1. Click on a lesson name to select. The Principles of Ecology (Biogeochemical Cycling of Matter)

2. Biosphere: The part of Earth in which living and nonliving things interact Atmosphere: Contains the gases that organisms need, such as oxygen; keeps Earth warm enough to support life The Biosphere and Atmosphere Earth’s atmosphere, seen from space

3. Biotic Factors Principles of Ecology  Living factors in an organism’s environment Abiotic Factors  Nonliving factors in an organism’s environment  Organisms adapt to survive in the abiotic factors present in their natural environment. Biotic vs Abiotic Factors in the Environment

4. The Hydrosphere & the Hydrologic Cycle Consists of Earth’s water Most of Earth’s water (97.5%) is salt water. Only 0.5% of Earth’s water is unfrozen fresh water usable for drinking or irrigation. Earth’s available fresh water includes surface water and ground water. Did You Know? If it is depleted, groundwater can take hundreds or even thousands of years to recharge completely. Greenlaw Brook, Limestone, Maine

5. The Water Cycle Principles of Ecology Cycling of Matter

6. The Water Cycle

7. Nutrient Cycling Matter cycles through the environment. Matter can be transformed, but cannot be created or destroyed. Nutrients, matter that organisms require for life process, circulate throughout the environment in biogeochemical cycles. Did You Know? Organisms require several dozen nutrients, such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and carbon, to survive.

8. Cycles in the Biosphere Cycling of Matter Principles of Ecology  The cycling of nutrients in the biosphere involves both matter in living organisms and physical processes found in the environment such as weathering.

9. Principles of Ecology The Carbon Cycle Cycling of Matter

10. Principles of Ecology  Carbon and oxygen recycle relatively quickly through living organisms via the processes of cellular respiration and photosynthesis. Cycling of Matter  Carbon and oxygen often make up molecules essential for life (carbohydrates, lipids, nucleic acids and proteins).

11. The Carbon Cycle

12. Principles of Ecology Long-term Cycling of Carbon  Organic matter converted to peat, coal, oil, or gas deposits (carbon)—Fossilization  Decomposition (for some ecosystems). Short-term Cycling of Carbon  Burning fossil fuels (carbon)  Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration Cycling of Matter

13. Principles of Ecology The Nitrogen Cycle  The capture and conversion of nitrogen into a form that is useable by plants is called nitrogen fixation. Cycling of Matter

14. The Nitrogen Cycle

15. Principles of Ecology  Consumers get nitrogen by eating plants or animals that contain nitrogen.  Nitrogen is needed to make Proteins and DNA/RNA. Cycling of Matter  Nitrogen enters the food web when plants (producers) absorb nitrogen compounds from soil.

16. Principles of Ecology  Nitrogen is returned to the soil in several ways:  Animals urinate.  Organisms die and decompose.  Denitrification – soil organisms convert nitrates (a form of nitrogen) to atmospheric nitrogen gas). Cycling of Matter

17. Principles of Ecology The Phosphorus Cycle Cycling of Matter

18. The Phosphorus Cycle

19. Principles of Ecology Short-term Cycle  Phosphorus is cycled from the soil to producers and then from the producers to consumers. Phosphorous does not enter the atmosphere. Long-term Cycle  Weathering or erosion of rocks that contain phosphorus slowly adds phosphorus to the cycle/soil. Cycling of Matter The element phosphorous is used by all organisms to make DNA/RNA, phospholipids, and ATP.