Identify how important elements move through an ecosystem Carbon Cycle Notes #42 I can: Identify how important elements move through an ecosystem

Elements of Life Organisms are 95% made up of just four elements: Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen, and Nitrogen... The major elements of life must be recycled between ecosystems. Biogeochemical cycles pass the molecules around over and over again. …but the supply of these elements on Earth is finite.

Biogeochemical Cycles Water Cycle Carbon Cycle Nitrogen Cycle Phosphorous Cycle

The water cycle provides organisms with H and O. Remember: CHON building blocks The Water Cycle The water cycle provides organisms with H and O. water vapor H2O = water

The Water Cycle Evaporation: Evaporation is how liquid water from bodies of water moves back into the atmosphere as water Transpiration: Transpiration is evaporation from plant leaves. Condensation: Water vapor cools down to form water droplets in clouds. Precipitation: Precipitation returns water from the atmosphere to the ground.

The carbon cycle provides organisms with C. Remember: CHON building blocks The carbon cycle provides organisms with C. Carbon Cycle Carbon (C) is in every living thing on Earth

Carbon: The Building Block of Life How do we get it into this form? Carbon can be in two different forms: in the atmosphere (sky), carbon is found in the form of carbon dioxide (CO2) inside living organisms, carbon is sugar or glucose (C6H12O6) How do we get it into this form? Not usable by animals!

Cellular respiration and photosynthesis are opposite processes that keep the amount of carbon in the air in check.

photo = having to do with light Photosynthesis What words do you see in this term that might give you a clue as to what it means? photo = having to do with light synthesis = combining to make something else Photosynthesis is how carbon is stored in plants as sugar.

glucose is used by animals as FOOD! Photosynthesis carbon glucose dioxide (C6H12O6) (CO2) glucose is used by animals as FOOD! reactant is used up (input) product is produced (output)

Photosynthesis

Cellular Respiration Cellular respiration is how carbon is released back into the atmosphere as CO2.

glucose carbon (C6H12O6) dioxide (CO2) Cellular Respiration glucose carbon (C6H12O6) dioxide (CO2) reactant is used up (input) product is produced (output)

Photosynthesis or Respiration? Making sugar Making CO2 Using sugar Using CO2 Photosynthesis Respiration Respiration Photosynthesis

Sugar or Carbon Dioxide? Product of PS Product of CR Reactant of PS Reactant of CR Sugar CO2 CO2 Sugar

carbon sugar dioxide (glucose) (CO2) Carbon Cycle The carbon cycle is how carbon moves around an ecosystem. In cycles, nothing is created or destroyed, only CHANGED. carbon sugar dioxide (glucose) (CO2)

Carbon Cycle carbon is ADDED to the atmosphere by respiration carbon is ADDED to the environment by decomposition, the breakdown of dead matter the carbon from dead animals turns into fossil fuels

Carbon can also be added to the atmosphere by burning fossil fuels Carbon Cycle Carbon can also be added to the atmosphere by burning fossil fuels CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2

The nitrogen cycle provides organisms with N. Remember: CHON building blocks The nitrogen cycle provides organisms with N. Nitrogen is an important part of proteins and DNA. The air on Earth is made up of 78% nitrogen (N2)…but none of it is usable by plants! The process that turns N2 into a usable form of nitrogen able to be taken up by plants.

Nitrogen Cycle The overuse of plant fertilizers has put a lot of nitrogen into the environment where it doesn’t belong. excess nitrogen in oceans leads to the formation of DEAD ZONES