1. Water Cycle,
Carbon Cycle &
Nitrogen Cycle

2. Energy & Matter
Energy is not the only thing that moves through the ecosystem.
Atoms are never destroyed, only transformed.
Take a deep breath. The atoms you just inhaled may have been inhaled by a dinosaur millions of years ago!

3. Energy & Matter 4 atoms make up 95% of the body in most organisms.
CARBON OXYGEN
HYDROGEN NITROGEN
The same molecules are passed around again and again within the biosphere in biogeochemical cycles.

4. Water Cycle = Hydrologic Cycle

5. Why is water important? Makes up 60-70% of your body
Oxygen and hydrogen are found in carbohydrates, proteins, nucleic acids & lipids.
Hydrogen in H2O supplies protons (H+) and electrons for photosynthesis

6. Water Cycle
WATER
VAPOR
(gas)
evaporation
LIQUID
condensation

7. Water Cycle
The evaporation of water from the surface of plant leaves = TRANSPIRATION
The return of water to the surface in the form of rain, snow, sleet, hail, etc. = PRECIPITATION

8. Water Cycle

9. Carbon Cycle
CO2 in
atmosphere
CO2 in
ocean

10. 4 main carbon reservoirs
In atmosphere as CO2 gas
In ocean as dissolved CO2 gas
On land in organisms, rocks and soil
Underground as coal & petroleum (fossil fuels) and calcium carbonate in rocks

11. Where does CO2 in atmosphere come from?
Volcanic activity
Human activity (burning fossil fuels)
Cellular respiration
Decomposition of dead organisms

12. Why is Carbon important?
Found in all the building blocks of cells:
CARBOHYDRATE PROTEINS
NUCLEIC ACIDS LIPIDS

13. Why is Carbon important?
Carbon in CO2 provides the atoms for glucose production during photosynthesis… the fuel that all living things depend on.

14. What is your ecological footprint?
How much land area does it take to support your lifestyle?
Take this quiz to find out your Ecological Footprint, discover your biggest areas of resource consumption, and learn what you can do to tread more lightly on the earth.

15. Nitrogen Cycle

16. Why is Nitrogen important?
Nitrogen bases make DNA and RNA
Adenine (nitrogen base) is used in ATP
Makes AMINO part of amino acids (proteins)

17. Why is Nitrogen important?
79% of the atmosphere is made up of Nitrogen gas (N2)
But we can’t use the nitrogen gas we breathe!
The bond in N2 gas is so strong it can only be broken by:
Lightening
Volcanic activity
Few special bacteria

18. Nitrogen Fixation
Bacteria that live in the soil take nitrogen from the atmosphere and turn it into Ammonia (NH3), a form that is usable by plants
Bacteria and plants are in a symbiotic relationship
This process is called:
Nitrogen Fixation

19. Nitrogen Fixation
Other bacteria in the soil convert ammonia (NH3) into nitrates (NO3-) and nitrites (NO2-)
The nitrogen we need for proteins, ATP and nucleic acids comes from the food we eat not the air we breathe!

20. Nitrogen Cycle

21. Denitrification
Bacteria that live in the soil also carry out the reverse process:
Nitrates/Nitrites  Nitrogen Gas
This process is
called denitrification