bacteria in the soil takes up the ammonia and oxidize it into nitrites and than into nitrates.

Nitrates – Chemical that is found naturally in the environment and needed by plants to grow, found in most fertilizers. Nitrites – Chemical that is found naturally in the environment such as the air, surface water, ground water and soil. Used in preserving foods.

F. By having plants absorbing ammonia and animals eating plants, nitrogen enters the food chain and humans can receive nitrogen by eating plants and animals, allowing to make amino acids.

Nitrogen Cycle

5. Phosphorous cycle A. Essential to living organisms because it is part of DNA and RNA. B. It is not common in the biosphere. C. Remains mostly in rocks, soil and ocean sediment. D. Phosphates wash into the ocean where it is used by marine organisms. E. Plants obtain phosphorous through their roots and when they are eaten the phosphorus is transferred through the food chain.

6. Primary Productivity – The rate at which organic matter is created by producers or consumers. 7. Nutrient limitation – When a nutrient is either very limited or cycles back real slow this substance is called limiting nutrients. (Fertilizers) a. Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium helps plants grow healthier and faster. When limited it causes plants not to grow.

4. Algal Bloom - When an aquatic ecosystem receives more nutrients than usual, (run off from heavily fertilized fields) an increase of algae will grow causing the algae to over grow and cover the waters surface, suffocating the animals and plants below. This can cause the death of a pond, or lake.

Carbon Cycle

Nitrogen Cycle

Water Cycle