Aim: How does nitrogen & phosphorus get recycled? DO NOW: What is a cycle?. Do you recycle your empty soda cans? If so, why do you do it? Make a connection between everyday recycling with the cycles that we are learning about.
Importance of Nitrogen A lot of nitrogen is found in the atmosphere Nitrogen is important to plants for the production of proteins Plants are able to use nitrates, nitrogen compounds present in soil, to make protein Herbivores get their nitrogen from eating plants Carnivores get their nitrogen from eating animals Animals use nitrogen to make protein too!
Nitrogen Recycling Excretion returns nitrogen to land or water Decomposition returns nitrogen to soil Bacteria in soil can return nitrogen in soil to atmosphere Lightening bolts change nitrogen gas in the atmosphere to nitrates in soil for plants
Nitrogen as Limiting Factor If too little nitrogen is present, plants won’t be able to grow as well, so in this case, nitrogen will act as a limiting factor for plant growth
Nitrogen Cycle Video https://www.brainpop.com/science/earthsystem/nitrogencycle/
Nitrogen Cycle Diagram
Nitrogen Cycle Diagram
Importance of Phosphorus Important to both plants & animals for growth & development DNA & ATP contain phosphorus
Recycling of Phosphorus Phosphates, or phosphorus-containing compounds, are present in soil & plants use them Consumers obtain their phosphorus from feeding Decomposition recycles phosphorus back to soil Weathering & erosion of phosphorus-containing rocks add to the amount of phosphorus in the cycle
Phosphorus as Limiting Factor Since there isn’t a large amount of usable phosphates present in water or soil, too little phosphorus can limit the growth of producers!
Phosphorus Cycle Diagram
Phosphorus Cycle Video https://app.discoveryeducation.com/learn/videos/B9D97572-17D7-43CA-818B-328DCAB20E50?hasLocalHost=false
Real-World Connection!
Homework On loose-leaf, answer the following questions: 1. Describe how nitrogen moves through both the living and non-living components of an ecosystem. 2. Describe how phosphorus moves through both the living and non-living components of an ecosystem.