Cycle of Matter

I. Matter in Our Ecosystem A. Energy is crucial to any ecosystem but living things need water, minerals and other compounds – 1. 95% of most organisms are composed of H, O, C, N. B. Compounds need to be in a certain form so cells can take them up

II. Recycling in the Biosphere A. Unlike the one-way flow of energy, matter is recycled within and between ecosystems B. Biological systems do not use up matter, they transform it. Example: Carbon atom Carbon dioxide  Blueberry bush  Caribou  Dung  Dung Beetle  Shrew  Owl  Owl exhales

III. The Water Cycle A. All living things require water to survive B. Water moves along the ocean, atmosphere, and land. – 1. Evaporation – water changes from a liquid to atmospheric gas a. Transpiration – water evaporation from leaves of plants – 2. Condensation – water vapor cooling back to a liquid

IV. Nutrient Cycles A. All the chemical substances that an organism needs to sustain life are its nutrients. B. Every organisms needs nutrients to build tissues and carry out essential life functions. C. Like water, nutrients are passed between organisms and their environment through biogeochemical

V. Carbon Cycle A. Carbon key ingredient of living tissue B. Carbon can be moved through an ecosystem several ways: – 1. Biological processes – photosynthesis, respiration, decomposition – 2. Geochemical processes – erosion, volcanic activity – 3. Biogeochemical processes – decomposition of organic matter and conversion to fossil fuels due to pressure – 4. Human activities – mining, burning forest, fossil fuels

VI. Effects on the Ecosystem A. An imbalance of these compounds along our planet creates negative effects throughout many ecosystems B. Many nutrients can become scarce due to the slowing cycle which can decrease the productivity of an organisms, these are known as limiting nutrients

VII. Climate A. Climate another abiotic factor is the average conditions (temp. & precipitation) in a particular region – 1. Shaped by: wind/ocean currents, latitude, trapping of heat in atm. B. Carbon dioxide, methane, water vapor, and a few other atmospheric gases trap heat energy and maintain Earth’s temperature range, known as the greenhouse effect

IIX. Heat Transport A. The heat is not evenly divided along Earth’s surface because of Earth’s tilt which gives rise to 3 main climate zones: – 1. Tropical – almost always warm – 2. Temperate – ranges from hot to cold along these regions – 3. Polar – cold regions B. Earth’s winds and ocean currents interact to reduce the extremes of these 3 climate zones