Natural Cycles

Energy vs. Matter Energy: flows in one direction Ex. food chain

Energy vs. Matter Matter: cycles throughout the environment

Water Cycle Water Cycle oEvaporation oCondensation oPrecipitation

Carbon Cycle Carbon Cycle: Photosynthesis removes carbon from the atmosphere Burning fossil fuels (gas) and respiration release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere

Nitrogen Cycle Nitrogen Cycle: Bacteria in roots of legumes turn nitrogen into a compound that can be used by plants and animals

Succession Succession: gradual change in living communities that follows a disturbance.

Primary Succession Succession that occurs on surfaces where no soil exists Examples: after a glacier or volcano

Secondary Succession Succession following a disturbance that destroys a community without destroying the soil Example. land is cleared from a forest fire. On a substrate that previously supported vegetation before an ecological disturbance (forest fire, flood, etc).

Succession: Pioneer Species: colonizes the land first and starts off the ecological succession. Climax Community: a community that has reached a steady state and is best adapted for that area.