1. Cycles of Matter in an Ecosystem
Lesson 5
copyright cmassengale

2. Do Now – What is Ecology? DO Now: What are decomposers?
Give two examples
Can energy be recycled or re-used?
Essential Question:
How is matter cycled in an ecosystem?
Objective:
SWBAT identify and describe the three cycles of matter in an ecosystem.

3. Finish Nutrition & Energy Reading and Vocabulary
Lesson Overview
AGENDA
Finish Owl Pellet Lab
Discussion: Cycles of Matter
Water
Carbon
Nitrogen
HOMEWORK
Finish Nutrition & Energy Reading and Vocabulary

4. Cycles of matter

5. How much do you know?
How much do you know about biogeochemical cycles and the impact that humans have on these cycles?
Can you provide any examples of human activities that result in the alteration of the water or nutrient cycles?

6. What are the differences??
Eutrophic lake Healthy lake
(high primary productivity
due to excessive nutrients)
What are the differences??

7. What types of processes are occurring in each of these pictures
What types of processes are occurring in each of these pictures? Which are natural? Which are man-made?

8. Biogeochemical Cycles
“Bio” -Biology
“Geo” -Geology
“Chemical” -Chemistry
Elements, chemical, compounds,& other forms of matter passed from one organism to another.
How is this different from energy flow?

9. Recycling in the biosphere
Matter is recycled within & between ecosystems
Biological systems don’t use up matter, they transform it
Inhaling atoms that dinosaurs did!!!

10. The Water Cycle All living things require water to survive
Where does water come from?
-Moves between ocean, atmosphere, & land

11. Evaporation -Water changes from liquid to gas
Transpiration -Water evaporates from the leaves into the atmosphere.
Condensation - Water vapor (gas) turns into liquid water forming clouds.
Precipitation -Water droplets become large enough to fall to Earth
-Rain, snow, sleet, or hail
Surface Runoff - Rain, snow, that flows
into streams, rivers, or canals.

12. Water Cycle Condensation Precipitation Evaporation Transpiration
Run off
Seepage
Root uptake

13. Nutrient cycle
Nutrients- all chemical substances that an organism needs to sustain life
Every organism needs nutrient to build tissues and carry out essential life functions
AKA Carbon, Nitrogen, and Phosphorus cycles

14. Carbon Cycle Carbon is a key ingredient of living tissue
CO2 (Carbon dioxide)
Given off by plants & animals during respiration
Makes up atmosphere
Released into atmosphere by volcanic activity, burning fossil fuels and vegetation
Decomposition of organic matter
Taken in by plants in photosynthesis

15. More info 4 main processes move Carbon through the cycle
1. Biological- photosynthesis, respiration, decomposition
2. Geochemical – Erosion & volcanic activity
3. Mixed biogeochemical- burial & decompostion
4. Human Activities-mining, cutting & burning forest, burning fossil fuels

16. CO2 in atmosphere
Carbon Cycle
CO2 in ocean

17. Increased CO2 & the Greenhouse Effect

18. Nitrogen cycle
All organisms require Nitrogen to make amino acids (which are used to make proteins)
N2 makes up 78% of Earth’s atmosphere
Humans add Nitrogen thru Nitrate (fertilizers)
Found in waste –
-Ammonia (NH3), nitrate ions (NO3-),
& nitrite ions(NO2-)

19. More on Nitrogen Cycle
Only certain types of bacteria can use nitrogen gas directly
They are found in soil and on roots of plants called legumes (“magical fruit”)
They convert it to ammonia through Nitrogen Fixation
Other bacteria convert ammonia into nitrates & nitrites
Producers use it to make proteins
Consumers eat producers and reuse
nitrogen to make proteins

20. DEATH!!!
When organism die, decomposers return nitrogen to soil as ammonia
Ammonia taken up by producers (again)
Denitrification -other soil bacteria convert nitrates into nitrogen gas. Releases nitrogen into atmosphere.

21. Simplified Nitrogen Cycle
Organic wastes(from plants and animals) add nitrogen to the soil.
Bacteria in the soil convert the nitrogen into forms plants can use.
Plants use nitrogen in the soil to grow, develop, and produce seeds.
Plants are eaten by animals and people. The organic waste (which contains nitrogen) is returned to the soil again.

22. Human Impacts
Phosphorus in runoff causes algal blooms and eutrophication (oxygen depletion in water) Humans contribute to this by over fertilizing, mining, and the use of sewage treatment plants.