1. Predict: Where the water on the leaves came from?
Where the water on the leaves is going to go next?

2. Carbon Nitrogen Phosphorus Water
Cycles of Matter
Carbon Nitrogen Phosphorus Water

3. Make a T chart
Left Label: Observations
Right Label: Questions

4. Energy Flow Versus Matter Flow
Energy = One Way Flow Matter = Recycled

5. Processes That Cycle Matter
Explain that there are many ways in which the processes involved in biogeochemical cycles can be classified.
Click to reveal and discuss each.
You may also wish to have students describe why each photo is a good representation of the type of process it is showing.
Biological processes consist of any activities performed by living organisms. These processes include eating, breathing, “burning” food, and eliminating waste products.
Geological processes include volcanic eruptions, the formation and breakdown of rock, and major movements of matter within and below the surface of Earth.
Chemical and physical processes include the formation of clouds and precipitation, the flow of running water, and the action of lightning.
Human activities that affect cycles of matter on a global scale include the mining and burning of fossil fuels, the clearing of land for building and farming, the burning of forests, and the manufacture and use of fertilizers.
Explain that these processes pass the same atoms and molecules around again and again.
Ask: Why would the breakdown of rock by ocean waves be considered a geological process, but the breakdown of rock by tree roots be considered a biological process?
Answer: because the latter involves a living organism
Ask: Why might human activities be considered a separate category from other biological processes involving living organisms?
Answer: because human activities have such a large impact on the ecosystem beyond the simple acts of eating, respiring, and eliminating wastes

6. Major Cycles
Water
Nitrogen
Phosphorus
Carbon

7. Key Terms Source: where matter enters the cycle
Ex: Respiration releasing CO2 into the atmosphere
Sink: where matter is exiting the cycle into a reservoir
Ex: Ocean removing CO2 into the atmosphere

8. Key Terms Flux: the movement of material from one place to another
Ex: Photosynthesis moving carbon from atmosphere to plant tissue
Reservoir: a place where matter is stored
Also referred to as a “Pool”
Ex: Fossil fuel or rocks

9. Water Cycle

10. Water Cycle Evaporation/Transpiration Condensation Precipitation
Evaporation – water vapor from water
Transpiration – water vapor from plants
Condensation
Cloud formation
Precipitation
Water vapor to liquid
Percolation
Movement through soil to groundwater

11. Find a partner Draw the water cycle on the back of your half sheet.
List ways humans can interfere/pollute with this cycle.

12. Nitrogen Cycle
Importance: Major component of amino acids & nucleic acids
Major Reservoir: Atmosphere
78% of the atmosphere
Unusable in free form
Nitrogen fixation needed for biological uptake

13. Nitrogen Cycle

14. Nitrogen Fixation
Changing free atmospheric nitrogen into usable compound forms
Done by bacteria
Also done by lightning strikes

15. Other notes about the N cycle
Removal of N from atmosphere
Nitrogen fixation
Decomposition
Animal waste
Returning N to the atmosphere
Denitrification by bacteria
Converting compound N to free N

16. Phosphorus Importance: Major component of nucleic acids
Major Reservoir: Rocks
Only cycle with no
atmospheric component!

17. Anthropogenic Affects on N & P
Anthropogenic – originating from human activity
N & P are typically limiting nutrients
Humans have increased availability through:
Fertilizers
Industrial farming
Sewage
Burning fossil fuels (N only)
Mining (P only)

18. Eutrophication
Increased nutrient availability (N & P) that lead to algal growth resulting in animal death due to lack of oxygen
Lack of oxygen due to increased decomposition rates (therefore increased respiration by decomposers)
Results in
Red tides
Dead zones
Shallowing

20. Carbon Cycle
Importance: Major component of organic compounds (carbs, nucleic acids, etc.)
Major Reservoir: Ocean
Other Reservoirs:
Biological: organic matter
Hydrosphere: dissolved in water
Atmosphere: gas (CO2, Methane)
Geosphere: rocks & sediments
Video in Carbon symbol

21. Carbon Cycle

22. Carbon Cycle - Biological
Photosynthesis
Remove CO2 from atmosphere
Cellular Respiration
Adds CO2 to atmosphere
Decomposition
Adds carbon to soil
Evidently fossil fuels (ex. Oil)

23. Carbon Cycle – Hydrological & Geological
Wave Action
Ocean Mixing
Shell formation
Geological
Sediments forming sedimentary rock
Fossil Fuel formation

24. Ocean Acidification

25. Carbon Cycle – Human Activity
Removal of fossil fuels from ground
Combustion of fossil fuels
Deforestation
Wood products
Land use change

26. Carbon Cycle

29. Add a Slide Title - 1