Activity #18: Cycles of Matter

EQ How do Earth’s biotic and abiotic factors interact to shape ecosystems and affect the survival of organisms over time? Why is the cycling of matter important to life on earth?

Challenge Question Describe how matter cycles through an ecosystem.

Vocabulary Biogeochemical cycle Denitrification Nitrogen fixation

Four Main Elements of Living Things: CHON Make up: o Water o Carbs o Lipids o Nucleic acids o Proteins

Energy & Matter Energy flows in a one way direction starting from the sun o It is not recycled Matter is recycled through the biosphere

Matter is Recycled Within and Between Ecosystems This is different than the one-way flow of energy through an ecosystem Biogeochemical Cycles- process in which elements, chemical compounds (water and nutrients), and other forms of matter are passed from one organism to another and from one part of the biosphere to another

Processes in Biogeochemical Cycles can be… Biological- cellular respiration, photosynthesis, decomposition, nitrogen fixation, etc. Geological- erosion, rock formation, heat and pressure from the earth Chemical- formation of clouds/precipitation Physical- flow of running water Human Activity- logging, deforestation, burning fossil fuels, wastes, fertilizers

Energy and Matter Energy powers the cycles of matter Matter is transformed, never created or destroyed

The Water Cycle Water moves between oceans, atmosphere, and land Can be inside or outside of organisms

How does water vapor enter the atmosphere? Evaporation Transpiration Combustion Respiration

Once water vapor is in the atmosphere… Condensation Precipitation Runoff Groundwater Also use evaporation

Nutrient Cycles The cycling of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus through organisms and the environment are especially important

The Carbon Cycle Carbon is a major component of all organic compounds Found in some inorganic compounds o Example: calcium carbonate (CaCO 3 ) – molecule that is part of animal skeletons o Example: carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) - major part of the atmosphere and necessary for photosynthesis

Carbon & Oxygen Oxygen often cycles with carbon through the biosphere, particularly due to photosynthesis and cellular respiration.

Makes Cell Walls

Fossil Fuels Fossil Fuels : Energy rich fuels ( coal, oil, and natural gas ) created from carbon-containing compounds of ancient, dead forests, marine organisms, or other animals have been buried and transformed by pressure and heat.

Reservoirs Major reservoirs (locations of large amounts) of carbon in the biosphere include the: o Atmosphere o Oceans o Rocks o Fossil Fuels o Forests

Video bromothymol blue 3:20

The Nitrogen Cycle Nitrogen is required to make amino acids and nucleic acids

Forms of Nitrogen Different forms of nitrogen occur naturally in the biosphere Nitrogen gas (N 2 )makes up 78% of earth’s atmosphere Ammonia (NH 3 ), nitrate ions (NO 3 - ), nitrite ions (NO 2 - ) are found in soil, in the wastes produced by many organisms, and in dead and decaying organic matter. Dissolved nitrogen exists in several forms in the ocean and other large water bodies

Nitrogen gas is the most abundant form of nitrogen on Earth Only a handful of organisms – certain types of bacteria – can use this form directly They “change” (=fix) the nitrogen into usable forms The usable forms can then be used by other organisms Thus, nitrogen-fixing bacteria are an essential part of the nitrogen cycle

Nitrogen Fixation Nitrogen Fixation : The conversion of Nitrogen Gas (not usable) into Ammonia, Nitrates, and Nitrites (usable) by bacteria Some of these bacteria live in the soil whereas others live on the roots of certain plants called legumes (ex. peanuts, peas, soybeans) Bacteria are the driving force of the nitrogen cycle!

Available Nitrogen Once these forms of nitrogen are available, primary producers can use them to make proteins and nucleic acids. Consumers eat the producers and reuse nitrogen to make their own nitrogen-containing compounds (and so on through the food web).

Nitrogen Cycle

Fertilizers Contain Nitrogen & Phosphorus Eutrophication: excess growth of algae due to increased levels of fertilizers in the water o Creates an algal bloom o Algae takes oxygen from other organisms and may release toxins