Our unit on Ecology continues… Part 2.

 The combined portions of the planet in which all life exists, including land, water, air and the atmosphere.  Interactions within this atmosphere produce a web of interdependence between organisms and their environment.  4 major parts of the biosphere are: Atmosphere- sky Ecosphere-land & animals Lithosphere-rock hydrosphere-water

 Energy flows through the living and nonliving components of the ecosystem.  Energy is transferred from the  Sun or chemicals to autotrophs (producers). Plants make energy for life and then transfers energy to the heterotrophs/consumers when they are eaten  Consumers transfer energy to other consumers and return it to the environment to be recycled again

 As energy and matter flow through an ecosystem, matter must be recycled and reused.  Substances such as water, carbon, nitrogen, calcium, and phosphorus each pass between the living and nonliving worlds through biogeochemical cycles. (Bio-life, geo-earth, chemical-nutrients, cycle-loop)

 Water cycle  Carbon Cycle  Nitrogen cycle  Phosphorous cycle

How matter is recycled in an ecosystem

Chapter 18

 All living things require water to survive.  Water moves between the ocean, atmosphere and land.  The water cycle starts from the ground, is up taken by plants, moves to the atmosphere via transpiration, as warm air rises it cools and condenses to clouds, then finally it returns to the earth.

 Evaporation – the process that changes water from a liquid form to an atmospheric gas. Ex. As water is heated on the surface by the sun it turns into water vapor in the atmosphere.

 Transpiration – water enters the atmosphere by evaporating from the leaves of plants.

 The process of water returning to the earth in the form of rain, hail, sleet, and snow.  The annual precipitation from biome to biome varies and greatly influences the type of plants and animals that live in the area.

 Carbon is the key ingredient in all living systems.  Carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere by cellular respiration.  Plants take in carbon dioxide and use it to build carbohydrates (simple sugars like glucose) during photosynthesis.  Carbon in carbohydrates is passed along the food chain to animals and other consumers.

 The atmosphere is full of carbon in the form of carbon dioxide. (CO 2 ) 1. Combustion- burning of fossil fuels which breaks the carbon rich bonds and releases them in the atmosphere 2. Cellular respiration- animals exhale carbon as carbon dioxide 3. Decomposers put carbon into the atmosphere as they break down matter and release CO 2 (But they return it to the soil as well.)

 Photosynthesis- Plants take in the carbon from the CO 2 in atmosphere for making carbon rich sugars, which is later transferred to animals that eat the plants  Decomposition- decomposers break down dead matter and return the carbon molecules to the soil. Over long time spans, this carbon is stored as fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas.

 Organisms require nitrogen to make amino acids and build proteins.  Nitrogen gas (N 2 ) makes up 78% of the earth’s atmosphere.  Bacteria are VERY important for the nitrogen cycle because they add hydrogen atoms (making NH 3 =ammonia) to the unusable nitrogen gas (N 2 ), which allows plants and animals to uptake it.

1. Certain bacteria in the soil can fix nitrogen (turn it into ammonia NH 3 ) which is later changed by other bacteria to form nitrates and nitrites so plants can uptake it. 2. Plants (Producers) use these compounds to make proteins. 3. Consumers eat the producers and reuse the nitrogen by converting it into proteins. 4. When organisms die, nitrogen fixing bacteria in the soil return the nitrogen to the soil as ammonia to be recycled.

Section 4: Ecosystem Recycling

 Phosphorus is necessary for organisms to form bones, teeth, and important molecules like DNA and RNA.  It is found mostly in the ocean, soil and rocks. 1. When rocks erode, small amounts of phosphorous dissolve as Phosphate (PO 4 3- ) in soil and water. 2. Plants absorb phosphorus in the soil through their roots, and it can be added back when the excess phosphorous is excreted in wastes from organisms or when they die and decompose. 3. Organic phosphate moves through the food cycle, from producers to consumers. 4. Phosphorus RARELY occurs as a GAS, so it doesn’t normally enter the atmosphere.

 Unlike the one-way flow of energy, matter is recycled within and between ecosystems.  Biogeochemical cycles pass the same molecules around again and again within the biosphere.  Biological systems do not use up matter, they transform it.

 The insulating effect of the atmosphere.  Carbon dioxide, methane and water vapor trap heat energy and maintain the Earth’s temperature range.

 You will draw or trace the pictures in your text for the following cycles:  Water Cycle  Carbon Cycle  Nitrogen Cycle  For each cycle DRAW & COLOR above, you will write each labeled process in your book and explain the process.  Ex. Precipitation- is the process of water falling to the earth in the form of rain, sleet, hail, or snow.